First time stretching...help!

Denim And Leather

Denim And Leather

New Member
I'm approaching week #8 since my last touch-up, and am trying to stretch to 12 weeks, but these naps underneath are driving me nuts! Washing hasn't been bad, i.e. detangling, since I've been running my hair directly under the shower with a wide tooth comb. The problem is when my hair's dry. I can't wrap it good at night unless I brush it, and I'm really trying to avoid that but haven't been able to; I moisturize, and use oil to try to make it feel smoother, and it's not working.

This morning I got sick of the newgrowth and brushed them them, but not all the way, and that was a bad mistake! I got a bunch of hairs that came out when I pulled my hair together to make a ponytail. :perplexed

I don't think I'm gonna make it to week 12...any suggestions?

TIA

P.S. I take my hat off to those of you who are transtitioning, I can imagine how frustrating that must feel.
 
I am almost 7 months post touch up and I recently discovered that Cantu Breakcure Strengthening creme makes it very easy for me to deal with my newgrowth, it makes it very soft. I just started using this product this week and I absolutely love it. My newgrowth stays soft even after the product dries.

Have you tried any Domincan conditioners? Silicon mix and Capilo Sole and Cinnamon are great newgrowth tamers. Also, coconut oil and Black castor oil helps soften newgrowth. HTH
 
Thanks for the suggestions, SwtnLow. :) I've heard of Cantu....does Sally's have it, I'm actually heading there to get a Denman brush and some other things.
 
Thank you very much, KiniKakes! I've been hearing so much about this Cantu Shea Butter on here, I hope it does help me with this newgrowth.

BTW, you have a very nice Fotki album! :)
 
I just finished stretching to 13 weeks, this was my 2nd time, and it was much better than the 1st, I applied shea butter to soften the new growth as well as Africa's best oil, to seal the moisture, I think what helped me most was that I wore protetive styles from 8 weeks on, I am looking forward to stretching this time to 20 weeks, does not make my stylist happy, but oh well
 
I would suggest trying protective styles with texturize such as braid outs and twist outs. Because when your new growth is really growing in and you attempt to wear it straight all the time the stress of where the new growth and relaxed ends meet is too much.

I don't use anything special to make my new growth softer. But with my last stretch of 12 weeks I took two teaspoons of flax seed oil right before bed. I noticed a difference in the moisture properties of my hair.

P.S. Dont' get frustrated and it will be alot easier. I love wearing my hair nappy so stretching is eustress for me.
 
Wild growth oil is amazing at making new growth soft. I did my first stretch (14 weeks) a couple of months ago and this stuff really helped. Salerm 21 is also a great leave in that will soften your hair very well.
 
I actually do wear my hair in protective styles, and only wear it down once a week at the most. I've worn my hair in a braid out three times so far, and like the look, but other than that, I usually wear it pinned up in some fashion (mostly buns). It's just hard to try to brush it into a protective bun, for example, when my new growth is unmanageable (I only brush to style my hair).

I think I'll try the shea butter first, since I've read quite a bit about it here. And I think I'll wear braid outs more often.

I appreciate the tips, tryingto, planodiva and crlsweetie912! :)
 
What work for me when stretching is deciding on what hairstyle I was going to wear after shampoo/dc or cw and wearing my hair like that until next wash day. For example, if I was going to wear a bun then I would make a part and put my hair back into a bun. Then I would put scarf over my head to smooth the hair down. I don't comb my hair until next wash day. I just finger comb and use my moisturizer.
 
Hi, Dee

I'm trying to avoid using any kind of heat on my NG, I want to minimize my heat use as much as possible.

Lizz25_GA, this is pretty much what I do as well. :)

I bought some shea butter from ORS and used it last night after washing my hair, and I have to say, it has made my newgrowth softer. This might be a keeper! :)
 
Keep manipulation at minimum post 8 weeks, doing flat twist, braidouts is great because you won't have to comb, I wouldn't wrap my hair at from 6 weeks post relax because it's too much manipulation for all that new growth, i'm currently 8 weeks post relax myselft I really want to go the entire summer without a relaxer but I have 2 really special occasions to go to, i'm trying to find a style to hide my new growth.
 
I am also a beginner in this stretching thing. I normally get a touch-up every six weeks. There have been a couple of times that I've "stretched." But not because I was trying to. I couldn't afford to dish out $65 at the time.

During those times, I don't remember my new growth being unmanagable. I think it was pretty soft. My problem was my hair being so thick. I have really thick hair with a relaxer. So, I can't even imagine how thick my natural hair will be. That is what I couldn't deal with, the thickness, and poofyness (is that a word). That was also because I wore my hair down all the time. So, when new growth started growing in and it wasn't quite time for a touch-up, I pulled out the handy dandy Hai flat irons. Even with the flat irons, there was still a big difference in how flat my fresh touch-ups would be. Someone always said, "somebody got a fresh perm."

The thickness won't be much of a problem with braidout/twistout styles, but I think it will be a problem with doing buns. Even when I did those, my hair was thick. So do you ladys basically us the ponytail method to get your hair to lay down with a bun???

Also, while my new growth is not that bad, my edges are OFF THE HOOK when I need a touch-up. And being that I will be wearing my hair up more often, I really want to know what I can do about my edges. Any advice??
 
princesmich said:
Keep manipulation at minimum post 8 weeks, doing flat twist, braidouts is great because you won't have to comb, I wouldn't wrap my hair at from 6 weeks post relax because it's too much manipulation for all that new growth, i'm currently 8 weeks post relax myselft I really want to go the entire summer without a relaxer but I have 2 really special occasions to go to, i'm trying to find a style to hide my new growth.
Click to expand...


