Help with relaxer stretching & new growth

[missbritt1986]

Ladies, please tell me more about conditioners that "melt" your new growth or any other tips & tricks. I've been trying to stretch my relaxers for quite a while & the longest I can go without a touch up (unless my hair is braided) is roughly 8 or 9 weeks. Around the time my new growth comes in, I immediately notice more breakage. Not a whole lot, but more than I'd like. I literally have little to no breakage until my hair starts growing. Really, after 4 weeks my hair tries to convince me to get a touch up, but I hold out for as long as I can. I wash 2-4 times a month with Elasta QP creme conditioning shampoo, deep condition (always) with Palmer's Coconut Protein Pak, ORS Pak, Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition, or Suave Humectant. I rarely blow dry. I love air drying my hair. I use light protein, (even tried heavy protein), I oil the bottom part of my hair & edges nightly & daily with avocado oil or coconut oil (I don't do the moisturize & seal thing unless my hair isn't straightened). I even tried pre-pooing with oil & conditioner overnight. I straighten my hair (using heat protector & Chi Silk Fusion after moisturizing with Profective Growth Lotion & various leave-ins) with a Corioliss ceramic iron about twice a month & wear it down most of the time and the other half of the month I wear a half wig with my hair tucked under & a headband, or roller set it & pin curl it to keep it off of my shoulders. I very rarely use a bristle brush. Always a wide tooth comb. Honestly, I can say that my regimen is pretty gangsta because my hair is always moisturized, soft, & healthy looking. I receive a lot of compliments from family, friends, & co-workers. And again, I have little to no breakage until my new growth comes in, but I'm open to any suggestions. Can some people just not stretch? Should I leave well enough alone? Do I need to start some heavy protective styling? I used to love braids, but I get bored with them after a while. (I want to see the growth ) I also used to wig it up, but my bf (and I) love my real hair & I got a great reaction from people when I started wearing it out more often. I've tried to be as descriptive as possible & I appreciate any feedback!

 

[nymane]

Silicon Mix DC is perfect for stretching, it detangles and moisturizes (I actually just finished DC'ing with it ). I use my HE LTR leave-in after and now I'm air drying in braids.

I don't use any direct heat & after about 3-4 days I will pre poo with a cheapy conditioner for 1hr (Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut for me) because it detangles and softens the ng before I shampoo....then DC, apply leave-ins, braid....

I also do a Aphogee 2-step treatment every 8 weeks or so

Oh yeah I'm 24 weeks post 4b/a...I don't have any breakage with this reggie

I think the more you get to know your hair, the longer you will be able to stretch...good luck

 

[doobiequeen88]

Have you tried mixing oils with your DC and sitting under the hooded dryer with a plastic cap?? EVOO and lustrasilk shea butter condish it one of my faves.

FYI: I am now a seasonal relaxer 4x year, on the first weekends of spring, summer, fall and winter so about 12-14 weeks apart

Hopes this helps

 

[TamedTresses]

Have you tried mixing oils with your DC and sitting under the hooded dryer with a plastic cap?? EVOO and lustrasilk shea butter condish it one of my faves.

FYI: I am now a seasonal relaxer 4x year, on the first weekends of spring, summer, fall and winter so about 12-14 weeks apart

Hopes this helps

When I grow up I wanna be just like you. I started stretching my relaxers 3 months ago. It wasn't planned, but I was in braids so I couldn't relax. I am now making a conscious effort not to relax and I plan to do it 4x a year or less.

ETA: I think co-washing 2x a week is helping to keep my hair moisturized. Rollersetting and braid outs also helps to camoflague my new growth. I think low manipulation styles are key. HTH OP...

 

[missbritt1986]

 

[sharifeh]

silicon mix with heat helps me; I mix coconut oil in and sometimes honey
It works great for me, after 10 weeks, I also need to do intensive moisturizing of my new growth daily or else it gets crunchy and tangled.
I haven't moisturized in a minute and my new growth is not feeling nice.
You will get the hang of it.

I also must give a shout out to aubreys organics hsr with heat, I was shocked. When I rinsed it out instead of some crunchy new growth, I had some silky little curls (my hair is type 4 though I don't really get hair typing) It really brought my new growth to life....Like really a lot
That was nice. I've never felt that before.

