Should I listen to my stylist?

[Mercie]

The woman that does my hair is a very good friend of mine.
She is a professional hair stylist and she told me that I should be relaxing my hair every 6 weeks.. or whenever I see new growth.

I was stretched to 6 months when she relaxed my hair yesterday

I don't want my hair to overprocess and break off.
She said that my hair was normal-fine

My hair was starting to break off before the relaxer this past week.
Maybe I should only stretch to 3-4 months next time?
Or should I listen to her and do it every 6 weeks

 

[AllAboutMoi]

I would "listen" to my hair. I never relaxed as often as 6 weeks. If you are starting to see breakage you should probably relax.

 

[Mercie]

Thanks, yea I don't like the idea of relaxing that soon too,
It just seems like my head wouldn't even have time to fill out and rest

 

[beans4reezy]

I feel that stretching is good for the hair because quite frankly, too many chemical applications are not beneficial to the hair. However, every head is different, so a six month stretch may be great for me, but could result in some breakage for you. I say stretch for a shorter amount of time...but every six weeks sounds crazy. I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Barbie83]

No, I would NOT listen to her. 6 weeks is way too soon to relax. But perhaps you could stretch for less time. 6 months is a long time, and you have to be very careful about caring for the two textures.

Sort of off topic, but have u ever noticed that just after a relaxer, the hair at your roots stays straight for 2-3 weeks before you start noticing new growth?? It is my humble opinion that the relaxer process "traumatizes" your scalp enough to stunt your growth temporarily. I think this is one of the major reasons why most long-haired LHCF'ers are also stretchers. They're not constantly stunting growth by relaxing all the time.

This is just my opinion. Because my hair stays bone straight at the scalp for at least 2 full weeks before I start to see little curlies start to form. I think I've finally figured out why stretching is so beneficial.

Hope this helps! Listen to your own hair!

 

[beans4reezy]

Sort of off topic, but have u ever noticed that just after a relaxer, the hair at your roots stays straight for 2-3 weeks before you start noticing new growth?? It is my humble opinion that the relaxer process "traumatizes" your scalp enough to stunt your growth temporarily. I think this is one of the major reasons why most long-haired LHCF'ers are also stretchers. They're not constantly stunting growth by relaxing all the time.

This is really interesting. :scratchch

 

[sprungonhairboards]

This is really interesting. :scratchch

Yeah interesting, but I highly doubt it.

Anyway, GIRL DON'T LISTEN TO HER! DON'T RELAX YOUR HAIR NO EVERY 6 WEEKS! That's how stylists make money. There is no way your hair has grown enough in a month and a half to where you NEED a retouch and can safely do so without seriously overlapping (which is the point of stretching).

 

[Still Sexy Stewardess]

If I were to relax again, I would try to stretch out my touch-ups for as long as possible to avoid overprocessing.

No, I would NOT listen to her. 6 weeks is way too soon to relax. But perhaps you could stretch for less time. 6 months is a long time, and you have to be very careful about caring for the two textures.

Sort of off topic, but have u ever noticed that just after a relaxer, the hair at your roots stays straight for 2-3 weeks before you start noticing new growth?? It is my humble opinion that the relaxer process "traumatizes" your scalp enough to stunt your growth temporarily. I think this is one of the major reasons why most long-haired LHCF'ers are also stretchers. They're not constantly stunting growth by relaxing all the time.

This is just my opinion. Because my hair stays bone straight at the scalp for at least 2 full weeks before I start to see little curlies start to form. I think I've finally figured out why stretching is so beneficial.

Hope this helps! Listen to your own hair!

Hmm. I noticed this when I was relaxed. I always thought it was because the relaxer straightens the hair that lies just beneath the scalp. After that straightened hair reaches the surface, the curlies follow. Just my opinion, too.

 

[Still Sexy Stewardess]

Also, it could be that I just didn't have enough hair after 2 weeks to form a curl.

 

[lesedi]

I wouldn't do it ...There's a much higher risk of you overlapping and thinning out your hair in the long run. Not everyone is a long-term stretcher (I know I'm not) but I think 6 weeks is pushing it..

