I know I should not have relaxed my hair myself and the whole time I was doing it, I was a nervous reck! I tried to follow SouthernGirlz instructions to a T but I ended up doing the exact same thing she said not to do, overlapping and putting the relaxer on the scalp - it burned like hell! I just could not see what was going on at the back and in no time relaxer was all over the hair, even on the ends!! Never again. What should I do now? The root of my hair seem straight but in between the hair is natural and the end is straight. Has this ever happened to anyone and if so, what should I do? I am so mad at myself but on the other hand, if I didn't try, I would never have know if I would have been successful or not so I guess I can look at the suituation that way. Anyway, I really need some advice...... (I used PhytoSpecific).
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Just self-relaxed and it was a disaster!! Need help!!
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shunemite
New Member
Sorry. Sounds like my first time! You may have not put enough relaxer cream on each section, or made your sections too big. My advice is probably what you don't want to hear, but I wouldn't do anything right now, just coz if you try to correct it you'll end up double processing the relaxed areas. I underprocessed once and I just dealt with it 'til my next touch up. Later on down the road you could go to a professional to clean the mess up.
For your next time advice, what I usually do since I know I'm slow, clumsy, and I have a sensitive scalp is I take extra precautions. I prebase my scalp with hair food, always, I have to. I slabber vaseline all over my ears, forehead, neck, and behind my ears just in case. I also put vaseline on all my ends in case something accidentally happens. And in addition to that, I predivide all my 4 sections using about 30 duckbill clips befoe I even start. That way when I relax, I just follow the clips and don't need to draw lines. I use my fingers (with no gloves) coz that's how I can feel the hair's texture at the roots while I smooth. At the end, I follow Shamboosie's method of rinsing the relaxer out in sections, giving time to the last sections to fully relax.
I do realize that everybody has their own way of relaxing, but that's my 2 cents.
For your next time advice, what I usually do since I know I'm slow, clumsy, and I have a sensitive scalp is I take extra precautions. I prebase my scalp with hair food, always, I have to. I slabber vaseline all over my ears, forehead, neck, and behind my ears just in case. I also put vaseline on all my ends in case something accidentally happens. And in addition to that, I predivide all my 4 sections using about 30 duckbill clips befoe I even start. That way when I relax, I just follow the clips and don't need to draw lines. I use my fingers (with no gloves) coz that's how I can feel the hair's texture at the roots while I smooth. At the end, I follow Shamboosie's method of rinsing the relaxer out in sections, giving time to the last sections to fully relax.
I do realize that everybody has their own way of relaxing, but that's my 2 cents.
Thanks Shunemite. I didn't know about the clips method but I took extra ordinary steps to base my scalp and I used my fingers to put in the relaxer. After a while though, the gloves had relaxer all over the fingers and contributed to the mess on the hair ends. You are correct about not putting enough relaxer on the underprocessed part - I ran out of relaxer. So, what did the professional did to your underprocessed part? Is your hair now the same texture from root ends? I will leave it as is until my next relaxer (5 months). That is going to be such a pain but as long as it can be corrected, I can wait. Your quick response has helped to calmed down - thanks so much.
shunemite
New Member
U're very welcome. I use a color applicator brush to apply and fingers to smooth. The next relaxer I got, the relaxer was overlapped a little bit the last 5 minutes to "correct". My hair is even all over. Your experience was probably harder due to the fact that you had more growth to deal with than the usual 1 inch.
~*~ShopAholic~*~
Well-Known Member
Well it has to happen at some time in our life, when things just don't go the way they should. don't worry though the problem can be fixed. Next time only wear a glove on the hand that u are using to apply the relaxer, also apply a conditioner to u'r ends to protect from overlapping, also apply pretroleum jelly to entire scalp area and hairline also ears just incase. If u'r scalp is really sensative use Pro-Styl pre creme for sensitive scalp by Ampro to base entire scalp and wait a few minutes so it can penetrate. Always use a protein reconstructor after relaxing to help bounce hair back to a healthy state. For the underprocessing just comb thru to the under processed parts when smoothing and wait a few minutes checking frequently so that u don't overprocess the hair. Don't give up it gets better with practice how about practicing with conditioner in btwn relaxers tring not to overlap then u can check out how u done when u'r finished with a hand mirror. If u'r gonna wait 5 months until u touch up that's alot of time for practice you know. 
Thanks guys. I will make a mental note of all your suggestions and incorporate in my next self-relaxing attempt..., yes, my next self-relaxer!!. I guess I changed my mind this morning because my hair doesn't look too bad after all and I saved $60! I need to also give myself credit since this was my first attempt at relaxing and all I need is more practice. My hair has body and the underprocessed part is not that bad. I will post pic of it later tonight.
