Do you self relax?

[TwistNMx]

I've been reading a few threads lately and wondered how many of you here self-relax, how long you've been doing it, what do you use as your favorite relaxer, and how well do you do it in the back to avoid overlaping.

I myself used to do it years ago. I've been natural now since 2002.

Thanks everyone

 

[LovelyLionessa]

I just did my first self relaxer a few weeks ago. I used Silk Elements Megasilk lye. My husband did my back sections while I did the front and the sides.

 

[TwistNMx]

I just did my first self relaxer a few weeks ago. I used Silk Elements Megasilk lye. My husband did my back sections while I did the front and the sides.

Priestess,
I notice your name is almost the same. Are you a priestess too or do you just use that name for other reasons?
Anyway, I thought about using the Silk Elements everyone is raving about. I guess it's safer for the hair....yes? However I thought this was a no-lye relaxer. I don't really know if there's a significant difference between the two.
So if I decide to go the relaxing route, I thought about having my husband do the back section also, so it's funny that you mentioned that because in the past I self-relaxed myself and the back was much shorter....go figure.
Anyway, that's a brilliant idea.
Hmmm.....I wonder if other people do this too?
Thanks for writing.

 

[HoneyDew]

I self relax and I have been doing it for years. I have never had a problem with it. My hair problems have been a result of heat use and lack of moisture, but that is another thread.

My favorite relaxer is TCB Naturals - No Lye (BUT NOT THE NEW VALUE SIZED ONE).

I have been wanting to try Silk Elements Lye. Will Sally's let people w/o cosmo licences buy it?

 

[DDTexlaxed]

HP! How ya doing? I self relax because each time I let a pro relax my hair, I got burned. Make sure your scalp is protected and get help if u need. I used to part my hair in 4 sections and apply the relaxer to each section before smoothing the relaxer in. This worked well for me because I would be done with no scalp tenderness. Hope this helps!

 

[LovelyLionessa]

Priestess,
I notice your name is almost the same. Are you a priestess too or do you just use that name for other reasons?
Anyway, I thought about using the Silk Elements everyone is raving about. I guess it's safer for the hair....yes? However I thought this was a no-lye relaxer. I don't really know if there's a significant difference between the two.
So if I decide to go the relaxing route, I thought about having my husband do the back section also, so it's funny that you mentioned that because in the past I self-relaxed myself and the back was much shorter....go figure.
Anyway, that's a brilliant idea.
Hmmm.....I wonder if other people do this too?
Thanks for writing.

Hi High Priestess, how ya doing? I just chose the name Priestess because I'm a girl who loves Jesus and the Word says He's anointed us kings and high priests. High Priestess was going to be my first choice when I registered months ago, but it was taken. I've since grown into plain ol' "Priestess."

Definitely put your hubby to work, girl!! It's just another expression of love when your man can get on board on your haircare journey.



Honeydew, that's the beauty of Sally's, they do allow non-licensed customers to buy their Silk Elements lye relaxer.

 

[HoneyDew]

Honeydew, that's the beauty of Sally's, they do allow non-licensed customers to buy their Silk Elements lye relaxer.

Really! I had no idea. Ok, forget Lady Velvet Lye for now. My next relaxer is going to be Silk Elements Lye!

 

[TwistNMx]

Well...I went to Sallys today and bought the Silk Elements relaxer kit (regular / no=lye).
The store owner raved about this product...a male. He told me that this stuff is selling like hot cakes. Are you guys going to my Sallys?

I was hesitant for years now to do this, but I'm going to try it out and just take good care of my hair.

Anyway as soon as my scalp heals, I will be applying it.

Does anyone here have any suggestions as to how to apply this stuff to virgin hair?

At least when it's done, I will be able to see where the ends are in need of a trim.

 

[MizaniMami]

No advice on how to apply relaxer to virgin hair but I self relax also.

It saves money and I think I do my relaxers better than stylists.

 

[TwistNMx]

No advice on how to apply relaxer to virgin hair but I self relax also.

It saves money and I think I do my relaxers better than stylists.

Right! It also saves sanity. I've had bad experiences with these stylists doing it. I figure I will be aware and careful and if I mess up, at least I did it and know how I did it, and did not pay a lot of money for salon politics and burned out overprocessed hair. You never know what they are doing you know. Nobody cares about your hair as much as yourself.

 

[la flaca]

How do you make sure you're not overlaping?

 

[tniccoleh]

I don't but I wish I did! I can't get over my fear of messing it up...

 

[trulyurangel82]

Ive tried it and really messed my hair up for months. So underprocessed and I had to get it cut. I guess I just wasnt doing it right. Never Again. I envy those that can self relax though.

 

[SelfStyled]

Ive tried it and really messed my hair up for months. So underprocessed and I had to get it cut. I guess I just wasnt doing it right. Never Again. I envy those that can self relax though.

I have tried and same thing- and my hair is very underprocessed. I don't want to go to the salon because I am afraid of over processing, it is such a dilemma. I leave it on for the recommended time, rinse it out and it looks smooth, and then it dries and I find it is still underprocessed. I think I am going to have yo go to the salon for the next time. I also envy those that get good results when they self relax.

 

[sugarose]

I have been self relaxing for years. I use Profective regular and I love it. For not overlapping in the back I just feel with my finger where the new growth stops and then apply the relaxer to where my finger is.

