Could I get some feedback: Hair Care Plan for 2008

[Glitter]

Hey everyone!

The Background
I'm trying to figure out my hair strategy for the rest of the year and I would love some imput. I met with a new stylist yesterday and I really like her. I have breakage all along the left perimeter of my hairline. It ranges from .25-1 inch in length. The breakage goes in about 1 inch from my hairline except in the nape where it goes in about 2 inches (I hope that made sense)

I asked the stylist what to do about this and she basically told me I need to give my hair a break and suggested a weave. She said that I should lay off the relaxers for at least 6 months so that way, I would have a considerable amount of new growth in this area to relax and I would avoid overlapping. When I'm not wearing a weave, the stylist said I should avoid stretching (we discussed this at length and her logic was sound) and that get a touch up every 7 weeks due to my lifestyle. To be honest, I think it would be nice to give my hair some time off.

Essential Info
I am 10 weeks post already. There are two upcoming dates I want to look nice for: April 16th, which is my birthday grin and May 25 which is graduation day grin:). Also, my stylist charges $90 for a touch up and $400 for a weave job that last 10-12 weeks. My stylist said it's also best to wait a few weeks after a relaxer before getting a weave. She said it can be done 3 weeks post relaxer but would prefer to do it when I'm at least 8 or 9 weeks post.

With this in mind, I drafted two possible hair schedules for the rest of 2008

The Schedules

Option 1:
Middle of March: Relax
April 16th: Get a blowout
Bginning of May: Relax
May 25th: Get a blowout
Begining of July: Weave #1
Beginning of October: Weave #2

Option #2:
Middle of March: Weave #1
Begining of July: Weave #2
Beginning of October: Relax
End of December: Relax


I feel like option 1 has too much manipulation and won't help my edges, which is what I'm struggling with right now. With option 2, that's a lot of money I have to spend early on and I'm not sure if the weave will look fresh for the big dates I mentioned.

Advice?

Can anyone give advice? I feel like I need somebody else's perspective on this whole thing. I feel like I'm getting too bogged down in details.

 

[RubyWoo]

For the sake of your edges, I would go with option number two. I'm in the same boat as yourself. My edges need a serious break and I plan to lay off relaxers for at least 6 months. If you're concerned about spending money for the weaves, have you considered rocking a wig or instant/fall with your hair cornrowed underneath? You can still wash and deep condition regularly w/o the weave attached. Or maybe some braids or kinky twists but making sure to not make the braids around your edges too small or tight? I know these other options wouldn't cost you upwards of $400. I was planning to put weave in this year but I just couldn't justify spending the funds for the hair right now(I wanted EPRT hair). I opted to rock braids (I do them myself) and wigs, instant weaves/1/2 wigs/falls in between installs. However, I plan to take a long break from braids for now and just rock the latter. Hairsisters.com has some nice braiding hair and instant weaves/falls. You should check out the wig challenge thread with some ideas if you're interested. Good luck!

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=182655

 

[Miss*Tress]

Congrats on reaching your first goal, IvyHair. It sounds like you've found a really caring stylist too.

I don't really have any advice for you, but somebody should come along pretty soon to help you with your dilemma.

ETA: Nixx & I posted right about the same time.

 

[JustKiya]

I would edit option one, slightly...

Option 1:
Start of March: Relax (you would be about 12 weeks post, then, right?)
April 14th: Weave #1 (only 6 weeks post, but you would have the fly hair for your dates)
July 14: Weave #2
October 14th: Weave #3

 

[Glitter]

For the sake of your edges, I would go with option number two. I'm in the same boat as yourself. My edges need a serious break and I plan to lay off relaxers for at least 6 months. If you're concerned about spending money for the weaves, have you considered rocking a wig or instant/fall with your hair cornrowed underneath? You can still wash and deep condition regularly w/o the weave attached. Or maybe some braids or kinky twists but making sure to not make the braids around your edges too small or tight? I know these other options wouldn't cost you upwards of $400. I was planning to put weave in this year but I just couldn't justify spending the funds for the hair right now(I wanted EPRT hair). I opted to rock braids (I do them myself) and wigs, instant weaves/1/2 wigs/falls in between installs. However, I plan to take a long break from braids for now and just rock the latter. Hairsisters.com has some nice braiding hair and instant weaves/falls. You should check out the wig challenge thread with some ideas if you're interested. Good luck!

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=182655

WOW, so many ideas. Thank you! I was considering braids but my only concern is that I work out daily and all that sweat has a tendency to make the braids/new growth go extra frizzy extra quickly. Also, I have such bad edges I'm really worried about that tension.

I do need to check out wigs though. I tried to wear them once but the wig I had looked extra "wiggy" and had this huge hump in the back. That's what I get for choosing the cheap $6.99 wig.erplexed

Nixx, I think we should keep each other motivated during our 6 months of no relaxers.

 

[Glitter]

Congrats on reaching your first goal, IvyHair. It sounds like you've found a really caring stylist too.

I don't really have any advice for you, but somebody should come along pretty soon to help you with your dilemma.

ETA: Nixx & I posted right about the same time.

Awww, thank you!! I'm really happy with my hair right now and the direction my hair care is going. I actually did a "hair flip" after I got it done on Saturday (just one little one, so I could know what it felt like).

 

[Glitter]

I would edit option one, slightly...

Option 1:
Start of March: Relax (you would be about 12 weeks post, then, right?)
April 14th: Weave #1 (only 6 weeks post, but you would have the fly hair for your dates)
July 14: Weave #2
October 14th: Weave #3

I think I'm going to take everyone's advice and go into protective wigs/weaves/extensions sooner, rather than later for the sake of my edges.

I actually really like your plan - my stylist actually suggested that I get one more relaxer and then go to wigs, which is exactly what your plan is. I have to check finances but this may be the way to go.

 

[Caramela]

I'd go for option #2.
What was your stylists "sound reasoning" against waiting longer than 7 weeks to relax?

 

[Glitter]

I'd go for option #2.
What was your stylists "sound reasoning" against waiting longer than 7 weeks to relax?[/quote]

There were quite a few actually. First, however, I want to address the fact that my stylist is not opposed to natural hair or transitioning. The seven weeks was also a guideline just for me, not a prescription for everyone. - she acknowledged that much shorter than what I've been doing lately and stated that some people can stretch much longer.

That being said, stretching honestly doesn't work with my lifestyle and my preference for hair care. I work out a lot and completely take any type of pressing out within a week. I also prefer straight hair on me, I don't plan to transition and with growth aids, I'm getting enough growth that my relaxers begin to look much more stale much sooner.

As I stretch, I have difficulty keeping the demarcation line moistured and the NG free of tangles, so I cause a lot of breakage while trying to do a good thing. I also don't have the patience to style hair (relaxed, natural whatever) so I''m not really doing much to work with the two textures.

She basically said my hair was growing, with or without stretching and that I need to work on retention which is influenced by whether I do best handling relaxed hair, combo hair, or all natural hair.