Keep Stretching? Please Tell Me Why!

[janeemat]

It just took me 1 hr and 1/2 to rollerset 18wks ng so that I will be able to blowout it out. I can't do this anymore, all of the tangles, losing hair during the comb out, is it worth it to stretch 20 wks/5 month. This is madness. I'm just so done. I am ready to relax! The problem is, I'm still going to have to do this one more time so that I can do my hard core protein treatment before relaxing. I'm afraid that I'm combing out too much hair on wash days. How much is too much? I don't know at this point. Lawd I hope I'm not sacrificing 20 strands to end up with 2 strands. Oh and I used the Nioxin 7 and Rusk Sulfate free poo after swim tonight. My hair locked up like it was dreaded. I was sooooooo happy that I had my aphoghee 2 min with me. I learned that you do not try new products while deep into your stretch.

 

[aquajoyice]

I know it can be very daunting.. I just ended a 6 month stretch myself Oct 17nth and let me tell you!!! I've been an 8 week girl myself and thought it would be niceto give my hair a break from the chemicals. Around my 5th month is when things started getting hectec and I was on the verge of texlaxing earlier than planned. My hair was matted, tangled, knotted everyday. It got to the point where I just left my new growth alone and bunned it the last month. only washing once every 2 weeks. But I must say that once I did texlax again... my newgrowth is the healthiest and thickest i've ever seen my hair in long long time. The difference is astounding!!! Shiny,easily detangle, bouncy...it's like someone elses hair is on my head, LOL! I know that from here on out I will be texlaxing every 4 months for sure. And I know I will probably incorporate another longer stretch in the near future. I know that there are mistakes I made that probably made it more complicated than what it should have been.

 

[SouthernStunner]

I just finished a one year stretch and I could not do it without braids. I did the C&G method so every two months I was out of my braids for about 2-3 weeks (mostly 2 weeks) I did bantu knots or wigs so that I would not be in my hair so much. I also used my steamer and it seemed to make my new growth behave a little better. Also if you apply your DC like you would your relaxer (in small sections) it seems to help get much needed moisture to your roots and when they are moist they behave better.

I sure hope some of this info was helpful and as always you can PM me with any questions.

Blessings,
SouthernStunner

 

[Lanea87]

I don't bother my hair too much, deep into stretches. Braids under a wig or a bun for a week. Wash, and do it again.

 

[chiconya]

It just took me 1 hr and 1/2 to rollerset 18wks ng so that I will be able to blowout it out. I can't do this anymore, all of the tangles, losing hair during the comb out, is it worth it to stretch 20 wks/5 month. This is madness. I'm just so done. I am ready to relax! The problem is, I'm still going to have to do this one more time so that I can do my hard core protein treatment before relaxing. I'm afraid that I'm combing out too much hair on wash days. How much is too much? I don't know at this point. Lawd I hope I'm not sacrificing 20 strands to end up with 2 strands. Oh and I used the Nioxin 7 and Rusk Sulfate free poo after swim tonight. My hair locked up like it was dreaded. I was sooooooo happy that I had my aphoghee 2 min with me. I learned that you do not try new products while deep into your stretch.

Hey how about that Aphogee 2 minute for a protein it works miracles I am about 6 months post I may transition. I was loosing a lot of hair before ahpogee I hate to admit this heat during my stretch has saved me. Without heat I was loosing clumps trying to airdry. And I can forget about a rollerset period.

Have you ever tried Braidouts your hair is long? Sylver2 does such a good job stretching.

I would love to have some length for a braid out then I could ditch the heat.

 

[SmartyPants]

It just took me 1 hr and 1/2 to rollerset 18wks ng so that I will be able to blowout it out. I can't do this anymore, all of the tangles, losing hair during the comb out, is it worth it to stretch 20 wks/5 month. This is madness. I'm just so done. I am ready to relax! The problem is, I'm still going to have to do this one more time so that I can do my hard core protein treatment before relaxing. I'm afraid that I'm combing out too much hair on wash days. How much is too much? I don't know at this point. Lawd I hope I'm not sacrificing 20 strands to end up with 2 strands. Oh and I used the Nioxin 7 and Rusk Sulfate free poo after swim tonight. My hair locked up like it was dreaded. I was sooooooo happy that I had my aphoghee 2 min with me. I learned that you do not try new products while deep into your stretch.