 

[locabouthair]

Every stylist I went to said you're supposed to relax every 6 weeks. I dont see the logic behind this.

I would say stretch for as long as you can without getting breakage at the demarcation line.

6 weeks is way too soon for me.

 

[Newtogrow]

Listen to your hair.

 

[Mercie]

Yes I agree that it would stunt my growth.
Thanks guys, I'll just stretch to whenever I start to see breakage which was exactly around the 6th month.

 

[Taina]

My hair is fine (extremely) i used to relax it between 5 to 7 weeks, because my hair starts to break as soon as the NG started to appear. What's the case of stretching if your hair don't tolerate it?.

 

[Mercie]

My hair was doing perfectly fine with the stretching.. especially when I started to use rollersets and the satin rollers.

The difficult part just came when it came down to combing through the new growth.. it was too much and moisturizing it.

 

[sunshinebeautiful]

I relax when I have a certain amount of newgrowth. I don't think you can just predict and relax every 6 weeks. What was the basis of this advice she gave you?

 

[sunshinebeautiful]

My hair is fine (extremely) i used to relax it between 5 to 7 weeks, because my hair starts to break as soon as the NG started to appear. What's the case of stretching if your hair don't tolerate it?.

I have fine hair too and I don't "stretch" but I usually relax between 8-10 weeks.

 

[hiphoprocker]

this is kinda a touchy topic for me because i have a co worker who is also a very dear friend that is the daughter of a popular stylist here in chicago.. its touchy because i take most of my hair advice from the lovely ladies here and whenever the topic of hair care comes up between us it usually ends in a stale mate lol.. her mom obviously does her hair and i must admit that it is very healthy.. however she doesnt retain her length very well because her mom is constantly "trimming" it off and relaxing it. when the topic of stretching came up a week ago it had a similar conclusion.. a stale mate. i am currently going on 9 weeks post (my very first stretch guys!!!) and when i mentioned this to her she said she relaxes about every four weeks..YES FOUR WEEKS!! Her mom is a self proclaimed, and i quote, "healthy hair specialist" my jaw must have hit the floor when she said this.. and she whole heartedly believes this is the good thing to do..of course i mentioned all the over lapping that has to be going on in her head and her response was, " you dont have to worry about that if the person knows what they're doing". ok, where's my jaw? it has to be across the floor by now.. instead of causing unnecessary tension, i changed the subject to a lighter topic. this is her mom we are talking about. i still cant beleive it.. even before i became a lhcf'er or a stretcher i would never consider every 3-4 weeks!!!! at that point you cant possibly have enough new growth to need a touch up. whether you know what you're doing or not. so, like all the ladies before me said, listen to your hair..if you dont, who will?

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Mercie: If I remember correctly, you had another "Thread" about a similar topic.

IMO: I think you are going to have to "Learn" how to Manage your New Growth. i.e. how to handle it, how to detangle it, how to keep it moisturized. What Products will help you be successful.

Also how to maintain a Healthy Balance of: Protein & Moisture. Especially if you plan to continue to stretch for 6 months at a time. (Which is Admirable if Done Correctly).

IMO: There is an Art to Stretching and it is not for the Faint of Heart. It is something that you will have to Master, in order to Reap the Total Benefits Of It and Gain the Results you are Seeking. And You also have to Know when to End it, when it is no longer beneficial to the Health of Your Hair.

I would not recommend getting a Relaxer every 4-6 weeks. IMO: 8 Weeks is even pushing it. And this is coming from a person that relaxed every 4-6 weeks Religiously.
When you Know Better......You Do Better.

Now I Know Better.

Happy Hair Growing....

 

[DarkHair]

I wouldn't listen. I go to a friend of mine, that JUST got her license, for a trim. I let her know that I go 12 weeks between relaxers. The other stylist looked at me with big eyes. My friend said 'No girl, you're supposed to relax every 6 weeks and comb the relaxer all the way through.' Umm, just dust my ends. I know what I want/need for MY hair. Just know that I won't be trusting anyone with my hair. If I ever go to another stylist, I'll be asking about their relaxing process. Everyone doesn't have your best 'hair' as part of their interest.

