I Made An Appointment To Relax My Hair.

[InsertCleverNameHere]

Actually it seems to me that all locs are unless you become self sufficient which I obviously won't since I can't even manage loose hair. I been lurking in the locs thread and that section of YouTube for a while now.

Locs are the easiest style ever. My daughter had some when she was little and it was awesome. I not only dislike doing hair, but I'm also not good at it. We started a new set a few months ago. My best friend has some too. She got rid of some very long ones and ended up right back a couple of years later.

It's basically the only style you can neglect for a month and still look like a civilized human. And you don't have to treat them gently...just rip those suckers apart if they try to merge. I'd have them if my fine and thin hair wouldn't make mine look like 12 pieces of spaghetti.

 

[GGsKin]

Go through and enjoy your hair @Crackers Phinn. I hope you come back and post pics.

 

[LadyPBC]

@teressa9 can you provide more details? What exactly, did your texlax consist of? Lye or no-lye? Which brand? Did you tell your stylist how to do it or did you trust them to know what to do? How is your hair coming along 2 weeks later? Do you have pics you're willing to share? Inquiring minds want to know!

Believe me, I hear you. Reading your story was reading my own. I have Transitioned-Big Chopped 3 times with years in between. I tried, I really did, but it just wasn't working. I went ahead and texlaxed (at a salon) 2 weeks ago and am very, very happy. I've decided to just focus on growing healthy, long(ish) hair.
So, I'm not pushing you to relax but I'm not trying to stop you either. Sounds like with relaxed hair, you just need to relax it sooner, maybe every 3 or 4 months instead. Let us know what you did (pics plz).

@shortdub78 - same questions for you!

Let me just help push you off of the ledge!
I did it this past Sunday and I have no regrets! I can't handle long stretches either, so I will be relaxing 8-10 weeks. Do It!

@Nightingale - love your advice but my type 4 tresses want to be free and tangled also my hair is fine or low density so I don't have a full head of glorious hair (darn it) but I'm not complaining.

This is so me! My styling skills are extremely limited so I only do twists and braids (and there "out" styles) and WNGs. If I want something straighter, I have the spiral curlformers and the deep wave curlformers. I don't have any desire to go back to relaxed hair, but understand why some do.@Crackers Phinn I hope your appointment goes well! Post pics afterward!

@frizzy - I think I like your idea and would be willing to try that. I thought I read that you had to have a license to purchase it though. Do you visit a salon and if so what is the asking price -or- DIY?
ETA - oopsie I have this on my hair right now. Not a fan obviously since I didn't remember that I had it on my hair. My hair feels so dry and tangles so easily. I don't use heat on it but it literally feels as it I have nothing on it so maybe it wore off. As I can recall it has a slight scent to it and my hair feels slightly coated after applying it. I think that I need something stronger. After applying it my hair feels fine but don't let it dry

Have you tried the Beautiful Textures Texture Management System (BTTMS or TMS)? I have and I recommend it.
I plan to keep my natural hair straight-ish for who knows how long because I am sick of SSKs and a shorter, crown-area patch of hair. I won't be flat ironing regularly, but I will be blow drying every wash day if I don't do some kind of roller set and sit under the dryer. I know for sure I won't be going to bed or outside with a wet head this Winter.
All that to say, that I would rather be a heat-trained/heat-damaged natural than to risk the health of my scalp any more in life. Try heat!!!!

 

[Evolving78]

@teressa9 can you provide more details? What exactly, did your texlax consist of? Lye or no-lye? Which brand? Did you tell your stylist how to do it or did you trust them to know what to do? How is your hair coming along 2 weeks later? Do you have pics you're willing to share? Inquiring minds want to know!


@shortdub78 - same questions for you!


@Nightingale - love your advice but my type 4 tresses want to be free and tangled also my hair is fine or low density so I don't have a full head of glorious hair (darn it) but I'm not complaining.


@frizzy - I think I like your idea and would be willing to try that. I thought I read that you had to have a license to purchase it though. Do you visit a salon and if so what is the asking price -or- DIY?