 

[deesquest]

I've been stretching my relaxers since I started my HHJ, I started out 9 wks and currently I stretch for 6 months. This has done wonders for my hair. What works for me:
1. Co-washing with Suave Humetress 1x wk, add oil rinse after 16 wks.
2. Protective styling (bunning).
3. Moisturizing with S-curl while in a bun. I seperate my hair and spray the new growth well. This prevents breakage at the demarcation line.
4. Well moisturized hair and seal with melted shea butter and coconut oil mixture, or other oil. My ends are soft-no breakage.
5. After 12 weeks, 1x/wk airdry using scarf method and use Curuso rollers or dry roller set. Big beautiful hair.
6. DC 2x/wk-strong moisturized hair. Alternate protein and moisturizing dc
This may seem like a lot but, I have a routine, it works. When my hair is in a bun I only take it down to moisturize and put it back up. I find it extremely important to moisturize at the demarcation line. This equals no breakage and little or no tangles. Hope this helps.

 

[jasminea]

Have you tried mixing oils with your DC and sitting under the hooded dryer with a plastic cap?? EVOO and lustrasilk shea butter condish it one of my faves.

FYI: I am now a seasonal relaxer 4x year, on the first weekends of spring, summer, fall and winter so about 12-14 weeks apart

Hopes this helps

I second this reggie! I do the same thing and it works great. I apply the conditioner like a relaxer directly on the new growth then saturate the hair. The lustrasilk Shea/mango is great stuff and only about $3 for a tub.

If your scalp is sensitve to having conditioner on it, you can add 4-5 drops of pepperment oil to conditioner combo (I do this when scalp is itchy close to the 11-14 weeks). Only relaxing 4 times a year has given my fine hair a lot more volume.

 

[TamedTresses]

Have you tried Motions Moisture Plus? I love this conditioner because it makes my hair super soft and it gives me great slip. I believe it has cones in it though. I have not used it in a while since I am a PJ and I am trying some other things, but it works really good.

I do think that braids are a great way to retain length. I am planning to get some braids done next weekend. Your hair will be able to rest and you will be able to see your growth. You mentioned that you get bored with braids, but you can still style your braids in updos and so forth.

 

[missbritt1986]

Have you tried mixing oils with your DC and sitting under the hooded dryer with a plastic cap?? EVOO and lustrasilk shea butter condish it one of my faves.

FYI: I am now a seasonal relaxer 4x year, on the first weekends of spring, summer, fall and winter so about 12-14 weeks apart

Hopes this helps

This is funny to me because for a while I fell in love with Lustrasilk mango cholesterol. One day I mixed it with olive oil & deep conditioned. My hair was not happy. I tried to use it again after that & it just doesn't moisturize like it used to. I don't know what happened! I miss it because it smelled SO good & was cheap!

 

[missbritt1986]

Silicon Mix DC is perfect for stretching, it detangles and moisturizes (I actually just finished DC'ing with it ). I use my HE LTR leave-in after and now I'm air drying in braids.

I don't use any direct heat & after about 3-4 days I will pre poo with a cheapy conditioner for 1hr (Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut for me) because it detangles and softens the ng before I shampoo....then DC, apply leave-ins, braid....

I also do a Aphogee 2-step treatment every 8 weeks or so

Oh yeah I'm 24 weeks post 4b/a...I don't have any breakage with this reggie

I think the more you get to know your hair, the longer you will be able to stretch...good luck

Okay, help me out with this. I used to be a heavy mineral oil product user, and I always wondered why my hair was so dry! I haven't used it in ANYTHING hair related since I started my HHJ. I have a bottle of aphogee two min & I was going to return it because mineral oil is the top ingredient. I just googled the silicon mix & it also has mineral oil as the top ingredient. To be honest, I'm scared to try them.... :covereyes

 

[missbritt1986]

I've been stretching my relaxers since I started my HHJ, I started out 9 wks and currently I stretch for 6 months. This has done wonders for my hair. What works for me:
1. Co-washing with Suave Humetress 1x wk, add oil rinse after 16 wks.
2. Protective styling (bunning).
3. Moisturizing with S-curl while in a bun. I seperate my hair and spray the new growth well. This prevents breakage at the demarcation line.
4. Well moisturized hair and seal with melted shea butter and coconut oil mixture, or other oil. My ends are soft-no breakage.
5. After 12 weeks, 1x/wk airdry using scarf method and use Curuso rollers or dry roller set. Big beautiful hair.
6. DC 2x/wk-strong moisturized hair. Alternate protein and moisturizing dc
This may seem like a lot but, I have a routine, it works. When my hair is in a bun I only take it down to moisturize and put it back up. I find it extremely important to moisturize at the demarcation line. This equals no breakage and little or no tangles. Hope this helps.

