Relaxer Stretch

[NYAmicas]

I;ve just been doing twist outs and bantu knots--Im on week 13 and my roots are crazy.

Havent decided how long Im going to stretch this time.

 

[Aggie]

I usually stretch my relaxers for 12-14 weeks. This time I'm stretching about 30 weeks - keeping my fingers crossed to complete it. I am currently at 19 and a half weeks. After this loooong stretch though I am returning to keeping my stretches between 10 - 12 weeks at a time because I feel like my hair is growing faster than it was before so I won't stretch this long anymore. I deep condition a lot but I am wearing boxed braids now for this long stretch.

 

[chebaby]

i am on month 7. i used to stretch all the time and it never bothered me because i was getting it pressed and curled every other week. now i still stretch but i rollerset every week, sometimes twice a week. im planning on transitioning.
my leave ins are HE HH, salerm 21 b5, redken butter treat and they all do what they claim to. so for right now i am good.
after i rollerset i flat iron my roots

 

[Lady Esquire]

I'm not stretching... transitioning... 40 weeks (10 months)
into my transition.

Low Manipulation is KEY!!!
I can't stress that enough.
Biggest lesson I ever learned on LHCF.

ITA w/bolded. Tommorrow makes 18 weeks for me. I am on my second 6-month stretch. So far so good. Six more weeks to go.

* First 11 weeks or so, I would prepoo, DC, rinse w/Capilo Sole and Cinnamon rinse, rollerset, silk wrap...weekly.

* Remaining weeks, I prepoo, DC, rinse w/Capilo rinse, airdry 80%, lightly blow-dry on cool, flat-iron...biweekly.

* I like this new schedule. Its the best way to manage NG. Once it gets too bushy, I handle my hair less and less.

* When I get to a certain length, I want to try braid-outs, twist-outs, wash-n-gos.

* I also have yet to master that sleek "salon look" which is the last thing to make me the BOMB DIYer.

 

[Platinum]

I'm 23 weeks post, I only have one more week to go for my 6 month stretch. I didn't think I could do it, honestly. But I've managed to do it. I was actually transitioning in the beginning, but I miss my relaxed hair. If I do decide to go natural, I'm going to wear a wig until I'm ready to BC. Because I hate having two textures. I'd rather just go big or go home.

Great job! Are you going to post pics?

 

[filthyfresh]

Great job! Are you going to post pics?

Thanks! And yes I am. LOL.
I'm probably going to bring my camera to the salon.

 

[Nanyanika]

i'm ending my stretch mid August, after i will touch-up every 12 weeks

 

[Aggie]

i'm ending my stretch mid August, after i will touch-up every 12 weeks

After my long stretch, this is the same decision that I made for my ownhair as well.

 

[chebaby]

its been nine months already. i cant believe it but i am transitioning to natural.
my onlu problem now is finding styles that are cute but not too much manipulation or heat. tonight im gonna co wash and flat iron but i dont even want to do that.

 

[NYAmicas]

Stretching again and I know I cant compete with some of you ladies, Im approaching week 6. I didn't process my relaxer well when I retouched in April so Im dealing with it the best way I know how. Which isnt much.erplexed
Hair master suggested I try Joico so I need to get that and maybe it'll help with my tangly hair and dry scalp.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

I just got a fresh relaxer last week. I'd like to stretch until October and get a fresh relaxer for my 1 yr anniversary. Chances are I'd be wigging it and wearing braids or a weave just to let my hair rest. We'll see....

 

[The Princess]

Im at 7 weeks post and I notice well its now official, that my NG is comming in alot smoother not has hard as before, therefore I can stretch to 12-14 weeks which is my goal, and the aloe vera gel and coconut oil I order will really assist me with that.

Going back just in case I left some of you all in the dark.erplexed Before I came to this site, I had order some hair skin and nails vitamins and also some Ultra Mega for women using them together. I was used to just relaxing my hair every 7-8 weeks every times, never heard of anything called streching until comming here, I didn't even know you could do that. I was taking the pills faithfully, and I felt NG, but it was soft and my hair was still looking decents, I mean laying on my head flat. I relax my hair cause I was at 7-8 weeks, and was like, dang I just wasted some relaxer cause I could have waited another 2-3 weeks so I was upset with myself. The light bulb should have come in right then. So I stop taking the pills for a month and my hair was bushy and the NG was rough and hard again. So I started back taking them, and once again my NG is soft and at Im at that stage again, when I would usually relax my hair but this time im streching for 12-14 weeks. Im not saying this product will do the same for you, but from my own observation it working for me. Its a keeper,

I will keep you all posted with the vits. I also will have pics when I do relax, cause my avator is super old.

I'm curious to see how far everyone is stretching their relaxers. I'm at week 9 and am stretching for the first time without braids. So far so good. Only thing is I can't keep my hands out of my new growth

Also, please share the one thing you do or product you use that assists in the stretching.


Thanks in advance.