I used Beautiful Textures no-lye/regular. I based my scalp with petroleum jelly. I separated my hair in 6 sections. I started along the hair shaft first on the sides. Next, I worked on my ends, once i saw my hair starting to process, I started applying it to my roots. I didn't comb anything through and I used my hands to smooth. It was much easier to do that since it was a virgin.
25 mins total (applying/smoothing) to achieve bone straight for me.
I used no-lye because I wanted it as straight as possible. After that, I rinsed, neutralized 4 times, last time letting the shampoo sit for 5 mins, then I used ORS mayo for a protein treatment. Dc'ed with silk Elements mega silk moisture treatment (tan)etc...

 

[mstar]

I am so happy with my locs. Easiest style ever, and if you have the right swag, you can always look effortlessly stylish wearing them.

And then you can pop on a wig when you want to change up the look.

 

[DarkJoy]

I stay dreaming about the creamy crack! So I feel you OP! If it weren't for the eczema on my scalp I'd have returned yearrsssssss ago!

Best of luck on your new look!

 

[yaya24]

Congratulations! !!!
Share pics!

 

[frizzy]

@frizzy - I think I like your idea and would be willing to try that. I thought I read that you had to have a license to purchase it though. Do you visit a salon and if so what is the asking price -or- DIY?
ETA - oopsie I have this on my hair right now. Not a fan obviously since I didn't remember that I had it on my hair. My hair feels so dry and tangles so easily. I don't use heat on it but it literally feels as it I have nothing on it so maybe it wore off. As I can recall it has a slight scent to it and my hair feels slightly coated after applying it. I think that I need something stronger. After applying it my hair feels fine but don't let it dry

I have used the system 2X so far. I had much better results the first time because I didn't use as much of the "Step 2" as I did the second time. The results you have now, stiff and tangly is what I got the second time around because I didn't want to leave a corner of the product in the bottle so I ended up using too much. Once I washed my hair a week later with the shampoo and conditioner they give you, my hair was good. I didn't even blow dry that time.

Bone straight is not what I want all the time and not even half the time, but this has helped me with my hair not reverting so much, and keeping my ends from forming SSKs. I'm experimenting with different products and being a blow-dried, straight natural.

Good luck with your decision!

ETA--When I didn't use too much of the product, my hair didn't feel coated at all.

 

[nyeredzi]

I feel you. The only thing I'd say is try something other than the same 2 things you've been trying on and off for the last decade or so. Of course you can do what you want, but since you're up for a change, maybe that BKT thing or some such is worth looking into.

I want to do something to my natural hair too, but I'm now to chicken pit to try anything.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

I am so happy with my locs. Easiest style ever, and if you have the right swag, you can always look effortlessly stylish wearing them.

And then you can pop on a wig when you want to change up the look.

I agree. The only difficulty I had was starting them and that's because of my hair texture. Now that they've started to bud it's smooth sailing.There's a lot of people who don't retwist for two months and it still looks awesome depending on how it's styled.

My hair is still frizz city but locs or not, that's how it's always been. My hair has never looked "neat" after 3-4 days ever with braids, twists, or anything.
I think locs are only high maintenance when they're either sisters or you have way too many (LocCrush comes to mind. Gorgeous hair but before she merged them she had over 300 and did them herself!)

 

[mstar]

The only difficulty I had was starting them and that's because of my hair texture.

I've been meaning to post in the locs thread for the past 16 months that I've had them but I've been lurking. DH was ready to fly to wherever you are and fight that shampoo girl who washed out your progress a few months ago. We were both so pissed on your behalf lmao!

I'm gonna come chat with you guys in the thread tonight.

 

[mstar]

Re: BKT, I would just say to be careful. I regret the roughly 2 years that I spent BKT'ing my hair, because those cancer-causing chemicals are still in my system.

They say that it washes out or whatever, but I BKT'd in 2010-2011, and when I started my locs in June 2015, some of my hair was still growing in too straight to loc properly. That stuff is still in my body...and if it's affecting my hair, who knows what other parts of my health it's affecting?

