Anyone get better growth by not relaxing and leaving their hair alone?

[Leslie_C]

Ive found out the hard way that I dont think relaxers are for me...or maybe I was just using relaxers that were too harsh on my hair. On several occasions in my life Ive cut all my hair off to "start over" after getting a huge setback and suffering from a lot of breakage. This will be the 3rd time Ive grown it back in my adult life.

My last relaxer was September of last year and Ive cut out 95% of my relaxer and the rest thats left was underprocessed anyway so it just looks all natural. I was literally shocked yesterday when I flat ironed my hair for the first time in forever to find that I have a full head of thick hair that when straightened is neck length (shorter on top tho but my hair always grew in layers). It looked like a cute layered bob, and it was very soft, thick, and shiny. Now mind u, I have been very neglectful of my hair so I was expecting a lot of progress. Ive basically done barely anything to it at all except slap a wig on my head bc Im so busy with work and school, yet it has grown like a weed. I didnt even have enough hair to pull into a crayola paintbrush size ponytail the last I checked. Now I have a full fluffy ponytail. Im hoping for shoulder length by Christmas or at least Valentines day!

This baffles me bc when I was relaxed I tried to hard to take care of my hair and babied it, deep conditioned it to death, didnt use heat, etc...yet I got little progress and when I relaxed on a regular basis it just broke off and thinned out very badly. But all I did was stop relaxing and really havent paid any special attention to my hair and Im getting great growth.

That being said, I figure that if Im getting these results without even taking care of it, they can be even better if I do so Im gonna start taking my vitamins and getting back into a regular routine again.

I think Im one of those people who just cant do relaxers and have healthy hair.

Anyone have a similar experience?

 

[UmSumayyah]

Maybe you were relaxing too often.
Or maybe relaxers just hate your hair. Irresistible had the same problem. She finally left the relaxers alone and is now all natural.

 

[Leslie_C]

Maybe you were relaxing too often.
Or maybe relaxers just hate your hair. Irresistible had the same problem. She finally left the relaxers alone and is now all natural.

Im pretty sure they just hate my hair. I tried to do it both ways...when I stretched 3 months I got bad breakage at the crown, and when I relaxed regularly at 8 weeks it thinned out. I cant win for losing!

If I ever do relax again, I think I would try Phyto since its supposed to be mild on the hair. Or I was considering relaxing the edges only since they revert the quickest and alternating textured styles with flat ironing with the maxiglide.

 

[JLove74]

I've gotten better growth by not relaxing as much and less manipulation. I used to comb and brush my hair all the time, now I only brush the edges, lightly at night and finger comb after I've taken out the steam rollers. And if I need to comb, I'll use a wide tooth comb.

 

[BrownSkin2]

I've gotten better results by going natural as well. I relaxed for many years, but I probably relaxed too often, like every 6 weeks faithfully. I didn't not any better. If I relax again I'll be better equipped with information on taking care of relaxed hair. My hair has become much thicker and fuller now. I've been natural since Oct of last year.