Fed up with my natural hair...thinking of texlaxing

[BreAhhnNa]

Hi everyone. I've been natural for the last 4 years and still have not been able to figure out what works best for my hair. I'm tired of the shrinkage and ssk. I want to texlax but I have highlights in the front of my hair. I'm scared of damaging my hair. I'm also scared of my hair coming out puffy looking.

Is there anything you ladies can recommend for me? Anything that would be safe to use on highlighted hair?

 

[ravenhairedcharm]

bumping for you...

 

[Napp]

how do you usually wear your hair?

 

[BreAhhnNa]

how do you usually wear your hair?

I usually wear it in a bun but I want to start wearing it down more.

 

[milaydy31]

I came across this thread while looking for the relaxed ladies thread.
I have no advice, I feel the same way. 3 years in this natural journey and I am coming to the conclusion that natural is not for me. Concidering to relax again.

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[candie19]

I have my texturizer ready! I am 3 years natural and I haven't seen any progress. With perms my hair thrived. I love the texture of my natural hair so I'm hoping I get the best of both worlds with a texturizer.

 

[missliberia]

How about starting a heat styled regimen and seeing how that works for you? It may reduce SSK's and loosen your curl pattern a bit.

 

[AnitaTheLengths]

Hi. I've been equally frustrated with my natural mane as well. Shrinkage is the devil - what works for me is keeping it stretched as much as possible via twists with flexirods on the ends. My best defense for ssk's has been to keep my hair detangled, my ends well moisturized and sealed AND regular dustings/trims. I'd say to really baby your ends since you are wearing your hair down more, HHJ.

ETA: I can't think of a texlax product that I would recommend for your color treated hair; hopefully more people will chime in.

 

[Jewell]

My natural hair was easy to manage but time consuming , plus i hated the ssks and matts. So i texlaxed last june and am happy i did. I will go natural again someday when i have more time to devote to my natural hair. Plus shrinkage was a beast. It turned into a fro even at BSL, which i was constantly annoyed with.

I never heat trained, hence the shrinkage. It also took 3 hrs to straighten and would revert the same day no matter what products i used. So i finally said enufadis mess. No gels would keep it laid in the NC humidity...i always had a curly halo around my edges by end of day. Lawd i could go on and on but im glad i experienced my natural hair for nearly 2 yrs. I bc'd after an 18 month transition using primarily wigs and buns. That was my 2nd transition and BC in 3 yrs.

Oh and my first name is BreAunna (bree-awn-uh).

 

[greenandchic]

I have to keep my hair stretched almost all of the time. The tangles are mind blowing and time consuming. I am a mixture of 4a, 3c and everything else. I also have this crown that's not particularly tightly curled, but fuses together like -/+ magnets in my hair.

I can't heat style it because 1. I live in a climate that rains all of the time and 2. I sweat at the gym most days out of the week.

I don't have many viable solutions for you, OP, especially with color treated hair, but I do hear you.

 

[deedoswell]

OP I understand how you feel. You have to do what works best for you. I can't tell you how many times I have thought about relaxing - I've only been natural for 3 -1/2 years - for me the main reason I went natural is that my hair is thin and has been thin all my life and when I relax it just makes it even more thin. I don't have any advice really but be careful with the highlights. I'm sure the ladies on this forum will give you good advice.

 

[alive]

hey OP I felt the same way about my hair about a year after I went natural. The stylist I went to for my relaxer talked me into getting a blow out instead.

She said i should rock my hair straight for a week and if i still felt that i was tired of natural hair, I should come back and she'd give me a texlax or relaxer.

3+ years later, I am STILL so grateful for her advice. I completely understand where you're coming from (i've been there) but my advice would be to try taking a break from your hair for at least one week.

