Does not stretching slow your growth?

[Prettyeyes]

I don't have any breakage when I stretch and I think that each time I relax my hair takes about two weeks to start growing again. Like it had to recover from the relaxer or something, but when stretching I have gotten an inch in a month IDK. I am almost MBL maybe and inch or so away and I want to look good in 09' OOOOOOHHH IDK!

 

[lila_baby]

NOT IN THE LEAST! what slows growth is dependent on what you put into you or illness not stretching not flat irons nor blow dryes.

 

[Butterfly08]

I loooooooooove stretching, once I figured out how. For me, it requires frequent cowashing and wet bunning. Earlier on (for the first 8 weeks or so) I can do wet sets with no problem. From week 8 - 15, I need to cowash almost every day. I leave in Redken Butter Treat and wet bun without combing. This keeps the ng soft and PREVENTS breaking. I only comb once a week. I tie the roots down with a silky scarf and my hair is crinkly but lays flat down. I don't even need jheri curl juice - completely wetting my hair daily keeps it soft.

I agree that the issue is retention, so I moisturize my ends twice a day. I also get a trim 4 times a year to prevent splitting.

I stretch out of necessity - my hairdresser is 3 hours away, but my hair has completely turned around in thickness and health. I am double processed - relaxer and bleach, yet my hair has grown from above APL to almost BSL. I have been stretching now for over a year and the results are worth it IMO.

 

[India*32]

Stretching, air dry, moisture, and oil. My hair and scalp is a, "Hot Mess." I not anxious for once to get a relaxer. However, I can blow my bangs and they''ve always been healthy, but the rest of my hair is too short to bun. In addition, the oil seems to make my hair tangle. I'm just ready to go and wash, roller set, and wrap for a couple of months until I can obtain enough length to bun. Anyone, feeling out there!

 

[fivetimestwo]

I loooooooooove stretching, once I figured out how. For me, it requires frequent cowashing and wet bunning. Earlier on (for the first 8 weeks or so) I can do wet sets with no problem. From week 8 - 15, I need to cowash almost every day. I leave in Redken Butter Treat and wet bun without combing. This keeps the ng soft and PREVENTS breaking. I only comb once a week. I tie the roots down with a silky scarf and my hair is crinkly but lays flat down. I don't even need jheri curl juice - completely wetting my hair daily keeps it soft.

I agree that the issue is retention, so I moisturize my ends twice a day. I also get a trim 4 times a year to prevent splitting.

I stretch out of necessity - my hairdresser is 3 hours away, but my hair has completely turned around in thickness and health. I am double processed - relaxer and bleach, yet my hair has grown from above APL to almost BSL. I have been stretching now for over a year and the results are worth it IMO.

this is exactly what I do (especially the bolded) I don't have much breakage at all and I attribute that to only combing once a week. I'm texlaxed so I think that makes it somewhat easier to stretch because my ends aren't bone straight, so the new growth is less noticeable.

 

[ebonylocs]

Stretching won't affect your growth rate. I don't see how it possibly could.

(Off topic: There've been a lot of thread popping up lately about will this or that make your hair grow faster or slower re things that have nothing to do with growth at all.)

I do agree that stretching is not beneficial for everyone where retention is concerned, and might be counterproductive.

 

[Prettyeyes]

Trust me I am well aware of what causes hair to grow BUT when I relax it takes my scalp time to recover it seems because for the first two weeks post relaxer I get no growth but after that my hair grows extremely fast SO the less relaxers I get the fewer of those two week no growth periods I have. This happen even if I coat scalp with vaseline as best I can.

 

[bermudabeauty]

I don't think stretching equals longer growth. I think people do it so they don't overprocess their hair. Personally the only time I can stretch is if my hair is in a weave. Otherwise I tear my hair out and break it at the demarcation line. Stretching ain't for everybody, and it dang sure ain't for me!

 

[JessCNU]

Stretching ain't for everybody, and it dang sure ain't for me!

Me either ...well at least right now. I really wish I could but it's hard because my hair so short. As soon and It gets long enough to pull back for a fake bun....Let the stretching BEGIN!!!

 

[glamazon386]

As long as your relaxer is applied correctly, I see no problem relaxing sooner than later. Stretching just lessens the chance of overlapping.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

I'm still kinda new to this hair thing, but I have been stretching since around May. My hair is thicker than it has ever been since I have been relaxed! IT HAS NEVER BEEN THIS THICK. the only things I have been doing differently are deep conditioning, and washing twice a week, and a ton of air drying/ rollersets/ bunning.

