Professional Relaxer or Self Relax

[nita4]

Which do you think is best and why???

 

[Allandra]

For me, a professional relaxer application is best because it's too much work for me, and my stylist does a pretty good job. I also think it would be difficult for me to prevent over-lapping and over-processing.

 

[Kaela]

Although I think technically the professional is the best way to go, I have had at-home relaxers for the last 10 yrs, and have been doing them myself for the last 6 yrs. Everytime I have ever went to the salon (except once) they have done things that I did not ask with scissors, so I'll be d***ed if I'd allow harsh chemicals to be put in and then I'm ignored.... so I'm to the point now where I don't trust anyone to do it but myself, and it is never overprocessed, and comes out fine.

 

[Tgirl]

I agree with Kaela. The last time I got a relaxer at the salon my hair came out "bone straight". I'm going back to doing thm myself. A little underprocessed is better than overprecossed in my eyes.

 

[auntybe]

When I did relax I prefered self-relaxing because I could never get a stylist to rinse when I said it was time and not when she thought it was time.

 

[nita4]

BUMPING for more responses ladies!!

After my last musical chair appointment that never happened, I'm seriously thinking of self relaxing. I have done them in the past with no "major" problems, but had decided with this new hair journey that I would get my hair professionally done to avoid serious underprocessing. Which is what happened last summer.

I too, am finding it hard to trust these stylist. I recently interviewed one and the first thing she told me was that its good to get my hair done every 4 to 6 weeks!!!

I don't think so.



I mean honestly I would rather be and I am somewhat underprocessed then overprocessed. I think it's just a matter of finding the right relaxer and strength for my hair.

 

[India08]

professional....

 

[Cres81]

I have been thinking of self relaxing as well, because my hair also came out bone straight,she started applying the relaxer at the front, burned my forehead, and I got scalp burns as well.

I have been doing a lot of research into self-relaxing now.

 

[Islandgirl]

Professional relaxer although my two hair horrors happened when a professional relaxed my hair. Both times it was not my regular stylist (on a trip to antigua and when I first moved to Philly).

I just will not take the risk handling my hair. I didn't even know how to take care of my hair during most of my life (other people did it for me). It wasn't until the second relaxer horror, that I tried to learn exactly how to take care of my hair. (my hair was overprocessed, and it fell out, i was shedding for months,-i am in college=broke, needed to learn how to do my hair myself)

 

[kandyland]

I've been looking into doing self-relaxing myself also because I can use that 60 bucks + 5 Tip elsewhere plus my stylist is scissor happy and my hair never grows plus she relaxes my hair bone straight and she also give me the every 6 week speel..."If u don't perm every six weeks, your hair is going to break, yada yada yada...

 

[Luli]

I'd have to say professional. Although I've self relaxed on and off, my hair comes out better when I go to the hairdresser.

 

[Cres81]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been looking into doing self-relaxing myself also because I can use that 60 bucks + 5 Tip elsewhere plus my stylist is scissor happy and my hair never grows plus she relaxes my hair bone straight and she also give me the every 6 week speel..."If u don't perm every six weeks, your hair is going to break, yada yada yada...

[/ QUOTE ]

We must go to the same hairdresser. I get the speech, the expensive price, and she is also scissor happy as well. LOL!

I don't let her trim my hair anymore, because she doesn't understand the meaning of the word. I do my own trimming now!

 

[EmeraldSky]

If you can find a good stylist I would say professional, definately.

 

[pooh123]

Professional all the way unless you are really good at relaxing it yourself.

pooh123

 

[Kitkat]

If I can find a really good stylist I don't mind going. Unfortunately, since it's so hard to find them, I've been self relaxing.

 

[Cleo]

I feel more comfortable doing relaxers myself. I can rinse when I know it's time and don't have to worry about someone being too "rough" with my hair. If I find a really good stylists I may eventually let someone do my retouches, but until then no one will touch my hair.

 

[Eyvonne7131]

For me PROFESSIONAL RELAX! I use to do it myself and because I was not good at it I broke alot of my hair off in the back....