If you still feel the same way, then by all means, texlax. I definitely think your hair should be a source of pride and joy for you (not a source of frustration)

PS: if dryness is an issue for you, try getting a water filter. My hair was a hot mess until i gave in and got one

 

[BreAhhnNa]

Thank you ladies for all the advice and support. I'll try using heat to stretch it for now. In a couple months if I'm still frustrated I'll go ahead and texlax.

 

[coolsista-paris]

i am feeling exaclty the same way !! its been 2 weeks ive been thinking about it all day!!!! i still havent.jumped on it (i have fine hair) im scared to regret it...

i think im gonna straighten it too this weekend.... i.might wear it straight all the time.

when little my hair was natural but i must have been heat trained... they always hot combed it. but that was the best my hair had ever been those days....wow ! this is fustrating :-( i might get back to à heat reggie.i méan ill see....

tell us what you'll be doing . good luck ;-) ill think of you while straightening my hair

 

[nemi95]

I feel the same way. I've been transitioning for over a year and I'm not feeling it. I miss having my hair straight. I could have a heat reggi, but I'm not that committed to the natural movement. I think I'm gonna textlax this weekend.... I think I've gained enough knowledge from LHCF to continue to take better care of my hair be it chemically treated or natural.

 

[naija24]

when do yall recommend texlaxing? I think I did it a few years back to make my afro more managable. I would prefer to do a texlax over an actual relaxer, but could someone explain the difference between the two?

If you did texlax, aren't you no longer natural?

 

[Onhergrind09]

naija24, to my understanding the only difference between those who texlax and those who are relaxed is the extent to which they relax their curl pattern. You texlax with relaxer, you just remove it before it fully relaxes your curl pattern. Another alternative is to just texturize, using a texturizer (as opposed to a relaxer) which will also relax your curl pattern, but presumably not as much a sa relaxer, therefore, there's less chance that your curl pattern will be too relaxed, but that how much a texturizer or a relaxer affects your curl pattern will depend on the curl pattern you're starting with. I hope this helps

 

[naija24]

@naija24, to my understanding the only difference between those who texlax and those who are relaxed is the extent to which they relax their curl pattern. You texlax with relaxer, you just remove it before it fully relaxes your curl pattern. Another alternative is to just texturize, using a texturizer (as opposed to a relaxer) which will also relax your curl pattern, but presumably not as much a sa relaxer, therefore, there's less chance that your curl pattern will be too relaxed, but that how much a texturizer or a relaxer affects your curl pattern will depend on the curl pattern you're starting with. I hope this helps

is texturizing a better alternative than relaxing?

I just did the big chop and I just know by 5/6 inches i'm gonna be over it. I've done the big chop like 4 times in the last 5 years and each time I reach a limit with my hair where i just can't stand the daily grind of taking care of it in its natural state.

I'm at 1 inch now and I'm doing braids to help grow it out (and get over the shock of not having hair again) but I'm also thinking about the future too.

 

[nemi95]

when do yall recommend texlaxing? I think I did it a few years back to make my afro more managable. I would prefer to do a texlax over an actual relaxer, but could someone explain the difference between the two?

If you did texlax, aren't you no longer natural?

A textlax is an underprocessed relaxer. You will no longer be natural when any chemicals alter your curl pattern. I would rather love my hair more than to just love being able to claim natural. Right now I'm hating natural hair. It's not for everyone.

 

[dicapr]

Thank you ladies for all the advice and support. I'll try using heat to stretch it for now. In a couple months if I'm still frustrated I'll go ahead and texlax.

You may want to look into a keratin treatment. It made my hair more manageable. It also wears off in 3 months so it isn't permanent. It basically gives me a lightly texlaxed feel without the commitment.

 

[Napp]

You may want to look into a keratin treatment. It made my hair more manageable. It also wears off in 3 months so it isn't permanent. It basically gives me a lightly texlaxed feel without the commitment.

I agree. I actually feel like this is a better option to try first then immediately getting a relaxer. Make sure not to use high heat and a well trusted formula. If you decide it is not for you you might as well go on and relax.