For me, I have a dandruff prone scalp. Stretching is easier on my scalp since I am not exposing it to those caustic chemicals so much! IN ADDITION, I think most people can "hack" a stretch of at least 8 weeks if they switch up their hair techniques.

Now I have been stetching between 12 and 13 weeks. I know for one thing my hair needs WAAAAYYY more moisture when I stretch. So for example, past week #7, or #8, I still wash my hair twice a week, but I only lather once as opposed to twice each time to help my hair maintain more of it's natural oils. In addition, I slather a buttload of conditoner on my hair, and I deep condition 3 times a week (during my two weeklly washes). i SLATHER IT ON MY HAIR LIKE BUTTER TILL MY HAIR IS WHITE. I do a moistuising treatmet, and I may leave it on one or two hours each time. On the weekends, I alternate between a cholestorol or a mayo (that contains protein) and I do this every weekend, switching it up depending on what my hair needs.

In addition, when it gets really close to perm time, I will finger detangle, rather than detangling with the comb. I am VERY CAREFUL to get all the knots out.

For me I only comb when my hair is dripping wet (my hair is naturally curly so this works for me). I slather it with moisture and really step up my oil sealing.

MINIMAL BREAKAGE, virtually none....thicker hair and a less irritated scalp.

Words cannot express how much stretching has helped me. Sorry to write a novel

 

[thebraudgroup]

I don't stretch. My hair starts breaking and shedding like crazy.

 

[SimpleKomplexity]

I stretch for 10 weeks. That's it. I don't think it slows growth, but for me it makes my hair extremely thin . I stretch for health not length

 

[melodies815]

I am a new stretcher, and it was accidental. I waited until I needed a relaxer again and then put in my twists. Right now, I am 23 weeks post and I know when I take these twists out, I will relax. But...my hair, like others have said, is so much thicker and since it's not out all the time, when I DO take it out, there is virtually no shedding or breakage at all. I am a little afraid to relax, but I think it will be fine.

Stretching = for me. I have the illusion that my hair grows faster becaise I never retain this much otherwise....

cj

 

[morehairplease]

Honestly, I don't know. I am attempting my first 3 month stretch now. The corrective relaxer I had done in December was a total disaster and I am hoping that this stretch will give my scalp/hair a much needed break. My goal is to relax no more than every 4 months(my length is really short at the moment) and working my way up to every 6 months(with the help of wigs, braids, and weaves).

 

[TrendySocialite]

I don't think it causes faster or more growth either. I actually think that if you don't know how to stretch it can aggravate breakage or excessive shedding. Some people stretch well, some don't. If you like to wear your hair straight the majority of the time, IMO you would possibly have to manipulate your hair more (blowdry roots, flat iron, etc.). I think you should test to see how long you can stretch but to not do it to excess that is causes damage. Just my .02...

 

[Marley4920]

I think I get more growth when I stretch. For me, my scalp takes 3-4 weeks to recover for the stress of a relaxer.:burning: The growth during this time is minimal, at best. From week 4-11, I get an amazing amount of growth and my hair is thicker and overall more healthy. I think its just a matter of learning your hair and figuring out how to stop the breakage. Pre-LHCF, I used to relax 5-6 weeks. My last stretch was 11 weeks and NO breakage - I did alot of co-washes, DC'ing and low manipulation. I'm not gonna lie, it's alot of work keeping the two textures happy, but I think it's worth it. My next stretch will be 13 weeks and my ultimate goal is 4 months (3 relaxers per year). Once I figure out a good stretch regimen, I'm good.

 

[vnaps]

i think if u stretch u will see more length..........but it will grow regardless.

 

[RavenMaven]

I voted no, but I had to think about it for a while. Hair could easily get overprocessed if you don't stretch, but I think that is more of a problem with retaining length, not growing it. Relaxers don't change the growth rate.

 

[HoneyA]

No, hair is going to grow whether you stretch or not. Stretching helps to keep my hair fuller because there is no over processing.

 

[PGirl]

This thread is interesting because as others have said, I notice that my hair doesn't grow as much the first 3 to 4 weeks after a relaxer. Then suddenly my NG shows up around 4.5 weeks and goes in for a major growth spurt up until I relax at 12 to 16 weeks. I don't know yet, but I have a feeling that stretching is the main reason that my hair is getting longer and thicker than before.