 

[lshevonne]

I self relax with Profectiv Regular. I've done my relaxers off and on for years. As far as the overlapping is it hard. This next time, I think I'll do what others have suggested. Use duckbill clips. I'll place the clips where my texlax and new growth meet. Since I'm telaxing I don't try to get my hair bone straight. To most it may seem under-processed but I like the thickness.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

I did it twice. THe second time was better than the first. I might try it again though and see if I can get better at it.

 

[CAPlush]

I have been self-relaxing for the past 2 relaxers and I've used ORS Lye Normal. It's been a good experience both times. The second time, I used Arcadian's method of clipping sections close to the demarcation line to avoid overlapping. This worked on the front and the back, but I actually had more of a problem overlapping in the front. Also, I used the small color applicator brush and I think this helped avoid overlapping as well.

 

[PinkPeony]

I texturize/texlax with optimum no lye.
To avoid overlapping I start greasing and oiling my already texlaxed hair several days before I relax soit has a protective coating.
When I relax I put a bunch of condi on my previously relaxed hair and seal with vaseline or grease.
I haven't had problems with overlapping ever since.
I think stretching my relaxer and texlaxing/texturizing helps as well

 

[deejoy]

Yeah I holla at it. I find that when I do it, I actually follow the directions and dont experience burning like I did when it was done at the salon.

 

[dlewis]

I did it twice. THe second time was better than the first. I might try it again though and see if I can get better at it.

You look so cute in your siggy.

I don't trust anyone in my hair but me. Yes, I self relax.

 

[Empress Yahudah]

I have been self relaxing for years. I use Profective regular and I love it. For not overlapping in the back I just feel with my finger where the new growth stops and then apply the relaxer to where my finger is.

I am new to self relaxing my last retouch was my first time but it turned out good...I use ElastaQP mild lye... I also use my finger to feel the newgrowth so I dont overlap

 

[thegirltolove]

I do the same thing. I just feel for the wavies with my fingers. I know that it is bad, but I just can't wear the gloves when I relax. I have to be able to feel what is goin' on all-up-in-there! My nails are yellow-ish for a few days, but they will get over it.

I prevent overlapping also by piling on some plain ol' grease on the previously relaxed hair. This has saved my strands from the overlapping.

 

[trulyurangel82]

yeah defintely get it fixed at the salon. Thats what I did. Granted my hair was so underprocessed that I had to get a full relaxer lolol again.
She had to cut the pieces off also so I basically am starting over again.

My hair is thanking me though for going back to the salon. Because it feels so much moisturized. When I had the underprocessed hair my hair felt dry.

I have tried and same thing- and my hair is very underprocessed. I don't want to go to the salon because I am afraid of over processing, it is such a dilemma. I leave it on for the recommended time, rinse it out and it looks smooth, and then it dries and I find it is still underprocessed. I think I am going to have yo go to the salon for the next time. I also envy those that get good results when they self relax.

 

[loveable37]

i never went to a salon since i were 16
I always did my own relaxer(MOTION HERBAL )Its kinda hard to not overlap so do the best u can tha what i do.

 

[pistachio]

You look so cute in your siggy.

I don't trust anyone in my hair but me. Yes, I self relax.

Neither do I!!! Especially the longer it gets I'm afraid of hater stylists trying to purposely over-process my stuff.

 

[SandySea]

I self-relaxed for the first time about 3 weeks ago with ORS relaxer. I've wanted to do this for years (since joining the forum) and finally I did it. Of course being broke and needing a touch-up bad was my driving force, or excuse. Exciting and terrifying at the same time. I was careful to minimize overlap. What I like about the experience is that I had more control over how straight my hair got. I'm trying to grow out bone straight ends, and my last few professional relaxers were a little too underprocessed. By self-relaxing was able to get just the right texture. My hair is growing fast suddenly, so I had a lot of new growth to work with after just 6 weeks (usually go twice that long). I love the results because I can get my hair looking bone straight just by rolling or using a scarf, yet it still has a wave/kink pattern when wet or air dried. This is a first for me b/c my former stylist took great pride in getting my hair silky bone straight, and that's not cute on fine hair. It's nice not having to argue with someone about my hair or be pressured to trim, etc. I think I'm going to try to stick to self-relaxing, and only visit the hair dresser occasionally for washes/sets. Also--I go to chain hair cutting places for my trims.

 

[gymfreak336]

I usually do. I didn't the last time out of just being lazy but I think I am going to have my cousin help me from now on. I just think that with doing it yourself, you can give your hair better attention. I mix in oil into my relaxer, condition before I neutralize and deep condition for nearly an hour afterward. No stylist I have ever been too goes through all of that work.

 

[kitkat3ny]

I usually do. I didn't the last time out of just being lazy but I think I am going to have my cousin help me from now on. I just think that with doing it yourself, you can give your hair better attention. I mix in oil into my relaxer, condition before I neutralize and deep condition for nearly an hour afterward. No stylist I have ever been too goes through all of that work.

That's why I stopped going to stylist. I wasn't seeing the attention can care to my hair that I deserved. I also came out of a salon dissatisfied, rushed.

 

[lunabelle]

I have self-relaxed for years. I have never trusted anyone with putting chemicals in my hair, that's also why I've never had my hair colored. My mom has also made me her personal stylist and she swears I have "growing hands"...so where's my bsl? Anyway,as long as I have my pre-relaxer treatment to prevent overlapping, I'm good. I part my hair in four sections and it's me and the ng.