4B Stretchers, Check In!

[Mocha5]

How long do you stretch? Any suggestions, tips, advice for a sista cause I'm struggling.

 

[MizAvalon]

CW works wonders for me!

 

[StrawberryQueen]

CW works wonders for me!

*whines* Where are your hair pics!

 

[TLC1020]

I'll be 3mths post this week and relaxing on Thursday :woohoo:
I say low Maintenance styles and keep your hair well moisturized at all cost b/c your hair can soak up a lot of moisture during your stretch.

 

[PecanCandy]

I usually stretch about 4 mnths. I maintain by wearing instant weaves/half wigs for the last 2 mnths. It works great for me. I try to have as little manipulation as possible. My hair loves to be left ALONE.

 

[princesslocks]

I stretch for 12- 16 weeks. I did a 5 month stretch but that was done with braids in my hair.

Product Advice

- CO washes are great w/ VO5 Champagne & Strawberries (great slip)

- Silicon Mix Shampoo (bought this in NY) Works well with the Deep Condition
- Silicon Mix Conditioner (enormous slip) Gets me through everytime
- Giovannni Direct Leave In (enormous slip)

These should help you .

HTH

 

[elaine07]

My last stretch was only 12 weeks. I probably could have gone longer, but I got sick of bunning every day. The easiest way for me to stretch is when I have a sew-in weave. Besides buns/ponytails and braidouts, I don't know what else you can do. Hang in there Chica!

 

[Cien]

How long do you stretch? Any suggestions, tips, advice for a sista cause I'm struggling.

--------------
SCurl on the new growth--and if you bun like I do, Elasta QP Mango Butter, with spritz of water helps to lay my edges down. I read that in a thread awhile back.......
I do this in the morning while I'm getting dressed (although at night is better)---then tie a silk or satin scarf around my hair to give it the pressure it needs to flatten my hair and edges.

I've been doing that for awhile, and it really helps me during my stretches. Condition Washes helps me also.

I usually stretch at least 12 weeks.
However, I'm now on week 13. I'm going to try to go 2 more weeks--until August 31st.

 

[mrsjohnson75]

I stretch for 12 weeks....scurl and ntm silk touch leave-in keeps my new growth soft, also I don't try to comb it and I wear curly styles like bantu knots and braidouts so you don't see the new growth.

Oh yeah and DC is very important. Moisture is the key!

 

[ddean]

I say low Maintenance styles and keep your hair well moisturized at all cost b/c your hair can soak up a lot of moisture during your stretch.

What she said!!!
I also cut back on washing my hair to once per week after about 7 or 8 weeks post. I need to do this in order to cut down on the amount of manipulation due to detangling.

 

[locabouthair]

*whines* Where are your hair pics!

I know right. Cmon Mzavalon. we wanna see the hair

im 4b im at 9 weeks right now. i think with stretching its not so much the weeks but how much growth u get. my hair grows rather slowly maybe like less than 1/4 inch a month. yes that slow. so if i got the average 1/2 inch per month i probably couldnt go longer than 8 weeks unless i applied heat.

i go for 11 weeks. as long as i keep the ng moisturized im good. i use a big tooth comb when i comb. never use a small tooth comb, you're asking for trouble if u do. as long i keep it moist the tangles and breakage are at bay. the problem i have with stretching is that my hair looks a mess when i try to style it.

i see a lot of people using s curl and i couldnt agree more. my friend sused to laugh at me for using it but my hair is coarse s curl softens it like nobodys business plus it's cheap. just remember to clarify regularly cuz it can cause some buildup.

 

[charmtreese]

I have stretched from anywhere between 4-7 months.

However, I'm going to cut down on the stretching and touch-up every 3-4 months. Normally what I do to aid in stretching is low manipulation styles (ie buns) DC with every wash, moisturize my NG at least twice a day and air dry.

 

[DreamLife]

I'm 11 weeks, gettin a relaxer tommorrow but I usually just wash/co airdry under a scarf and bun every couple days using NTM leave in. Right now I'm lookin a mess tho.erplexed I'm still in the process of figuring out what works.

 

[janeemat]

I am 11 wks post. Deep cond with each wash (2 wkly) rollerset and fingercomb. As far as cond that's helping me this stretch is a Dom cond NONI. I also moisturize my ends twice a day and fingercomb until the next wash. I plan to relax at 13 wks post.

 

[Mocha5]

Thanks, Ladies. I'm about to be a CWing, DCing, moisturizing fool. Back to my bun.