At the point I start losing hair, I relax.... Maybe you can only stretch for four months instead of five given your new growth. A four month stretch is still quite impressive when you consider that most stylists and relaxer manufacturers recommend that you relax every month and a half to two months and some folks relax once a month. You have to do what's best for your hair.

That said, when I started using the Neutrogena Triple Moisture products my tangles became much less of a hassle.

 

[janeemat]

I don't do wigs, weaves or braids. I have worn a few braid outs, but I still have to detangle to do the braid outs. Then I have to rebraid to maintain. That is a lot of manipulation. I don't bother my hair except for wash days. Other wise it is bunned. My normal routine is to rollerset on Sat after my wash so i can have curls/straight hair for church on Sunday. Back in a bun on Monday until wash day on Wed. After Wed wash, back into a bun until Sat. That's mainly it.

 

[Chevelure618]

I applaud you for trying so far into your stretch to keep rollersetting. I learned early that rollersetting for me past 6 weeks just caused me to lose too much hair. To your question: No! It is NOT worth losing hair.

I was impressed with the MaCherieAmour rollersetting technique, but soon enough found out it does not work for me deep into my stretch.

Deep into my stretch if I want it straight (rarely) I will just lightly blowdry my hair (NOT from wet to dry, but just to detangle really) let it air dry the rest of the way, put heat protectant on the NG and flat iron on no higher than 325. (Hairstylist says my NG can go up to 450, but WTH does he know).

But other than that, I lose the least hair detangling in the shower, airdrying and LEAVING IT ALONE, in buns, french buns, other types of buns and ignore the NG in the back.

I've tried the long stretches and I find they're worth it if you can tough it out, but that a 4 month stretch is plenty long enough.

The Marathon Stretching for the sake of stretching defeats the purpose IMO

 

[janeemat]

I figured that I could rollerset and then blow out the roots like the Dominicans do. How do ladies that are 6 months and longer get rollersets and then blow outs. Is there a secret product to melt the tangles and make rollersetting a breeze? Do share.

 

[locabouthair]

I have never gone 6 months, unless it was because I was wearing braids.

Last time I sretched for like 12 weeks and I got tangles and knots. I tried leaving my hair alone because I wear a wig and I stopped rollersetting. I dont really have a solution except that I know the the deeper I am in my stretch the more frequent I need to wash to prevent the knots.

You made great progress OP!

 

[SmartyPants]

I figured that I could rollerset and then blow out the roots like the Dominicans do. How do ladies that are 6 months and longer get rollersets and then blow outs. Is there a secret product to melt the tangles and make rollersetting a breeze? Do share.

Do you know about the home grown steam treatment? I would do those twice a week. With your Wednesday wash use Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Conditioner. With your Saturday wash use the Neutorgena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask. My regimen is exactly like yours (wash 2x's a week bun everyday) except my wash days are Tuesday and Saturday. If you are having trouble with the tangles, I really think the NTM products will help. I know that's what Sylver uses. I could kick myself for not trying them sooner.


Also, I find that the Aphogee products are too much protein for my hair. I now do my protein treatment every Saturday. I start with a hot oil treatment using Castor Oil. Then, before I wash out the Castor Oil, I coat my hair with an egg and leave that mixture on for 30 minutes.** I then wash and do a deep steam treatment with the NTM Deep Recovery Hair Mask. When I switched to this regimen, I stopped having to use a leave-in because my hair was so tangle free.

**An alternative to the HOT is to mix one egg and two tablespoons of Castor Oil together and put that on your hair without heat.

