Can you really shed when you "need" a relaxer?

[Leshia]

If so, why? If you're trying to stretch your relaxers, how are you to get around this shedding? It's been 8 weeks and I'm trying to go much longer. How can I combat the shedding if it's occuring because of prolonging my touch-up? *sigh*

 

[hopeful]

Leisha,
Don't have any specific advice about the shedding but I know many ladies will chime in with advice. Have you tried doing a search on shedding, stretching, etc.? One thing I know too is that everybody cannot stretch for long periods of time. The point of stretching is too have healthier hair, when that goal is not being achieved it makes more sense to relax (IMO).

 

[Porsche19]

I don't think that it's shedding it's breakage.

One thing about people's explanation that bothers me is that only when the newgrowth reaches a certain length, they have trouble because the point in which the new growth meets the relaxed hair it breaks off because that point is weak.

That point is always there, whether you have .05 of an inch or 6 inches of new growth. Therefore you would be getting breakage as soon as your hair starts growing in.

I believe it's because the two textures cannot be handled in the same way. While there is a small amount of newgrowth, it's much easier to handle becacause there is just a little of it, but once it gets too long it's too much for some to handle.

I would say that extra moisturizing for the newgrowth and less combing help me. I do not touch my newgrowth with a comb on non-wash days. After washing my hair I detangle it very well while it's damp and full of product.

Also, wearing cerain styles help. Putting your hair up is good for it... less manipulation. Straightening your newgrowth out a bit or curling your relaxed hair so that they can blend helps.

 

[Leshia]

I don't think that it's shedding it's breakage.

Um, *blank stare* the hair comes out under the water while rinsing and it's got a bulb. *blank stare*

 

[Leshia]

Leisha,
Don't have any specific advice about the shedding but I know many ladies will chime in with advice. Have you tried doing a search on shedding, stretching, etc.? One thing I know too is that everybody cannot stretch for long periods of time. The point of stretching is too have healthier hair, when that goal is not being achieved it makes more sense to relax (IMO).

Yeah, I realize that I may not be able to stretch but I also need to take into account if constantly switching conditioners is doing it as well...

 

[bocagirl]

Um, *blank stare* the hair comes out under the water while rinsing and it's got a bulb. *blank stare*

Hehehehehehe

Leshia, I have the same problem with shedding as I reach my 8 week mark. Sometimes I just give in and relax or I use Alter Ego Garlic Oil Treatment at every shampoo from week 4 onwards. This seems to help.

I"m sure using any Garlic Oil would do, or I know Nexxus Emergencee works for some.

Take care.

 

[hOnii]

i'll start shedding like a cat when i need a relaxer! either i have to have my hair in protective styles, or go ahead and get that perm, or else i start losing a lot more hair than i have to.

 

[BAILEYSCREAM]

If so, why? If you're trying to stretch your relaxers, how are you to get around this shedding? It's been 8 weeks and I'm trying to go much longer. How can I combat the shedding if it's occuring because of prolonging my touch-up? *sigh*

Leshia,

I'm at 10 weeks now and I understand what you're saying. Just yesterday I had two long hairs shed from the root with the bulb. I think I'm getting a touch up in the next week or so.

If you have access to a steamer, try steaming the hair as I personally find that this helps me with shedding.

I find that some people are able to stretch their touch up and some can't.

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

For me yes, when I don't use the proper conditioner.

 

[SouthernGirl]

I hear ya. I have been shedding b/c I was trying to stretch my relaxer to June, thinking maybe I could stop relaxing all together. NOT!!! I was shedding so much and the comb-out was so difficult that I decided that it's too hard for me to do w/o doing a big chop.

I don't have any advice for you, other than to expect a little more shedding if you're stretching your relaxers. Maybe deep conditioners will help, but I did all those things and still was shedding like crazy.

 

[NewlyNature12]

I've been shedding an insane amount, and it's because i need a relaxer. I've been contemplating transitioning (again), but I just don't think I can handle dealing with both of these textures. I would definitely have to chop it all off. What curbed the shedding a tiny amount was mixing a few different conditioners together and just letting it sit on the scalp. I think I put Mane N' Tail, Suave Milk and Honey, and Queen Helene's Cholesterol on my hair last night and the shedding is a little bit better today. Hope that helps.

 

[Stormy]

My hair starts breaking and/or shedding after 8 weeks post relaxer. I do conditioner washes twice weekly and this helps tremendously!


Oh! And so does wearing buns and spraying with Leisure Curl spray or Surge Plus 14. Less manipulation and moisture is the key for me.

 

[Leshia]

Hehehehehehe

Leshia, I have the same problem with shedding as I reach my 8 week mark. Sometimes I just give in and relax or I use Alter Ego Garlic Oil Treatment at every shampoo from week 4 onwards. This seems to help.

I"m sure using any Garlic Oil would do, or I know Nexxus Emergencee works for some.

Take care.

Um, yeah, boca *looking around* glad you understand what I'm saying. I forgot I had that under the sink so I used it last night and then slept with Alma oil and a dab of that under a plastic cap. It seems to be more under control this morning.

 

[Leshia]

Leshia,

I'm at 10 weeks now and I understand what you're saying. Just yesterday I had two long hairs shed from the root with the bulb. I think I'm getting a touch up in the next week or so.

If you have access to a steamer, try steaming the hair as I personally find that this helps me with shedding.

I find that some people are able to stretch their touch up and some can't.

