Anyone STOPPED stretching relaxers??

[LondonDiva]

I've done it in the past and I think the longest I've gone is 5 months, but I seriously doubt that I can continue to go this long again. I think what helped me stretch this long was the kinky twists I had, but the regular bunning on a daily basis being a hair type 4b I think I put more stress on my hair with the use of flat irons and combing in sections, on top of the numerous products I need just to make my hair look wearable on a daily basis.

Has anyone gone back to regularly relaxing their hair with shorter in between periods like 4-6 or 4-8 weeks? My last relaxer was 5 weeks ago and with the use of the 2% MN it's sped up my hair growth, and it feels a lot thicker than usual at the 5 week point, believe it or not my hair is getting quite unmanageable at the moment, even though I'm grateful for the new growth, slapping what feels like 30 products on my hair to 'tame' the NG is pi$$ing me off.

 

[simplycee]

I've decided that I'm not stretching past 12 weeks anymore unless I am in braids. The shedding and thinning of my ends are a direct result of trying to stretch out my relaxers (in my opinion). This next touch up will be right at 12 weeks.

 

[HoneyDew]

I've done it in the past and I think the longest I've gone is 5 months, but I seriously doubt that I can continue to go this long again. I think what helped me stretch this long was the kinky twists I had, but the regular bunning on a daily basis being a hair type 4b I think I put more stress on my hair with the use of flat irons and combing in sections, on top of the numerous products I need just to make my hair look wearable on a daily basis.

Has anyone gone back to regularly relaxing their hair with shorter in between periods like 4-6 or 4-8 weeks? My last relaxer was 5 weeks ago and with the use of the 2% MN it's sped up my hair growth, and it feels a lot thicker than usual at the 5 week point, believe it or not my hair is getting quite unmanageable at the moment, even though I'm grateful for the new growth, slapping what feels like 30 products on my hair to 'tame' the NG is pi$$ing me off.

I have been using MN 2%, as well and my NG get unmanageable before I can catch up.

 

[HairQueen]

I'm still stretching but I'm cutting down my stretch time from 12 to 10 weeks, I'm fed up of looking a mess!

 

[itismehmmkay]

Yeah, I think stretching breaks my hair. :ahwell:

 

[secretdiamond]

I've been thinking about this too... esp. with all this underprocessed hair and using MTG.

Unfortunately my last relaxer was a complete and utter disaster (to say the least) and I'm gonna be strecthing until Aug to avoid more major hair loss I never wear braids or weaves so this will be a doozy for me.

 

[IntelligenceisBeautiful]

I've decided that I'm not stretching past 12 weeks anymore unless I am in braids. The shedding and thinning of my ends are a direct result of trying to stretch out my relaxers (in my opinion). This next touch up will be right at 12 weeks.

I agree stretching also for me led to thinner ends and breakage....nothing past 12 weeks

 

[LadyJay114]

i'm doing my best to stretch, but my new growth is doing me in. since my last full relaxer (march 15, '06) I'm doing more to take care of my hair. I just got a touchup after a 5 week stretch and my hair is much healthier and feels great. Hopefully the next stretch is longer.

 

[Healthb4Length]

The longest I went is currently 12+ months. Never again, I'll do my touch ups every 3-4 months, if I ever go this long again I'll just go natural.

 

[tuffCOOKiE]

I think that stretching has helped me tremendously with my goals. The only reason why I'm cutting down now is because I'm graduating and going corporate. For that reason, maybe I'll get my hair professionally done more often to look presentable as opposed to walking around campus wearing sweats and not caring.

 

[MizaniMami]

Sometimes I get the impression that *some* people here stretch not so much for the health of the hair but for a game. To see how long they can outstretch others.

I dunno, maybe I'm thinking all wrong here.

 

[Ladylynn]

Yup, I'm starting to relax at 8 weeks now, no longer than 9. My hair sheds and breaks too much after 8 weeks. I definitely believe this has contributed to my thinning ends. So much that when I relax this weekend, I'm thinking about cutting it between neck and shoulder length and starting over doing my 8 week regime. I've learned that everything doesn't work for everybody.

By the way, what is MT 2%... I wanna get some

 

[Healthb4Length]

Sometimes I get the impression that *some* people here stretch not so much for the health of the hair but for a game. To see how long they can outstretch others.

I dunno, maybe I'm thinking all wrong here.