I also do this. Sectioning the hair is the biggest plus and made the most difference for me. My hair almost looks like I relax professionally. I wear only one glove also and that helps. It takes practice and this is probably my 5th time self relaxing and my hair is finally close to looking professionally done.
ivanay what kind of relaxer did you decide to use?
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I used PhytoSpecific..., but I know why I got burnt. I washed my hair on Monday - two days before relaxing and 4 days after stop using MTG. I know people here mentioned to wait a week or two after MTG but I took my braids out and was very anxious to get rid of the thick roots. I got burnt and it was my fault.
hopeful
Well-Known Member
If at first you don't succeed, try and try again! Not trying to be corny, but self-relaxing can be a wonderful and very empowering experience. Don't be too hard on yourself. With time and practice and trying different techniques I bet you could be become an excellent self-relaxer. Good luck.
ivanay said:
I left it alone. I didn't correct it. I had to accept the fact that I would not have great looking hair for weeks.
I just knew that I would have to take extra care of it. I used Keraphix/Humectress combo every wash and kept my hair in a bun. Through it all my hair got stronger.
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Queenie
Well-Known Member
When you do your touch-ups, coat your previously relaxed hair with leave-in conditioner or that cholestrol conditioner. It slows the relaxer's ability to straighten. This way if you accidently overlap, your hair is protected.
I also spray a little water in the roots to make it easier to find the new growth.
I also spray a little water in the roots to make it easier to find the new growth.
MJ
New Member
Queenie said:When you do your touch-ups, coat your previously relaxed hair with leave-in conditioner or that cholestrol conditioner. It slows the relaxer's ability to straighten. This way if you accidently overlap, your hair is protected.
I also spray a little water in the roots to make it easier to find the new growth.
I thought that was a no-no because water, in any amount, makes the scalp more sensitive to the relaxer and can lead to burns
This site is not just about growing hair; it actually helps the individual to become a true hair professional!! Therefore, in addition to providing info on the health and growth of my hair, I will also provide details about how I improve my self-relaxing skills. I am sure the later will be very helpful to alot of people who are scared to attempt self-relaxing. I will practice the conditioner technique and see. Thanks everyone.
Lovelylocs
Well-Known Member
Ivanay, what did u do to fix your hair?
SouthernGirl
New Member
You poor thing!! I just saw this but I'm so glad you've gotten some helpful responses. I agree with what Jas and BeautifulWideEyes said. It sometimes takes time, but you'll get the steps down. Sectioning is a huge help, even though it's difficult to avoid overlapping.
Don't do any fixes at this point. Just nourish your hair with conditioners and TLC for a while. When it's time for your next service, if you are a bit nervous, let a pro help correct it.
BTW, this has happened to me before, but only in a small section. I waited until my next relaxer, then ran a small amount of the perm through the under-processed area only (it was in the middle of the strand like yours) for about 5 minutes, then rinsed, neutralized, etc. It worked well for me, but I would not advise this since you are just learning to do it yourself.
HTH,
SG
Don't do any fixes at this point. Just nourish your hair with conditioners and TLC for a while. When it's time for your next service, if you are a bit nervous, let a pro help correct it.
BTW, this has happened to me before, but only in a small section. I waited until my next relaxer, then ran a small amount of the perm through the under-processed area only (it was in the middle of the strand like yours) for about 5 minutes, then rinsed, neutralized, etc. It worked well for me, but I would not advise this since you are just learning to do it yourself.
HTH,
SG
BAILEYSCREAM
New Member
ivanay said:
Ivanay,
You need to apply lots of vaseline to the burned areas and this will help with healing. I did a touch-up about 2 weeks ago now and burned my ears and I have been doing my own touxh-ups for years...sometime it just happens like that.....you can do a corrective relaxer in a few weeks on the underprocessed areas but in the meantime just give your hair some TLC, lots of vaseline and moisturizing conditioner once the scalp starts to scab over to restore your scalp's moisture levels.
For next time, you can base your scalp with vaseline as a barrier and put conditioner on the ends, some relaxers (don't know much about Phyto) have a serum-like ends protector to coat the ends and this helps to avoid double processing of the hair.
Also, it helps to section the hair into 4 and start with the coarsest part of your hair and finish off with the softest area last so the hair is processed evenly all around. I use a wide applicator brush instead of a rattail comb to apply the chemicals and this helps to get the chemical on just the new growth.....Using porosity controller shampoo and conditioner also helps the hair to come out even. I usually apply this (the conditioner) to the hair for a few minutes, say about 5 minutes, before rinsing out the hair.
With practice you'll get good at it.
ETA: Ok, Ivanay, I just went and looked at the date on this thread and you posted this in August,
I'm sure your hair has healed since then.
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