My hair was BSL when I was about 13. Once the relaxers started happening frequently, all that changed. Let's see if I can get my BSL back on....then I will know.

 

[Aggie]

This thread is interesting because as others have said, I notice that my hair doesn't grow as much the first 3 to 4 weeks after a relaxer. Then suddenly my NG shows up around 4.5 weeks and goes in for a major growth spurt up until I relax at 12 to 16 weeks. I don't know yet, but I have a feeling that stretching is the main reason that my hair is getting longer and thicker than before.

My hair was BSL when I was about 13. Once the relaxers started happening frequently, all that changed. Let's see if I can get my BSL back on....then I will know.

OT: Hey PGirl, I see you're in the DC challenge, I just wanted you to know the thread has changed and the old one is locked because it was too long. So I created another one, okay?

I know that I can't stretch too long because I end up using way more hair when I do. I can't seem to go beyond 14 weeks without major demarcation breakage issues and I definitely can't even do a 14 week stretch without a little help from braids, sew-ins, etc. Also I discovered that giving myself regular protein treatments are necessary for me during a long relaxer stretch. This way I don't lose too much hair.

 

[netnet26]

No, hair is going to grow whether you stretch or not. Stretching helps to keep my hair fuller because there is no over processing.

Yep Exactly!!!



*****************
http://fotki.com/denettra/

 

[equestrian]

stretching longer than 3 months isn't for me. it eventually starts to break off my relaxed hair. i like all my hair on the same page.

 

[MissYocairis]

So...everyone says stretching does not impact growth rate one way or the other. Here's my question...because the chemicals in relaxers damage hair follicles....wouldn't it follow that taking extended breaks from such chemicals could potentially allow your follicles to heal, regenerate, prosper moreso than if you relaxed faithfully every 8 or 10 weeks? I've always wondered this. It seems the longer you could go without putting the chemical on your head, the better quality of hair and condition of your scalp.

Can someone shed some light on that concept? Tell me if it's wishful thinking. TIA!

 

[MissYocairis]

^^^^Does anyone know the answer to this question? (the above bolded?)

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

So...everyone says stretching does not impact growth rate one way or the other. Here's my question...because the chemicals in relaxers damage hair follicles....wouldn't it follow that taking extended breaks from such chemicals could potentially allow your follicles to heal, regenerate, prosper moreso than if you relaxed faithfully every 8 or 10 weeks? I've always wondered this. It seems the longer you could go without putting the chemical on your head, the better quality of hair and condition of your scalp.

Can someone shed some light on that concept? Tell me if it's wishful thinking. TIA!

It certainly makes sense. I can't say that I know for sure if its true. But I will say that from relaxer day to 4 weeks post there's almost now NG but after 6 weeks post my NG sprouts up like crazy. Given my observations of how my hair is and your thoughts on follicles, I'd say that you may be on to something.

 

[MissYocairis]

Thanks for taking a stab at it IntheMix. I get that too...once it gets dense...the ng seems to get denser QUICK.

I have always wondered about this...but, particularly lately, with Chris Rock's movie being out and all the discourse about the effects of the chemical on our scalp/body/bloodstream and the infamous "gray/green cap" that dead black women who are autopsied are said to have...I just wondered if stretching could allow for a certain healing/rejuvanating period to take place in the scalp and follicles.

I wonder why we don't discuss or research that very much here? IDK, IDK. Just thinking out loud.

 

[brucebettye]

I don't think it really matters. I like to stretch my hair because I am not the best at perming my hair and I cannot really tell the difference between my perm hair and new growth until I am like 4 months post. It just depends on each person's hair and how they perm their hair.

 

[MizzCoco]

Thanks for taking a stab at it IntheMix. I get that too...once it gets dense...the ng seems to get denser QUICK.

I have always wondered about this...but, particularly lately, with Chris Rock's movie being out and all the discourse about the effects of the chemical on our scalp/body/bloodstream and the infamous "gray/green cap" that dead black women who are autopsied are said to have...I just wondered if stretching could allow for a certain healing/rejuvanating period to take place in the scalp and follicles.

I wonder why we don't discuss or research that very much here? IDK, IDK. Just thinking out loud.

This makes perfect sense. I have been thinking about this as well, my hair gets no growth up until 3-4 weeks post. I hope someone can shed some light on this