Well, I personally didn't stretch for any "games." I had my hair in braids most of last year because I was on the C&G challenge, I didn't get a chance to do any re-touches because 1. I got into a huge fight with my stylist and have not been able to find another one close by that can do what I need them to do at an afforable price and 2. I was dead broke, and I was afraid of doing my own hair, I'm still broke but I have a ton of NG so I've decided to bite the bullet and do it myself. I also consider doing this for the health of my hair because I rarely use heat, always do deep treatments and I make sure I baby my ends. I'm not really trying to "outstretch" any one and I wish I could have gotten my hair done sooner cause right now I'm tired of wearing a bun all the time!

 

[FlyyGyrl]

I think I've decided that if I am not in a weave then its 10-12 weeks for me. While weaved up I can go 4 months no problem. But I can't tame my NG after a certain point. I relaxed today at 10 wks b/c it was killing me (also b/c I wanted to see how long it was .)

 

[taraglam2]

I just started stretching my relaxers. Last year this time when a lot of ladies were stretching or coming off of stretches I was wishing that I could. My new growth was coming in with a vengeance that I was relaxing every 4 to 5 weeks point blank. So now I am "trying" a 20 week stretch. I will definitely stop if I start to shed or get breakage--Most definitely !

 

[nelli711]

I think I'm gonna go back to every 12 weeks unless in braids because my hair is breaking as a result of stretching

 

[secretdiamond]

Sometimes I get the impression that *some* people here stretch not so much for the health of the hair but for a game. To see how long they can outstretch others.


I dunno, maybe I'm thinking all wrong here.

I agree, but I think that's mostly newbies who are hearing that stretching is the best thing to do for your hair, but don't realize that stretching too much may cause breakage if not done properly and carefully. I don't think they have fully learned how to listen to their hair (just a thought). But after some time, I think some realize what's best for their hair and adjust accordingly.

 

[carolina_belle]

I stretch 10-12 weeks when not in braids. When I first started stretching, I was trying for 14-16 weeks, but it caused too much breakage. I had to figure out that point between too soon and too long for my hair.

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

I've decided that I'm not stretching past 12 weeks anymore unless I am in braids. The shedding and thinning of my ends are a direct result of trying to stretch out my relaxers (in my opinion). This next touch up will be right at 12 weeks.

I agree. And since I won't be wearing braids in my hair EVER again, I just won't stretch for longer than 12 weeks. I think my ideal wait time will be about 9-12 weeks. I'll try to stretch for 9-12 weeks.

I've just realized that stretching TOO long has caused me MORE breakage and MORE heartache than not stretching. I have used the products, and done the buns, and flat irons, etc. But in the long run, I think it has slowed my growth progress. My edges/hairline is almost non-existant due to always pulling my hair back in a bun. I seriously have bald spots near my hairline! Some of that could be stress from school and work, but part of it is the "protective styles".
Plus, people always tell me that I look so much BETTER with my hair down. And personally, I MISS wearing my hair down!

So...I probably won't be stretching THAT long anymore. I was stretching 12-14 weeks. NOT anymore! I won't dare relax every 4-6 weeks because my hair doesn't grow that fast, and my hair is fine in texture.
But 9-12 weeks seems okay.

Good thread!

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

I'm still stretching but I'm cutting down my stretch time from 12 to 10 weeks, I'm fed up of looking a mess!

You and me both girl! *high five*

You don't know how many compliments I got the other day I got my fresh relaxer and wore my hair down. You would have thought I was a celebrity or something!

 

[Healthb4Length]

people always tell me that I look so much BETTER with my hair down. And personally, I MISS wearing my hair down!

So...I probably won't be stretching THAT long anymore. I was stretching 12-14 weeks. NOT anymore! I won't dare relax every 4-6 weeks because my hair doesn't grow that fast, and my hair is fine in texture.
But 9-12 weeks seems okay.

Good thread! [/quote]

This will be the last time I stretch this long too! Never again, I'm starting to hate bun hair styles! I want to wear my hair free and loose!

 

[Sistaslick]

Sometimes I get the impression that *some* people here stretch not so much for the health of the hair but for a game. To see how long they can outstretch others.

I dunno, maybe I'm thinking all wrong here.

I'm sorry but this had me rolling I just could picture you saying this

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

This will be the last time I stretch this long too! Never again, I'm starting to hate bun hair styles! I want to wear my hair free and loose!

Me too!!!! You won't believe the compliments I got when I wore my hair down! I liked it! When I wear my hair in buns...NOTHING. I would NEVER get compliments on my hair when I wore it in buns every day. People can't really "see" your hair when it's in a bun all the time I guess.

Even my mom would beg me to get a relaxer and "let my hair down" every once in a while. I figure...well...I don't have to completely stop buns altogether, but I can definitely wear my hair down more often. Plus, what's the point in growing long hair if you aren't EVER enjoying it and showing people your length? I know that may sound vain, but for me personally, I don't want to get to bra-strap length just to constantly be putting my hair up. Shoot, I'm in my early 20's. I have the rest of my older years to be wearing buns in my hair everyday if I want to.

