Gonna relax my hair today..

[MissMariee]

So I've decided I'm going to relax my hair today, so many people want me to stay natural but I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not comfortable walking around with a fro all the time . I hate to say it but, I don't feel beautiful with my natural hair :/

Anyways, any advice on how to relax successfully ?

 

[darlingdiva]

I don't have any advice on how to relax your own hair, but I'd just like to say that you don't have to wear your hair in an Afro all the time just because you have natural hair. In fact, you don't have to wear an Afro at all just because you have natural hair.

My hair has been natural all but four years of my life, and I've only worn an Afro once (and that was because I had just removed my braids and had somewhere to go).

I grew up as a heat-straightened natural, and now I wear twists and twist outs all-year round.

By the way, this post is in no way an attempt to dissuade you from relaxing your hair. Basically, I just wanted to say that wearing an Afro isn't a requirement just because you have natural hair.

 

[sharifeh]

Aww I'm sorry to hear that.

Why was a fro your only style?
You could also have straight hair as a natural...


There's a sticky thread called the lhcf guide to healthy relaxed hair. You'll find links to lots of threads on self relaxing.
I also wouldn't relax today if you haven't done the research yet, i would advise you to take the day to read through the threads on self relaxing.

 

[Embyra]

Relax your hair if that's what you prefer but it sounds like you relaxing because you have limited style choice ie thinking all you can wear is a fro
just like relaxed hair doesn't mean wearing your hair pin straight everyday of your life being natural doesn't mean wearing a fro

you also don't need to walk around with a Afro pick either hehehe.... just joking with you


There are good relaxed threads here so you will get alot of support good luck !

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=463686

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=606681

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=431594

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=653129

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=570837

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[Meritamen]

If you are relaxing your own hair you may want to try the half and half method to allow yourself time to properly apply the relaxer without being rushed.

 

[Lilmama1011]

I don't have any advice on how to relax your own hair, but I'd just like to say that you don't have to wear your hair in an Afro all the time just because you have natural hair. In fact, you don't have to wear an Afro at all just because you have natural hair.

My hair has been natural all but four years of my life, and I've only worn an Afro once (and that was because I had just removed my braids and had somewhere to go).

I grew up as a heat-straightened natural, and now I wear twists and twist outs all-year round.

By the way, this post is in no way an attempt to dissuade you from relaxing your hair. Basically, I just wanted to say that wearing an Afro isn't a requirement just because you have natural hair.

And I found that out after I relaxed smh

 

[Lilmama1011]

If you are relaxing your own hair you may want to try the half and half method to allow yourself time to properly apply the relaxer without being rushed.

Wouldn't some of the other hair get wet, do you do front first then back?

 

[Ogoma]

Hair is supposed to be fun, don't be so melodramatic.

Here are threads for your research:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=524429&highlight=relaxed
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=606681&highlight=relaxed
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=118195&highlight=relaxed
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=555485&highlight=relaxed
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=463686&highlight=relaxed

Good luck.

 

[Meritamen]

Wouldn't some of the other hair get wet, do you do front first then back?

It might but from I've seen from youtube tutorials is that ladies cover the hair they not working on with a shower cap. I figure if you're careful when rinsing out the front then back shouldn't get soaked.

 

[itismehmmkay]

Relaxing virgin hair is pretty easy b/c you don't have to worry about overprocessing You just slather it everywhere. I'd probably underprocess for a texlaxed result so that you can be sure you want to lose all of your texture.

 

[gabulldawg]

Welcome to the dark side! I know how you feel. I also think natural hair is limiting in terms of styling options. Embrya and Ogoma already provided you with great links for getting started. Just make sure that you take care of your hair and do the basics (i.e., washing, conditioning, dc-ing, moisturizing, sealing).

 

[NIN4eva]

MissMariee

I've been there too. My advise would be to flat iron your hair and protective style in the meantime while you comb through the relaxed hair sticky and threads for a few days. Find a relaxing method that you think may work best for you and your temperament, heck even write out an outline with your new relaxer research (I'm a huge fan of checklists and outlines - reduces error). Don't rush into it, nothing worse than relaxing your hair when you are rushing, don't feel like doing all of the steps or being precise, or just not have your ish together.

If you approach relaxing with knowledge and precision in mind and you have a result that's less than favorable (usually in the form of underprocessing) you'll be better prepared to handle it if you've already read about it and have an idea about what went wrong.