Yeah Bailey (Honi too), I'm going to try to hang in there. I'm really, really hoping I'm not prohibited from stretching. I could really use the thickness. I mean, what about those who transitioned without doing the big chop? There HAS to be something to keep from shedding at all because of this...

 

[Leshia]

I hear ya. I have been shedding b/c I was trying to stretch my relaxer to June, thinking maybe I could stop relaxing all together. NOT!!! I was shedding so much and the comb-out was so difficult that I decided that it's too hard for me to do w/o doing a big chop.

I don't have any advice for you, other than to expect a little more shedding if you're stretching your relaxers. Maybe deep conditioners will help, but I did all those things and still was shedding like crazy.

*NODDING* I'll go another week and than I may be calling up Lucy. I can't try to relax my own hair anymore. Wayyy too much underprocessing. *SIGH*
I seriously wonder what's the logic behind it though.

 

[Leshia]

For me yes, when I don't use the proper conditioner.

I noticed that I seem to shed like a mad woman when I use the Nioxin scalp cleanser and moisturizing scalp therapy...Also, i don't think my hair likes the Kenra conditioners or the mane and tail. *sigh*

 

[Leshia]

I've been shedding an insane amount, and it's because i need a relaxer. I've been contemplating transitioning (again), but I just don't think I can handle dealing with both of these textures. I would definitely have to chop it all off. What curbed the shedding a tiny amount was mixing a few different conditioners together and just letting it sit on the scalp. I think I put Mane N' Tail, Suave Milk and Honey, and Queen Helene's Cholesterol on my hair last night and the shedding is a little bit better today. Hope that helps.

Yeah, I think the Alter Ego helped it last night quite a bit. It's only been 8 weeks. This sucks.

 

[Leshia]

Oh and I wanted to mention to you all, there's only one section that's shedding. The top part of my head in the center where the new growth is THICK. Does anyone make anything of that?? There's hardly any hair in the comb until I get right there...*wide eyes* Anyone??

 

[Leshia]

My hair starts breaking and/or shedding after 8 weeks post relaxer. I do conditioner washes twice weekly and this helps tremendously!


Oh! And so does wearing buns and spraying with Leisure Curl spray or Surge Plus 14. Less manipulation and moisture is the key for me.

Stormy the only thing I'm worried about with less manipulation is shed hair getting packed at my scalp. I've been rinsing/cond washing about 6 days a week.

 

[Jewell]

I'm currently 10 weeks post relaxer, and I'm stretching to 26 weeks. I started shedding at about 6-7 weeks. I was doing CO washes 2 days a week, and shampooing and conditioning on 1 day a week. I started CO washing 6 days a week, doing an overnight oil treatment on the day before my shampoos, and using a wet comb to detangle my hair with conditioner in it. My hair has stopped shedding. I only lose about 6-10 hairs when I detangle.

 

[brickhouse]

I was thinking about the same question this week. Before LHCF I would relax every 5 wks w/o fail. A couple of times my stylist has stretched to 6 and 7 wks but that has been a couple of times in 25 yrs. The concept of stretching any longer never occurred to me or her. After I found this board I inform her that I will be stretching to 10-12 wks and she told me that my hair will shed really bad and come out. I took my chances and I think I stretched for 10 or 11 wks. I had some shed hair but it was not really bad and I also gain length and thickness. I since then learned how to take care of my new growth and not treat the two textures the same. I think a lot of people do get breakage at the line of demarcation if not handled properly. I then stretched my relaxer to 11 and 12 wks and now I am stretching into 16 wks. It was a process for me. I try to keep my new growth supple. I heard castor oil is best for new growth. I also do frequently co washes. I hardly have any shedding now. Of course I sometimes get seasonal shedding. My stylist even started stretching her relaxer after my hair surpassed hers.

 

[kinikini2]

This thread is great for me right now. I am at 6 weeks post-touchup and am trying to make it to 8 weeks. While gently combing in the shower with a head full of conditioner all these long strands keep coming out in my Jilbere comb by the twos and threes. It's a little scary so I was thinking of doing an Aphogee Protein Treatment this weekend. Hopefully it helps to curb the shedding. I havent done an overnight oil treatment since I first started my hair care journey but I may need to restart the habit. The reminder is an excellent one.

Thank you for sharing ladies.

 

[Leshia]

Yeah, I did an overnight treatment with alma oil (which is supposed to help "falling hair") and it worked very well. I also picked up the Alter Ego treatment for thinning hair. It's a dropper application product and I will apply it to that thick center top portion of my head that seems to shed the most right now and see what happens. I went out to Wegman's to pick up some Emergencee but they didn't have it! I did pick up the Keraphix, and some Aubrey Organics GPB, so maybe with these three products (which, by the way, totaled $54.00 ohmyfreakengoodnessgeezlouise), I can get a handle on this shedding and get to at least 12 weeks. My husband has even noticed how thick my hair is at the roots. I don't know if it's 8 weeks of stretching or the Hairtopia vitamins or both! *doing the robot**

 

[Leshia]

Ugh, first came shedding, then came breakage, then came MORE shedding. I stretched to nine weeks for the first time...ever. I guess I'm kind of proud of that. Just relaxed my hair with Revlon Lye this morning and then loaded it with Aubrey Organics GPB. On a lighter note, I've gained about two inches in the last 9 weeks and I know that the Hairtopia has helped. I just pray to stretch farther next time. I just can't figure out what on earth to do do keep it from leaving my head! Anyhoo, I can feel my roots again but that still doesn't negate the fact that I'm insanely jealous of you 4 month stretchers! Curses!!! *winkywink*