I relaxed my hair today!!! (FINALLY! I pushed it back like three times, lol)
This was my first time self-relaxing and I think I did a pretty good job.
I used Hawaiian Silky no-lye regular. Instead of four sections, or the half and half method, I did three sections. I parted down the middle in the front up until I got to the crown, and then down towards the corners of my nape in the back so that the back section looked like a triangle. I started each section where the three parts converged and worked my way out so that my edges/nape got relaxed last. I like that I didn't burn, although I don't know if that's due to the relaxer I used or just the fact that I did my own hair this time instead of letting someone else do it.
I also pre-parted my hair and held each individual part with a clip to make going from section to section easier. I put each clip slightly above the line of demarcation so that I knew exactly where to apply the relaxer. I wish that I had used two clips for each section: one to mark the line of demarcation, and then one further down the strand to make it easier to flip from section to section. But I didn't have enough clips for all of that.
So then after I rinsed out the relaxer I used Aphogee 2 minute for my midstep protein. Then I neutralized with Isoplus neutralizer, which I chose because it is color indicating. I had wanted to use Hawaiian Silky neutralizer, because it is also color indicating and they have a neutralizer that is specially for their no-lye relaxer, I assume it's more chelating or something, but the BSS near me didn't have it.
So after relaxing and neutralizing I did a tea rinse/DC. The tea was a mix of slippery elm, nettle, horsetail, hibiscus, and fenugreek. The DC was the Elasta DPR-11. I'm not super duper crazy about the Elasta DC, so I'll be moving on to something else. I sat with those under the dryer for 30 minutes.
For a leave-in, I used Creme of Nature rosemary lemongrass leave-in. Then I rollerset with grapeseed oil and wrapped my hair. It's still wrapped now because I had to run off to school but once I get home I plan to unwrap, trim, and do a length check. Will post pictures soon!