 

[sylver2]

your good..there is no way i could rollerset myself after about 3 months. It takes an hour just to rollerset on my freshly relaxed hair. For me the most important thing that allows me to stretch so long is no combing/no manipulation except on wash days. scarf method gets me through. as far as braidouts. i wash/condition detangle then braid on wet hair. dry. braidouts usually last a week and a half without me having to rebraid. to freshen it i usually braid just the ends or the first 2.

 

[charmtreese]

I use to do really long stretches 6,7,8 months or more at a time, what I've learned is that you really have to listen to your hair. If you see too much hair in your comb one week while deep into your stretch you probably need to think about ending your stretch.

Some might think Im crazy but I keep my hair from each wash day to compare (I gather the hair from my comb after I detangle, the shower after I wash and even after It dries from the rollerset. I roll the hair up in a little ball and put it in a soap box.)...if the amount of hair stays about the same, I feel good about my stretch and will continue, however if I notice that the hair balls start to get larger, I know it's time to end my stretch. By doing this I also can tell how effective a product is, and what normal hair loss on wash day is for me.

Currently I only stretch for 12-16 weeks. I'm trying not to do anymore LONG stretches. However, the challenge is soooo tempting. Good luck and I HTH!!!

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Yeah, I Top out at around 12-18 Weeks Max.

It's interesting learning new things about your hair. And how to incorporate Products/Techniques the further along you get.

I ususally Co-Wash with something incredibly Moisturizing, use a Weekly Reconstructor or Light Protein Treatment, a Good Creamy Leave-In and Low Manipulation. Yet Removing Shed Hair before it has a chance to Tangle & Knot

It's definitely a learning experience and I think every relaxed head should "gradually" go from: 4 to 6, 6 to 8, 8 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 14 and so on.....until they reach 'their' maximum level.

Just to learn what their hair can tolerate and how products and techniques can help you achieve something you thought was only 'possible' with Relaxing, Oftentimes before Even Necessary.

Stretching will definitely help you Learn Your Hair A lot Better.

 

[Barbie83]

Girl, maybe your hair is trying to tell you something. I would go on and relax.

 

[janeemat]

I will more than likely relax next Sat. That would be a week earlier than anticipated, 19 wks. I slept in my rollers and I will be removing them shortly to blow the roots out. I doubt that I will ever reach 6 months stretching. I will do my aphoghee treatment with my Wed wash to prepare for the relaxer. I will pick up the NTM and use it on Wed. If I could just find that one product to melt the tangles without a fight, rollersetting would be a breeze. I too gather my hair from one wash to the other to see how much hair I'm losing. It's basically the same lately, but it's still a lot to me. Sylver2, I use your scarf method on Wed with the part down the middle. This works really good. I just dread wash days right now.

 

[hair4romheaven]

I stretched my relaxer before I heard the term "stretching" (LOL) about 3 years ago I didn't get a relaxer for about a year my hair was so thick and healthy. All I did was wear braids at that time. I'm wearing a weave now. Then I'm going to get braids. I will not texlax until May.
So yes it's worth it if you PS

 

[jasminea]

Silicone is my friend during stretching. The rusk smoother Sylver2 uses and the mane and tail detangler Tracyee uses both are loaded with silicones. Both do a really good job and making my new growth relax out of its tight coils so I can detangle.

Applying conditioner to new growth like a relaxer is also awesome to get it softer. If your scalp is sensitive to build-up, you can use something like Karacare Dry and Itchy scalp conditioner on new growth and whatever other deep conditioner you want on the rest of your hair.

Personally I don't like getting too far past 3 months now. The second I start feeling defeated by my hair, it is time to relax. I refuse to let long stretching become some status that I have to attain. The only thing I want to attain is longer healthier hair.

 

[SmilingElephant]

I cannot Stretch more than 12 weeks....so i stop at 3-4 months...i have YET to do a 4 month stretch though!! I just survived a 2 1/2 month stretch...10 weeks! My hair was sooo matted and tangled....it was horrible!! I'ma try that Aphogee this time though...i'm almost 2 weeks post now.

But i must say...my hair is so smooth and silky and strong. I Love it!

 

[melissa-bee]

You lot are scaring me. I'm trying to transition.