How many loss alot of hair trying to stretch?

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

I've come to the realization that if I stretch too long my hair breaks nomatter the condition. What good is great growth if you're not able to retain the length? Soooooooooo I'm back to self-relaxing every 6-10 weeks and focusing on the health of my ends.

 

[Tee]

Stretching can be the devil when done incorrectly. Tangles and dryness gave me trouble the first time. When stretching, moisturize really well and detangle using conditioner. I can stretch pretty well now. (I am around 12 or 13 weeks post.)

 

[january noir]

You have to know your hair's limitations.

Long or extended stretching can cause breakage depending on your natural texture and your relaxed hair. If your hair is relaxed bone straight and your natural texture is 4/a/b and kinkier, then stretching will definitely be a problem.

What's helped me stretch longer though is the use of Ovation or Mega-Tek which strengthens my relaxed hair beautifully and keeping my hair pinned up - very low manipulation except during wash days.

 

[MonaLisa]

I had to figure out that every time I used protein during this stretch...it gave me problems...(I was ready to give up the stretch and went whining to Gym)

so I made sure this past week to use strictly moisture (Hairveda's SitriNillah Conditioner and Pantene BD Mask)to see if that would make a difference and that did the trick, no big loss of hair.

So now I know, moisture going forward - and the hair seems to like the Cantu, which has some protein in it afterwards as a leave in.

As of this post, 18 weeks post.

 

[Dposh167]

I had to figure out that every time I used protein during this stretch...it gave me problems...(I was ready to give up the stretch and went whining to Gym)

so I made sure this past week to use strictly moisture (Hairveda's SitriNillah Conditioner and Pantene BD Mask)to see if that would make a difference and that did the trick, no big loss of hair.

So now I know, moisture going forward - and the hair seems to like the Cantu, which has some protein in it afterwards as a leave in.

As of this post, 18 weeks post.

hairveda's conditioners make a HUGGGGE difference. i never have tangle issues on wash day when i use it

 

[MonaLisa]

hairveda's conditioners make a HUGGGGE difference. i never have tangle issues on wash day when i use it

Complete agreement.
It's been a godsend..really good stuff...

My hair has really responded to using that and MillCreek.

Wish I had started using sooner.

Betta late than never...

 

[prospurr4]

I usually relax at 8 weeks, but this time I'm going to touchup at 12 weeks, because I'm tryna schedule it around a few upcoming special events. Anyway, I'm currently 7 weeks post.

To get me to 12 weeks, w/o unnecessary breakage, I do a light protein treatment midway the stretch, at about 6 or 7 weeks. Low manipulation is key for me, so once a week, I cowash, detangle and do a spiral set that lasts 7 days, until next washday. During the week, I moisturize my ends at bedtime and cover my hair with a satin bonnet.

ETA: I'm thinking that in 2009, I'm gonna start routinely stretching to at least 10 weeks and a max of 12 weeks.

 

[*KP*]

I was doing weekly protein treatments (mild - Aphogee 2 Minute Keratin Reconstructor) so I didn't see breakage. The Aphogee 2min is also great for detangling, it wasn't until I skipped a week that I started to see breaking. Another thing that really helps to tame the new growth is to apply a deep moisturizing conditioner with a relaxer applicator brush...it uses A LOT of product but the results are amazing.

 

[Solitude]

The longest I have been able to stretch is 2 months. After that, my NG got all tangled. I figured out that I can stretch longer, I just can't wear straight styles after 5 or 6 weeks. I'm going to try to make it until Thanksgiving (I'm 7 weeks post) by co-washing & bunning- since it's cold outside, I'll wash at night and let my hair dry partially under a hood dryer after I slick it back into a ponytail.

 

[mistee11]

I lose hair from tangles and knots that I try to remove.

Not pretty.

Same here... so sad!

 

[Lanea87]

When I use to stretch for 26 weeks I realized that I would see like 3 inch curly hairs just sticking up, not lots but enough to notice. Then I realized that my hair was breaking at the demarcation line so no more 6 month stetches for me 16-20 and thats it.

 

[shyekiera]

can someone explain the stretching process and the purpose of it?

 

[Aggie]

I voted for my hair loops and tangles at the roots because I realized that this is happening to me now. I am 10 weeks post and I lost quite a bit of hair when I washed and DC'ed this past weekend. I really wanted to stretch for another 8 weeks, but I don't think that will happen, so I will relax on Wednesday and again, 7.5 weeks later. I will not go beyond 10 weeks anymore unless I'm in braids or a weave. I really think my hair is growing faster so for now it will be stretching 8-10 weeks only.

 

[The Princess]

OMG I get those knots and tangles. I lose alot of hair.

 

[Aggie]

can someone explain the stretching process and the purpose of it?

Hi, stretching the relaxer helps in giving the hair a small break from the chemical processing and helps to avoid over-lapping the existing relaxed hair. Most people interested in stretching their relaxers usually do by adding an extra week to the stretch each time they relax.

For example if they usually relax every 6 weeks, then the next time they would stretch it to 7 weeks and the next time they'd stretch for 8 weeks and so on and so on until they reach their desired goal stretch which may be every 12 or 16 or even 26 weeks, etc, etc...

It is recommended to stretch this way because of the compromised demarcation line, this is where the new growth meets the relaxed hair. This is a very delicate line in the hair and when one takes too long to relax, hair breakage occurs especially if protein and deep conditioning treatments are not done in a timely fashion. And sometimes, even if they are done, this line is still pretty compromised and breaks anyway.

One must pay close attention to the needs of the hair if considering stretching the relaxer. If the breakage becomes excessive, then I would recommend going ahead and relax. This has saved many a my fine strands, just listening to what my hair is saying to me at the time.