 

[longhairlover]

the reason why professionals will say not to stretch is because their theory is breakage if you don't relax regularly, this can be true but if you've mastered and learned how to stretch safely then I would keep doing what your doing.

normally breakage is true when you don't relax regularly, BUT i've learned how to stretch and maintain healthy hair and tons have learned to do the same on here

 

[jerseygurl]

I think that most people have no idea how dangerous a relaxer can be so they use like it's grease. I personally would not relax after 6 weeks knowing what I know now.

OP if you want to please your stylist then by all means go ahead but if you want your relaxed hair to be healthy then stretch for as long as you possible can. Good luck.

 

[sunshinebeautiful]

this is kinda a touchy topic for me because i have a co worker who is also a very dear friend that is the daughter of a popular stylist here in chicago.. its touchy because i take most of my hair advice from the lovely ladies here and whenever the topic of hair care comes up between us it usually ends in a stale mate lol.. her mom obviously does her hair and i must admit that it is very healthy.. however she doesnt retain her length very well because her mom is constantly "trimming" it off and relaxing it. when the topic of stretching came up a week ago it had a similar conclusion.. a stale mate. i am currently going on 9 weeks post (my very first stretch guys!!!) and when i mentioned this to her she said she relaxes about every four weeks..YES FOUR WEEKS!! Her mom is a self proclaimed, and i quote, "healthy hair specialist" my jaw must have hit the floor when she said this.. and she whole heartedly believes this is the good thing to do..of course i mentioned all the over lapping that has to be going on in her head and her response was, " you dont have to worry about that if the person knows what they're doing". ok, where's my jaw? it has to be across the floor by now.. instead of causing unnecessary tension, i changed the subject to a lighter topic. this is her mom we are talking about. i still cant beleive it.. even before i became a lhcf'er or a stretcher i would never consider every 3-4 weeks!!!! at that point you cant possibly have enough new growth to need a touch up. whether you know what you're doing or not. so, like all the ladies before me said, listen to your hair..if you dont, who will?

Every 4 weeks?!?!?

 

[locabouthair]

I remember when my stylist used to have me relaxing every 4 weeks. SMH.

 

[bedazzled]

I used to relax every 3 weeks. I know REAL bad. But thats how fast my hair was growin in HS. Now im on a 1 year stretch...boy have times changed.

 

[msa]

Hmm. I noticed this when I was relaxed. I always thought it was because the relaxer straightens the hair that lies just beneath the scalp. After that straightened hair reaches the surface, the curlies follow. Just my opinion, too.

The bold actually kind of makes sense. Somewhere around here there's a post by Sistaslick where she said that the relaxer does penetrate the fatty layers of the scalp. Based on that comment, it makes sense to me that the hair in those layers would come out relaxed.

 

[BGT]

No, non, nein, nej, nee! If you've got so much new growth after 6 weeks and nothing you're doing can tame it AND you're breaking, then relax. but try to go as long as possible.

 

[SmartyPants]

Before LHCF I relaxed faithfully every 6 weeks. Now, I don't consider relaxing before 12-13 weeks. I am trying to go 22 weeks with this stretch (and if my hair still isn't driving me nuts I will try for 41 weeks because I have an event the first week of May). However, past 13 weeks, at the first sign of breakage I am relaxing.

 

[lilsparkle825]

these are probably the same people who think if you stop getting relaxers, all your hair will fall out.

i have no idea why you would have even considered listening to that mess she told you if you were at the end of a 6 month stretch. obviously you know (knew?) in your gut that she was making that up.

 

[dynamic1]

When I was relaxed, I never had a stylist tell me such nonsense. However, several things can influence your suggested time between touch-ups...Are you bone straight? Drastic texture differences can cause breakage. I could extend the time between touch-ups further and further, the longer my hair grew. The weight of the length pulled/stretched the new growth and it was less noticeable. I went 9 months (pre-LHCF) without one complaint from my stylist.