This is what I do. This is my first stretch - I normally get a touch up at week 6 and I now at week 12 (I get my TU today :D )

I just dont comb it. I either bun or part and twist or whatever after I wash, tie with a scarf and leave it like that until my next wash or c/w. It dries flat. No blow drying, no flat ironing.
The less manipulation the less frustration. Last night was the first time in 6 weeks that I've tried combing my hair dry and I wasn't combing it I was basing my scalp and it was painful. If I had to comb my hair everyday like that I'd either be bald or go back to relaxing every 5-6weeks
 
I would suggest to try some low manipulation styles like some of the other ladies mentioned. It's easier to get the rest of your hair to blend with the new growth than it is to keep the new growth straight with the rest of your hair. How are you wearing your hair daily? Down? I usually just use some mango butter and d tie it down so it lays flat. I don't have to worry about all that new growth in the middle because no one is seeing it. I just make sure the edges are okay.
 
Liz25_Ga said:
What work for me when stretching is deciding on what hairstyle I was going to wear after shampoo/dc or cw and wearing my hair like that until next wash day. For example, if I was going to wear a bun then I would make a part and put my hair back into a bun. Then I would put scarf over my head to smooth the hair down. I don't comb my hair until next wash day. I just finger comb and use my moisturizer.
Click to expand...

ITA. My first attempt at streching was painful 'cuz I kept trying to treat my hair "same as usual" and that doesn't work on my 4b relaxed hair that's more than 8 weeks. THE key to succesful stretches from me (I went from 6 weeks to 12 weeks now!) is to not comb my dry hair between washes. Period. Attempting to detangle my dry new growth is a recipe for breakage.

I wash once a week and the first 8 weeks or so post relaxer, I can do whatever style to my hair but once I hit week 9, I do what Liz suggests and "style" it on wash days and pretty much leave it alone until my next wash. Breeze and no hazzles whatsover. I only detangle when hair is saturated with condish once a week on wash days. Add a little oil and water during the week, maybe, but that's pretty much it. Low to no maintenance styles is my secret weapon for stretching. . .

HTH

Regards,
Neroli
 
Yeah, I was gonna suggest rollersets too. Since you don't have a problem detangling, they should work out pretty well. Magnetic rollers really smooth out my new growth, so give it a try!
 
Rollersets on wash days to dry hair is great. But what to do in between washes when hair is already dry? I understood the poster to have problem detangling dry hair in between washes. Or did I get that wrong?

Oneinamillion and TSU, do you rollerset dry hair? How do you avoid breakage with the amount of manipulation involved in rollersetting? Just curious.

Regards,
Neroli
 
Ms_Twana said:
I am also a beginner in this stretching thing. I normally get a touch-up every six weeks. There have been a couple of times that I've "stretched." But not because I was trying to. I couldn't afford to dish out $65 at the time.

During those times, I don't remember my new growth being unmanagable. I think it was pretty soft. My problem was my hair being so thick. I have really thick hair with a relaxer. So, I can't even imagine how thick my natural hair will be. That is what I couldn't deal with, the thickness, and poofyness (is that a word). That was also because I wore my hair down all the time. So, when new growth started growing in and it wasn't quite time for a touch-up, I pulled out the handy dandy Hai flat irons. Even with the flat irons, there was still a big difference in how flat my fresh touch-ups would be. Someone always said, "somebody got a fresh perm."

The thickness won't be much of a problem with braidout/twistout styles, but I think it will be a problem with doing buns. Even when I did those, my hair was thick. So do you ladys basically us the ponytail method to get your hair to lay down with a bun???

Also, while my new growth is not that bad, my edges are OFF THE HOOK when I need a touch-up. And being that I will be wearing my hair up more often, I really want to know what I can do about my edges. Any advice??
Click to expand...


Bumping for possible answers to the above post.
 
When I'm stretching I don't wrap my hair. It's too much manipulation for hair that has a significant amount of new growth. Try to find styles that you don't have to manipulate your hair too much. Also try not to comb through it too often when it's dry. If you have to comb through it, I would use a shower comb.
 
Twanda,

I have 4b relaxed hair my new growth is thick, proofy and totally awesome. I stretch up to 12 weeks at a time without any problems. As I stated in an earlier post, the key for me is to "style" my hair on wash days when its wet, then I let dry and leave it alone until my next wash, no combing, no brushing, no "handling" the new growth, just a bit of oil on my ends every few days and that's it. This is the ONLY way I can stretch past 8 weeks 'cuz if I attempt to detangle, oil or manipulate my roots when it's dry, it breaks. Period. Doesn't matter what products I use, it breaks. So I just don't touch it and save the detangling for when it is completely saturated with condish on wash days -- I don't care what it's like "down there" in between washes so long as it's clean and moisturized once a week.

I hope others will weigh in on this because it took me a loooong time to understand the concept of not combing my hair every day and basically leaving it alone, especially when I have massive new growth, more than 8 weeks post relaxer. Shoot, I don't have TIME to handle that mess when it's dry, it's too painful and is actually counter-productive in my case.

HTH!

Regards,
Neroli
 
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