 

[marla]

Professional for me. I don't feel confident enough to do it myself. I tried and freaked out and only did half of my head! LOL!! I have a great stylist who evaluates my hair and scalp everytime I go in.

 

[henrilou]

Well, when I used to relax, I went to the shop when I could afford and did it at home when I couldn't. The resutlts were always the same: bouncy, shiny the first 2 days THEN came the flood; breaking hair, hair that looked like it was at a growth standstill (because the ends were breaking off-duh!!!)
The main thing was I didn't respect my hair and I didn't make sure the stylist did either. I wanted her to leave the relaxer in til it started to burn ( then I was sure that it would 'take')I didn't comment about the rought comb-outs, because I was rough at home.
so no matter where you go...You have to be ON TOP of everything that goes on with YOUR hair. And not be afraid to speak up.

 

[moneychaser]

bump

 

[ADB]

I think professional relaxers are better, but only because I have a terrific stlyist who cares about hair health first. I will soon have to be doing my own relaxers because I am moving to Alaska. After hearing all the horror stories of bad stylist I'm afraid to let anybody else touch my hair. My hair is lightly relaxed. Most people would say underprossed. It's really similar to my natural hair texture. So I don't think it will be to hard to do myself.

 

[ThickNBeautiful]

During the last two years with my cycle of braids, relax, braids, relax I always did my own touch ups. When I started on this hair care journey about six weeks ago, I went to a professional for a touch up - $85! I have always done my own touch ups, but now I fear under/over processing. I think in the end I will be doing my own because they can mess up just as much if not more than me.

 

[aqualung]

Professional touchups are convenient, and my stylist is very careful when relaxing, rollersetting, and blowing out my hair. However, he overcharges. This year alone I paid $70 ($50 touchup, $20 trim) on discount Tuesday in January. I paid $65 for a touchup and another $20 for a dusting on Friday. I wouldn't consider going to another salon because I'm so spoiled, but this is getting ridiculous.

Self-relaxing is definitely a skill I want to teach myself, but so far this year I've been too lazy to grab the box of PCJ lye and race it through the new growth for 17 minutes. Spacing out relaxers, self-relaxing and rollersetting are the final frontier.

 

[slwe415]

Professional unless you have a hair buddy to do it for you!

 

[nita4]

Wow ladies, this is an old thread!!! To date I have been self relaxing. I have yet to find a relaxer that I really like that I don't have to order via internet. I will be trying Eluence on my next touch up - regular strength for 20 minutes. Mild doesn't seem to do a thing for me even though I have fine to medimum thin hair - it gives me a blow out. Twenty minutes doesn't make my hair bone straight either. I still haven't found a stylist that I trust, but honestly I haven't been looking.

 

[slwe415]

I had an Affirm back in December, but this weekend I decided to try Elasta QP. I like both fairly well.

 

[flyjump00]

I do my own relaxers. I have not had a good hairdresser since I lived in Philly. I trust myself more than anyone else.

 

[Dutchess]

I think they're both good. If the stylist cares and pays attention to your hair he/she will do a good job everytime.
No one loves your hair the way that you do so for sure you will do the best job you can. My husband does my re-touches, I taught him precisely what to do and he understands the concept of re-touches. His re-touches come out better than mine everytime, the only thing I don't like is that he cannot part at all. LOL

 

[AceH]

[ QUOTE ]
ThickNBeautiful said:
I will be doing my own because they can mess up just as much if not more than me.

[/ QUOTE ]
<font color="blue">ITA. I do my own because I'm good at it. There's nothing that the stylist did that I cannot do. Ever since I stopped getting my hair touched up professionally, my hair has been getting longer &amp; longer, and is healthier &amp; thicker...</font>

 

[UmSumayyah]

I FINALLY learned how to do my own touch-ups and am as pleased as punch. I think as soon as the last of the damage from my last "professional" experience is trimmed off there will be NO stopping me!
When you can do it yourself you don't have to sit in the chair and request a wide tooth comb rather than having her rip it out with a fine tooth, you can rinse whenever you want, you don't have to drive to the shop or wait, and you don't have to live in fear of your stylist dying or moving!