I think the current formulas are allegedly safer than what we used back in 2010, but I would still advise being really cautious...

 

[JustSitNBePretty]

As Andre 3000 says: "DON'T DO IT! RECONSIDER! READ SOME LITER-ATURE...on the subject."

 

[sgold04]

I'm never going back to the creamy crack, but I support your decision

It seems like after the initial stages, locs are pretty low maintenance (from what my friends say), are you sure you don't want to go that route?

No need to reply to me, just food for thought. If I ever get to the point where I'm over my hair, I'll loc.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

I've been meaning to post in the locs thread for the past 16 months that I've had them but I've been lurking. DH was ready to fly to wherever you are and fight that shampoo girl who washed out your progress a few months ago. We were both so pissed on your behalf lmao!

I'm gonna come chat with you guys in the thread tonight.

Lolllllllllll tell your DH thanks for the concern. That's too cute! Come on over! Would love to hear your story

 

[JerriBlank]

As Andre 3000 says: "DON'T DO IT! RECONSIDER! READ SOME LITER-ATURE...on the subject."

I feel you Crackers. My son is gonna have locs, and I might loc too. SO has freeforms. Not sure yet, but why not?
I can always undo them, or cut and start over if I don't like them. I'm still rocking with the natural for now, but because I've always known that if I had a son, he would have locs, it's becoming more and more realistic for me to wear them myself.

 

[Rocky91]

Where the pics at tho????

 

[Crackers Phinn]

Where the pics at tho????

appointment is not until Tuesday afternoon.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Crackers Phinn
So....Excited for You!

Are you doing any kind of "pre-prep" before Tuesday?

 

[Lynn84]

I feel ya! I'm so frustrated with my hair and it seems like when I try something with it I just mess it up.

I tried to BKT at home (huge f'ing mistake) and I think I really screwed up my texture. My hair is mostly 4c so it's already a struggle for me to deal with but after the BKT debacle it was just straight up a pia. I started wearing wigs all the time and babying and recently I had crochet braids done. I'm hoping that it's just a time thing and once I get out of the braids things will be somewhat normal cause if my hair is still jacked up I'm gonna go back to relaxing. I love the density of my natural hair and the way my twists are so plump and perfect looking but I'm just hopeless at styling beyond that and hate the tangles and matting.

Good luck with your appointment and I can't wait to see the pics!

 

[nurseN98]

Good luck @Crackers Phinn ! I hope it works out well for you. Post some pics if you get a chance

I myself have given up hope...lol. I ignore & neglect my hair so much because I am preoccupied with other things. I have thought about relaxing over the years too. But my problem is that I don't think relaxed hair would stand up to my level of neglect. When I tell y'all I am doing the minimum of care required to keep my hair on my head...i am not lying. SMH...i think my next move is to keep a short cut...that's all I have the energy for these days.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

Well, I'm basing my scalp to get ready for todays festivities. I washed my hair and put it in 4 sections. I should have done 6 or i It's taken me 30 minutes to base one section.

 

[Browndilocks]

waiting on Crackers like

 

[qchelle]

Come on! Lol

 

[frizzy]

You washed your hair!!!!! Uh-oh.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I'm sitting under the dryer with conditioner in my hair.

The relaxer was Affirm lye.

I'm a little miffed because I told her not to do bone straight and since I can't detect nan wave in my head I'm guessing bone straight it is. I will live just will have to be extra diligent about protein treatments. The relaxer was on for 25 minutes but she did a ton of smoothing.

I had an inch of vaseline on my scalp and coating my hair so no burning.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

You washed your hair!!!!! Uh-oh.

Yeah the hair dresser fussed at me but the Vaseline prevented burning

 

[beingofserenity]

Its gonna look so good

 

[frizzy]

Yeah the hair dresser fussed at me but the Vaseline prevented burning

Good I'm glad that worked out.......and you should know better!

 

[frizzy]

@Crackers Phinn

Do you feel any guilt getting the relaxer? I know I felt a twinge of it when I returned to relaxers, but I always knew I would go back natural...and I did.