Even though stretching is well-intentioned, it can cause extreme damage if allowed to go on too long too quickly. I sure hope this helps a little.

 

[Auburn]

No, I do not loss
No mam!

 

[MoniintheMiddle]

I am currently 24 weeks post I don't lose a lot of hair. I think initially I did but then I learned how to take better care of both textures. Things that work for me:
1-prepoo
2-wash in sections (a must)
3-deep condition with every wash
4-coconut oil, coconut oil and more coconut oil
5-protective styling

 

[netnet26]

I am the one who CAN NOT stretch...My hair is very fine and the two textures just can not cope!!....Way Way to much unneccessary breakage. Its like putting a kitten in a lions domain!!


**********************
http://fotki.com/denettra/

 

[takincareofme]

To be honest this is my first time experiencing breakage during a stretch. The way I avoided it in the past is not pretty

I didn't wash after eight weeks (no combing either) - that's when I stretched to 12 weeks.

The other times I have been in braids.

 

[peppers01]

Didn't read any of the other replies, but my reasoning for hair breakage when stretching is that your new growth is so much more stronger than your relaxed hair. So when your trying to comb from roots to ends (especially when wet), it snapped the weaker part of the hair strands. I don't stretch, because I noticed when I didn't relax as normal (which is every 6 - 8 weeks), I had horrible shedding after I washed my hair. So if you keep your new growth relaxed on a normal basis the hair is equally as weak/ strong and no snapping hairs. Don't want to step on toes with the stretching but personally for my 4 a/b hair type it didn't help.

 

[girlyprincess23]

I lose a lot of hair stretching past 12 weeks (which btw I do not do anymore) and I lose it due to breakage at the demarcation line, and the thinning is terrible. It has taken me just under a year to recover from that mistake. If I want to stretch past a certain point I use braided styles to keep from having to manipulate it. So like another poster said I really really coat the previously relaxed hair to make sure there is no overlapping or run off and just go ahead and relax my hair when I have about 2 inches of new growth whenever that occurs.

 

[The Princess]

From reading previous post about losing hair during stretching, I load my hair full of conditioner. Cowash frequently.

 

[Butterfly08]

I don't have any problems. The longest I've gone is 15 weeks but I am shooting for 17 this time. Stretching is an art form and if you pay attention to your hair and what it likes it gets easier each time. Frequent cowashes help me - the hair needs to stay moist. I also moisturize the line of demarcation and my ends every day, if not twice a day with diluted conditioners such as Kenra MC. The only thing I struggle with now is poofiness since I rarely use direct heat, but I don't have any breakage issues.

 

[MonaLisa]

I think I was good up until week twenty...twenty-one...then something went horribly wrong when I ran out of my SitriNillah and tried to use something else...and it was a wrap....

I would never, ever stretch twenty-six or more weeks without everything I need in adequate supply. Made the mistake of not listening to my hair because I was trying to reach a goal. Hard lesson learned...won't happen again...

 

[MyHeavenlyFatherKnows]

I can't stretch until I acquire some products to aid in that (in the future i will make the investment). For now, my 4a/b/asdfgh hair starts twisting, knotting and tangling all my hair and it would take a daily washing (something I also do not do) to keep it decent. All that manipulation to keep my strands from putting each other in a half-nelson is not worth it for me at the moment and after long enough the line of demarcation becomes a field of ng and my hair just looks like a bad weave...

 

[truthbetold]

I just had a horrible experience with this. And I'm only at week 8 of a 12 wk stretch! I noticed broken hairs while moisturizing so I added egg to my dc. Rinsed it out and though the breakage stopped my hair was tangled beyond belief (which is never a problem for me). It took me 2 days to figure out that I have to start detangling by sectioning off my hair into 4 sections (as if relaxing) with ORS rep pak, under hot water if I'm going to be stretching this long again. I feel like the biggest idiot and am still depressed about the amount of hair I've lost.

 

[Aggie]

I just had a horrible experience with this. And I'm only at week 8 of a 12 wk stretch! I noticed broken hairs while moisturizing so I added egg to my dc. Rinsed it out and though the breakage stopped my hair was tangled beyond belief (which is never a problem for me). It took me 2 days to figure out that I have to start detangling by sectioning off my hair into 4 sections (as if relaxing) with ORS rep pak, under hot water if I'm going to be stretching this long again. I feel like the biggest idiot and am still depressed about the amount of hair I've lost.

For those relaxer stretchers who haven't yet checked out this thread by Patricia should go on over and read it. You are going to be really glad you did - I know I was. Here is the link:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?p=6757105#post6757105

 

[charmtreese]

My last stretch was 22 weeks (i have stretch longer), but what made this particular stretch much easier was, flat ironing my NG once a week after cleansing, DC'ing & rollersetting. Because my hair responds well to the products I use, detangling is a breeze, I could have went longer but I wanted to really see my progress.

 

[jaded_faerie]

Its been smooth sailing for me, but then again I NEVER comb my hair...
What has been the biggest issue for me, is retaining moisture. Its gotten a lot better since I've upped my deep conditioning to 3x a week, switching between a protein con and a moisturizing con. I also TRY to moisturize twice a day and seal with hairvedas vatika frosting.

 

[Aggie]

Its been smooth sailing for me, but then again I NEVER comb my hair...
What has been the biggest issue for me, is retaining moisture. Its gotten a lot better since I've upped my deep conditioning to 3x a week, switching between a protein con and a moisturizing con. I also TRY to moisturize twice a day and seal with hairvedas vatika frosting.

THis is especially true for me too. I think stretching for me is a breeze now because of these very same reasons - protein and moisture balancing.