 

[MiWay]

I just relaxed at 6 months (26 weeks) post. I was transitioning, but decided I wasn't ready. Co-washing, and bunning with JBCO and Fantasia IC Gel helped me get thru. Every so often I'd flatiron my hair, but I didn't want to get in the habit of relying on heat.

 

[Ramya]

From now on I'm going to stretch to 16 weeks. I am currently 10 weeks post and doing fine as long as I keep up with my washing 2-3 times a week.

 

[TLC1020]

From now on I am going to stretch no more than 10 weeks I usually stretch 3 months but my roots become so tightly curled that they begin to look like dreds. At touch time my roots are often underprocessed b/c of the tight coils. If anyone knows how to unloosen the curl pattern please let me know .

 

[IWantBSl09]

I'm currently at 13 weeks now! This is a first for me...but I notice my hair gets tangled once dry. So I'm really trying not to touch it or mess with it alot. Plus Ive been shedding alot too. I started taking some garlic pills to see if those will help with the shedding. I am also gonna see if I can find Roux porosity control as I heard this works wonders on tangled hair...but please correct me if I'm wrong on this or if there are other alternatives.

 

[Misseyl]

I'm also 13 weeks and what I do not is wash every 2 weeks, lay it back into a ponytail and don't comb it for the 2 weeks. I rinse everynight and that's it...I have 3 more weeks to go before getting a touchup, can't wait

 

[Britt]

From now on I am going to stretch no more than 10 weeks I usually stretch 3 months but my roots become so tightly curled that they begin to look like dreds. At touch time my roots are often underprocessed b/c of the tight coils. If anyone knows how to unloosen the curl pattern please let me know .

Maybe supplements might help? Plenty of members on the board have said that MSM enables them to stretch their relaxers b/c it softens/loosens their new growth a bit.

 

[Sepia_Rose]

I'm a little over 13 weeks post and I'm trying to hang in there for the full 20 I'd planned. erplexed Eventually I want to stretch to a full six months, only relaxing twice a year.

 

[Cocoa21]

I stretched for the first time and went 24 wks. I'm proud of that but I honestly think it did more damage than good. I was going to transition but I missed my relaxed hair so I went back to relaxers. I also studied the board and noticed alot of naturals were tex-laxing and after weighing my options and hearing the opinions from all three sides (natural, tex-laxed, and relaxed) I concluded that relaxing is best for helping me maintain long healthy hair. So much hair broke off from tangles and knots and dealing with two textures that ultimately, if I decide to go natural in the future, I'm BC'ing as soon as I have a mini fro. Along with that, when I relaxed my hair, it was so coily and thick that I ended up underprocessed. =(

I did pretty good for the first three months of my stretch, so I'm sticking with stretching for 12 wks from now on.

 

[PureSilver]

I'm currently 20wks post. I'll be 26wks when i relax come july MTH end. I'm really embracing stretching becase my hair loves to be left alone. My weaves are my best friends and i'm really happy my hair is getting longer and so much thicker. I'm hoping to be close to BSL once i relax.

Did i mention this is my longest stretch ever an i'll definately be stretching till the nd of Decmber after i relax in July. I have type 4b1 hair and even though this is my longest stretch it's been my best stretch to date. I haven't noticed or had any major setbacks just the usually shedding of dead hair.

I'm really excited and i thank LHCF and BHM for all the knowledge i've acquired in learning how to truly care for my hair.

 

[Hot40]

I just stretched my 11 for 16 weeks she wore braids all summer.

 

[Hot40]

Ok please tell me what does stretching do ??

 

[lavnder]

I stretch between 16 & 17 weeks, I love the results so far

 

[mjeffers2]

Glycerin and water mix. I did alot of flexi-rods b/c I didnt want to manipulate that new growth and flexis were the only thing that would have stopped me from combing and brushing my hair.

 

[fivetimestwo]

I was initially going to stretch for 16 weeks (last relaxer in mid-June) but since I have an event coming up in September I'll be relaxing then. I really am just focusing more on my new growth when I detangle and so far everything seems to be working out fine. I also am sure to put more moisturizer on my new growth. I really think the moisture is the key to a successful stretch. This last wash I had a little more hair in the comb but it's probably just because I didn't really detangle the last time when I just rinsed my hair (after a workout, I just wanted to get the salt out of my hair). I think next time I will at least co-wash so I don't lose as much when I detangle again.

 

[fivetimestwo]

Ok please tell me what does stretching do ??

I think the purpose is to prevent overlapping when applying the relaxer, which in turn will cut down on overprocessing and damaged hair. If you wait a long time to relax, the line of demarcation (where the relaxed hair meets the new growth) is much easier to see and therefore, it's easier to only get the relaxer on the new growth.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong

 

[TLC1020]

I am 7 weeks post right now, going 12-13 weeks this time. I was going no more than 10 but I'm going to see how this stretch goes.

 

[feelfree]

I have been stretching for months at a time since about 2004. My hairs' salvation has been my Rusk Sensories Smoother Leave-In Conditioner and my moisturizing spritz. I last relaxed in early April and will stretch until Thanksgiving.

 

[Hot40]

Is it easier to stretch the longer you hair is?