 

[SleepyJean]

How long do you stretch? Any suggestions, tips, advice for a sista cause I'm struggling.

I'm about to five mos in a week and a half. I've done braidouts the whole time. I keep them really moisturized, so my hair doesn't get dry and tangly.

 

[IntoMyhair]

i've went 18 weeks and scurl worked along with some C&G braids

 

[blueabyss333]

I'm 13 weeks going for 20 (as long as I can keep these braids in, it's only been one week). My first 12+ week stretch I wore a wig after 3 months, and now I'm wearing braids. I was camping during weeks 6-11 and did wash-n-gos making sure I moisturized twice a day. Scurl and WGO work excellent with my new growth. ORS OO always moisturizes. Good luck ladies!

 

[Ms. Plain Jane]

S Curl?

S Curl what?

Juice? Lotion? What exactly does it do? If it's a liquid that you're using, how do you prevent getting it on anything besides your new growth?

 

[MzPrince]

I stretch for 12- 16 weeks. I did a 5 month stretch but that was done with braids in my hair.

Product Advice

- CO washes are great w/ VO5 Champagne & Strawberries (great slip)

- Silicon Mix Shampoo (bought this in NY) Works well with the Deep Condition
- Silicon Mix Conditioner (enormous slip) Gets me through everytime
- Giovannni Direct Leave In (enormous slip)

These should help you .

HTH

Where can I purchase this? I'm looking for another leave-in.

 

[lana]

Conditioner washes do not work for me. Maybe because I'm texlaxed. I'm on week 9 of my 12 week stretch. I stretch for about 12 weeks because anything after that - I might as well go back natural.

What does work is deep conditioning and then tender loving care. I used to stretch a little longer until I realize that breakage defeats the purpose of stretching. You should only stretch as long as your hair allows. Because anything other than that just slows down your progress. I'm just proud to make it past 8 weeks and anything after that is just wonderful!

Also using straigtening shampoo and conditioner like Redken Smooth Down really really really helps.

 

[blueabyss333]

S Curl?

S Curl what?

Juice? Lotion? What exactly does it do? If it's a liquid that you're using, how do you prevent getting it on anything besides your new growth?

I use the blue and white bottle. It moisturizes and keeps the new growth soft. If the line of decremation (where new growth and relaxed hair meets) is dry it will cause breakage. I use it when my hair is wet from washing otherwise it's too sticky. It does get on previously relaxed hair, but I don't care. When I baggy I use it on my ends too.

 

[princesslocks]

Where can I purchase this? I'm looking for another leave-in.

I usually see the Giovanni Leave In at most health food stores in the Beauty section (i.e Whole Foods, Wild Oats)

 

[MzPrince]

Thanks Princesslocks, I'll take a trip this weekend.

 

[tschizum]

I'm attempting my first 3 month stretch so far I'm 6 weeks in. I think alot of it has to do with the products you use that work for your hair. My new growth has come in so soft and manageable since my last relaxer, and since joining here its easier to detangle and I actually use a comb.I couldn't do it before without breaking off half my hair

 

[PreteeBella]

I'm currently at 19wks post but I want to stretch to 24 erplexed This is the longest I have ever stretched. I use Scurl FAITHFULLY because I'm scared of breakage and I have a spray bottle of water, humectress, and Scurl I spray under my sew-in (I was able to stretch this long utilizing cornrows and sewn-in weaves). I co wash every week. Have any of my other 4Bs stretched this long or longer? Did you have an breakage issues? This has been a nerve racking experience erplexed...I don't know if I will do this again!

 

[prospurr4]

How long do you stretch? Any suggestions, tips, advice for a sista cause I'm struggling.

For a while now, I have been stretching to 13 weeks. I don't use direct heat or wear braids, so I "hide" my new growth by wearing rollersets. My hair is texlaxed, so the new growth blends well. I also find that weekly deep conditioning helps soften the new growth, making it a little more manageable.

However, I have decided to do relaxer touch-ups at 8 weeks, instead of my usual 13 weeks. (Is 8 weeks still considered a stretch? )

Right now, I am only 6 weeks post, and my hair is a big poofball. I have been wearing spiral curls (a lot), so my new growth has been a non-issue, even at week 13. But, now I want to enjoy my hair more, while continuing with my healthy hair care. I want to wear sleaker styles, more often, and since I don't use direct heat, that means shortening my stretches.

 

[KBA]

I'm 8 weeks post, I stretch with roller sets and perm rod sets to maintain low manipulation. I also use buns and CO washing during the week.