Can You Straighten Virgin Hair Before Relaxing for Easier Application?

[JFK]

Hi Ladies,

I'm natural and want to self-relax.

(FYI - I prefer straight styles and the amount of time it takes to achieve them is ridiculous, I can only keep the straight styles for a day before washing out, the ssk's are killing me, and I can't do curly styles without the ssk and tangles...it's mainly due to my style preferences.)

Back to the topic, can I flatiron my hair before relaxing to make application easier?

My hair is so thick and curly that I'm afraid of not having enough time to apply the relaxer before having to wash it out.

The last time I self-relaxed, I was very underprocessed in certain areas because I had to hurry up and wash it out.

I'm thinking of doing the half and half method as well. Relaxing one half of the head and then doing the other half later.

Well, do you know if it would be damaging to flatiron a couple of hours before relaxing for easier application? Remember, I'm natural so this would be a virgin relaxer.

TIA Ladies!

 

[Miss_C]

Very good question. I don't know the answer but it seems like a really smart idea.

 

[JFK]

Yeah, I just thought of it this morning....bumping for more responses please.

 

[Newbie2Beauty]

That is a very good question!! Hmmmm. I would think you could. If you could flat iron a few days before you self relax I think that would be better than doing it the day of. Your hair and scalp go through alot when you are flat ironing it so I would flat iron like 4 days prior and then apply your relaxer. IMO! I am not a professional though. I figure us relaxed ladies style our hair up until a few days before a relaxer no why wouldn't a natural be able to do it. Not sure though sounds logical when I say it in my head though.

 

[Tamster]

really interesting post... Idk! I do think the suggestion of doing it a few days in advance o ly because in my mind, doesn't heat somewhat damage the hair? And so to put a relaxer on top could be no good.


one tip though, would be to relax maybe in 4 sections curly (one at a time) so that you can ensure that you are able to spend the same amt of time on each section.

 

[OrangeMoon]

erplexed I'm on the fence with this one. If you apply a perm on heat straightened natural hair how would you know if the desired straightness is achieved? If your talking about lightly straighted with a blow dry a few day before I would approve but if talking about a hard press or flat iron prior too. You may end up with texlaxed hair, which isn't a bad idea. or, heat damage and underprocessed hair. Also, I would recommend the half and half method you suggested in the original post.

 

[Tiye]

I think the downside to relaxing pressed hair would be that you won't be able to tell whether or not the process is working so you can still end up underprocessed. I don't see how ironing beforehand makes application easier though - either way you have to work your way through your hair piece by piece. I think the half and half method is a good idea. I haven't tried it but quarters although time consuming might be good too.

 

[Vashti]

I think the half/half idea sounds like a good one.

 

[8HoursFromHome]

I wouldn't do it. I'd be afraid of over processing and losing any growth you've gained. How about getting a friend to help you?

 

[NikStarrr]

Yes you can. It actually gives you straighter results compared to if you leave it on the same amount of time as you would without straightening it.

 

[mg1979]

I no longer relaz but I used to do this even when I went to the salon. My worry was always that it would make it harder to tell the difference between my new growth and my relaxed hair-the previously relaxed hair might end up with relaxer on it. I just always hoped she could tell the difference. I would definitely not make it bone straight and doing it a few days in advance would probably help.

 

[CA*Nappy]

I would do a light blow dry with a comb attachment just to get the hair separated the night before. No need to flat iron. Hopefully, you're just looking for ease of separation during the relaxer application process. I feel you on that one because I have done a relaxer on my daughters thick curly hair that hadn't been combed out and it definitely extended the application time.

 

[JFK]

Yes you can. It actually gives you straighter results compared to if you leave it on the same amount of time as you would without straightening it.

Thanks so much. How do you know this?

 

[JFK]

......bump

 

[Newtogrow]

What about on blow dried or extremely stretched hair for manageability. I totally understand what your saying.

 

[NikStarrr]

Thanks so much. How do you know this?

My best friend did it when she went back to relaxing. I was there watching her. She was trying to "texturize"/texlax with the relaxer and she tested two sections. One straightened and one section in its normal natural state. The section that she'd straightened came out with a looser curl. So she went ahead and flat ironed her hair and then relaxed. She has really kinky hair, and just thought to try it out (flat ironing before relaxing) to see if it would make a difference.

 

[JFK]

YES! Thanks so much.

I want to start relaxing again and think this will make things easier, God wiling.

 

[Newbie2Beauty]

Hey JFK post some pics when you are done. I would really like to see the results.

 

[arosieworld]

That is what I did for my first texlax it made it easier to separate and get a better application.

 

[JJamiah]

I have done this also to other clients that were natural and it was a virgin process, becareful not to use too much heat. Otherwise, I also noticed just because the hair is straightened doesn't mean when you apply the relaxer it won't draw up slightly so you can still tell when the relaxer has taken.

Do you get me? I feel right now I hope you understand.