What works for some may not always work for others.

I'll see if the health of my hair takes a drastic nose-dive if I start wearing my hair down more often. If it does, then it's back to the bunning. But if it doesn't, then I'm going to let my hair down more often, and give my hair-line a break. Even though I NEVER tied my hair back tightly in buns, I'm thinking that just the act of combing/brushing my sides into a ponytail/bun has caused the edges to thin out.

Also, I'll be graduating in about a month, and will soon be going into the "corporate world", so I think stretching my relaxers for 12-14 weeks at a time might not be the best idea. It sucks, but hey...that's life, and unfortunately in the corporate world people DO judge you by how you look.

 

[peacelove]

I have. I got a lot of breakage from it. 7-8 weeks is the most I will go from here on. My hair does better when I don't wait.

 

[Healthb4Length]

Me too!!!! You won't believe the compliments I got when I wore my hair down! I liked it! When I wear my hair in buns...NOTHING. I would NEVER get compliments on my hair when I wore it in buns every day. People can't really "see" your hair when it's in a bun all the time I guess.

Even my mom would beg me to get a relaxer and "let my hair down" every once in a while. I figure...well...I don't have to completely stop buns altogether, but I can definitely wear my hair down more often. Plus, what's the point in growing long hair if you aren't EVER enjoying it and showing people your length? I know that may sound vain, but for me personally, I don't want to get to bra-strap length just to constantly be putting my hair up. Shoot, I'm in my early 20's. I have the rest of my older years to be wearing buns in my hair everyday if I want to.

What works for some may not always work for others.

I'll see if the health of my hair takes a drastic nose-dive if I start wearing my hair down more often. If it does, then it's back to the bunning. But if it doesn't, then I'm going to let my hair down more often, and give my hair-line a break. Even though I NEVER tied my hair back tightly in buns, I'm thinking that just the act of combing/brushing my sides into a ponytail/bun has caused the edges to thin out.

Also, I'll be graduating in about a month, and will soon be going into the "corporate world", so I think stretching my relaxers for 12-14 weeks at a time might not be the best idea. It sucks, but hey...that's life, and unfortunately in the corporate world people DO judge you by how you look.

Yes I do have some tender spots in the front of my hair line, I know it's from brushing so I'm extra gentle. I've since started using a kiddie hair brush by Jilbere and that does the trick.

BTW Congrats on Graduating!

 

[Faith]

Sometimes I get the impression that *some* people here stretch not so much for the health of the hair but for a game. To see how long they can outstretch others.

I dunno, maybe I'm thinking all wrong here.

I take it as they challenging themselves since there're so many threads saying stretching is better for scalp and hair so they are aiming to go as long as possible. Maybe I'm being naive

 

[Faith]

I've just realized that stretching TOO long has caused me MORE breakage and MORE heartache than not stretching. I have used the products, and done the buns, and flat irons, etc. But in the long run, I think it has slowed my growth progress.

So...I probably won't be stretching THAT long anymore. I was stretching 12-14 weeks. NOT anymore! I won't dare relax every 4-6 weeks because my hair doesn't grow that fast, and my hair is fine in texture.
But 9-12 weeks seems okay.

Good thread!

DITTO to this post. If I decide to relax again I will not stretch more than 12-13 weeks. I went 18 weeks once and let me tell you the hair loss and breakage was not worth it.

 

[peacelove]

This will be the last time I stretch this long too! Never again, I'm starting to hate bun hair styles! I want to wear my hair free and loose!

That was my other problem. The bun is too much stress on the front of my hair and this too caused breakage. I am actually finding that what works well for a lot of women on here just does not work for me. So no more buns. I use large clips and I don't pull the front of my hair. And I wear my hair down a lot more, just conscious of what it is rubbing up against on the back and just pin it up loose when I am lounging around the house.

 

[PinkAngel]

I was never a "stretcher", I tried once but couldn't get past 10 weeks. My hair is healthier when I don't stretch. I currently relax every 8-10 weeks.

~msshic~

 

[JenniferMD]

Sometimes I get the impression that *some* people here stretch not so much for the health of the hair but for a game. To see how long they can outstretch others.

I dunno, maybe I'm thinking all wrong here.

I don't know about that theory. I think the women on this board take hair a little too serious to be trying to "outstretch others" if it's detrimental to their hair.

My hair seems to really love the 16 week stretch, but I know that it's not for everyone. My hair is a lot thicker due to stretching so if I go back to anything shorter I believe my hair will thin out.