I definitely need to protective syle more and I really want to try shea butter. I have a feeling my hair will like it

 

[missbritt1986]

I second this reggie! I do the same thing and it works great. I apply the conditioner like a relaxer directly on the new growth then saturate the hair. The lustrasilk Shea/mango is great stuff and only about $3 for a tub.

If your scalp is sensitve to having conditioner on it, you can add 4-5 drops of pepperment oil to conditioner combo (I do this when scalp is itchy close to the 11-14 weeks). Only relaxing 4 times a year has given my fine hair a lot more volume.

I've been wanting to try peppermint oil to stimulate my scalp. Maybe I'll start massaging it in every other night.

 

[sunnieb]

Have you tried Motions Moisture Plus? I love this conditioner because it makes my hair super soft and it gives me great slip. I believe it has cones in it though. I have not used it in a while since I am a PJ and I am trying some other things, but it works really good.

This was my staple DC even before I found LHCF.

I currently stretch for 12 weeks and I had to work my way up to that. I used to relax every 4 weeks! Here's what helps me:

• Add 1 tablespoon of EVOO and honey to every DC (2x a week)
• Cowash 2-3x a week with HE hydrolicious conditioner
• Always air dry using scarf method
• Detangle in the shower
• No direct heat (I'm not against using direct heat, I just don't make time to use it.)
• Protective styling 80% of the time
• Never comb dry newgrowth

That's all I can think of right now. Good luck!

 

[missbritt1986]

Have you tried Motions Moisture Plus? I love this conditioner because it makes my hair super soft and it gives me great slip. I believe it has cones in it though. I have not used it in a while since I am a PJ and I am trying some other things, but it works really good.

I do think that braids are a great way to retain length. I am planning to get some braids done next weekend. Your hair will be able to rest and you will be able to see your growth. You mentioned that you get bored with braids, but you can still style your braids in updos and so forth.

I forgot how much length I retained when my hair was braided. I'm planning on wigging it for a month followed by braids. You are so right about the updos!

 

[missbritt1986]

This was my staple DC even before I found LHCF.

I currently stretch for 12 weeks and I had to work my way up to that. I used to relax every 4 weeks! Here's what helps me:

• Add 1 tablespoon of EVOO and honey to every DC (2x a week)
• Cowash 2-3x a week with HE hydrolicious conditioner
• Always air dry using scarf method
• Detangle in the shower
• No direct heat (I'm not against using direct heat, I just don't make time to use it.)
• Protective styling 80% of the time
• Never comb dry newgrowth

That's all I can think of right now. Good luck!

I especially like the tip about not combing dry new growth. Why did I insist on combing?

 

[sharifeh]

I especially like the tip about not combing dry new growth. Why did I insist on combing?

Ya I insist on it too

That is a good tip,

 

[sqzbly1908]

Just going by your avatar - your hair seems to be fine (mine is too).....I use both Aphogee 2 minute and Silicon Mix even though they have mineral oil. I don't think the concentration of mineral oil is enough to do any damage as my hair has thrived. Now if I was using a cheapie then I would be concerned but I don't as cheapies don't work for my hair.

I try to stretch 9-12 weeks but would have to relax around 9-10 weeks as the new growth is stressful on my strands and I rarely protective style....

Kenra MC, Humectress, Baba De Caracol are good but I have to roll with nymane on that Silicon Mix...that stuff make my hair feel like it is almost not there...and the slip is like no other...

HTH

 

[4evershika]

I think the key to a successful stretch is DCing often and maintaining that protein/moisture balance. I can say that once you achieve the right balance, it's a breeze with little/no breakage. Also, being gentle... sounds like a no-brainer but you'd be surprised how many times I have to catch myself from ripping thru my hair with that comb!!