Relaxed Hair Thread

CharlieEcho said:
Has anyone tried this? I'm DCing now with it. I find the moisturiser from this range not very moisturising.
  • Jamaican-Black-Castor-Oil-Strengthening-Conditioner-708418.jpg
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I've got this. I bought it to use if needed whilst at my BF's place. It's absolute trash, zero slip and a horrible film was there after.
 
shortdub78 said:
I'm chasing length right now, so that's what's keeping me going. This is what I mean when women/mothers feel burned out!
You are struggling to do your hair, and I'm struggling to do something to my nails! Lol
Are you in any challenges?
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No, not currently. I never remember to stay active. I definitely feel burned out. I've been feeling it for a while now. I do feel like I'm slowly coming back to though.
 
LushLox said:
I kinda feel after each stretch I need to take away some learning and apply the learning to my next stretch.

I simply cannot use the same moisturising products and methods at 1 - 6 weeks post that I do 8/10+ weeks post. I know this but yet I still ignore it sometimes :look:

I don't really wear wigs and weaves so I really have to work on super minimal manipulation hair techniques and styles once I'm 8 weeks post. Again I forget this sometimes, normally it's because of poor time planning or laziness. I'm going to really think about this over the next few days and come up with some solutions cause this really is one of the key areas for retention imo.

A slight contradiction to my last point perhaps but not really. Sometimes I need to manipulate the hair more by blow drying and flat ironing. It's helpful when I'm deep in a stretch as the hair is much more easier to style and there's less 'hand in head,' time during the week and less breakage.

The last few weeks of a stretch is hard. You need to be even more diligent and focused on the hair than at any other time imo because it seems to be when the problems start happening. I've not really been doing that I've taken my foot off the gas and in the end the hair suffers. I think it's cause I want to make it to specific point in my stretch and I'm quite determined to do so. It's silly because if I gave in and relaxed a bit earlier I probably wouldn't have had the problems.

I need to let go of edge tamer gel.

*sigh* Sorry for the long ramble it's just therapeutic to note this down.

Happy to hear of any other grumbles! :lol:
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@LushLox

Nice post. I too, like to learn from each relaxer stretch. Here is my rundown:

Week 1 - 8
This is my normal regimen and is smooth sailing for the most part. I have purchased a few wigs but I am not a wig person. I like to wear my hair throughout the whole stretch. I wash my hair every Saturday and cowash every Wednesday. However, I can skip a cowash every now and then at this time with no problem. If I skip I will lat least moisturize my hair with a spritz, seal with an oil and detangle. I moisturize and seal every other day.

Week 9 - 12
Things begin to get a little rough and I need to increase my moisture game. At this time I use my heavier moisturizers and sealants. I also try not to skip a cowash day unless it is impossible (i.e. traveling for work, sick, etc.). These weeks are not bad if I stick to my regimen. I moisturize and seal daily.

Week 13 - 16
This is where things really get rough. I continue to use my heavy moisturizers and sealants but I increase the amount of product I use. I moisturize and seal more thoroughly by parting the hair and applying the moisturizer heavily to the new growth and ends. During this time I use a lot of eco-styler and edge control to lay those edges.

This works pretty well for me. It does not benefit me to stretch more than this. I get about 2 inches of new growth and have been able to avoid serious issues. I air dry 90% of the time, only using direct heat right before my relaxer. This allows me to part my hair with ease when applying the relaxer.
 
shortdub78 said:
^^^i'm really trying to see the benefit of long term stretching for me... I already have a lot of new growth just at 4 weeks! That's why I'm really working on my appplication skills and timing.
I like wearing my hair straight. Trying to grow out a bunch of natural hair, on top of relaxed hair doesn't make any sense.
Stretching long term doesn't increase growth. It creates more challenges, and can cause damage. People that have more wavy texture patterns can get away with it. There is only one YouTube who has new growth like me, and she doesn't stretch at all! She relaxes once a month! Her hair doesn't suffer from it. Now if she stopped getting pregnant, using permanent hair color, and styling so much, her hair would be down to her butt by now. I try to wait 8-10 weeks.
There is another YTer that goes to the salon and gets a touch up every 5 weeks. She has nice healthy hair as well.
I think the key is to listen to my hair and not fight it.
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Yes, I have coily natural hair too! The reason I stretch so long is because I'm such a slow grower. I grow less than 6" per year. If I don't stretch enough I won't have any new growth to relax. So I'm envious of you ladies who grow so quickly. :(
 
MzSwift said:
Yes, I have coily natural hair too! The reason I stretch so long is because I'm such a slow grower. I grow less than 6" per year. If I don't stretch enough I won't have any new growth to relax. So I'm envious of you ladies who grow so quickly. :(
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But you retain all of your length! lol you are a retaining queen! I'm scissor happy, so I would need therapy to get on your level! Lol
 
Rozlewis said:
I tried the shampoo and loved it. Left my hair soft, manageable and moisturized. I have the conditioner but I have not used it yet.
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I'm gonna use it on my daughter and I bought it to see if it will help with my own heat styling. I kinda wanna see if I can use the primer just as a spray on my dry hair?
 
shortdub78 said:
^^^i'm really trying to see the benefit of long term stretching for me... I already have a lot of new growth just at 4 weeks! That's why I'm really working on my appplication skills and timing.
I like wearing my hair straight. Trying to grow out a bunch of natural hair, on top of relaxed hair doesn't make any sense.
Stretching long term doesn't increase growth. It creates more challenges, and can cause damage. People that have more wavy texture patterns can get away with it. There is only one YouTube who has new growth like me, and she doesn't stretch at all! She relaxes once a month! Her hair doesn't suffer from it. Now if she stopped getting pregnant, using permanent hair color, and styling so much, her hair would be down to her butt by now. I try to wait 8-10 weeks.
There is another YTer that goes to the salon and gets a touch up every 5 weeks. She has nice healthy hair as well.
I think the key is to listen to my hair and not fight it.
Click to expand...

I agree about not seeing the point of long stretches. In my experience, I always suffer a backset the week before due to tangles. It almost feel like, I deliberately wait for the setback before relaxing. As if I need some divine permission lol

The most important thing about touch-ups is overlapping. If you can get to the new growth without overlapping, more power to you.
 
11228 said:
I agree about not seeing the point of long stretches. In my experience, I always suffer a backset the week before due to tangles. It almost feel like, I deliberately wait for the setback before relaxing. As if I need some divine permission lol

The most important thing about touch-ups is overlapping. If you can get to the new growth without overlapping, more power to you.
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Yes I agree! That's why I'm really going to work on/pactice how I apply the relaxer by using up these thick conditioners. It's different doing it on someone else's hair vs. mine.
 
shortdub78 said:
Yes I agree! That's why I'm really going to work on/pactice how I apply the relaxer by using up these thick conditioners. It's different doing it on someone else's hair vs. mine.
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I agree. Stretching is not for everyone. I used to feel the same way until I mastered my technique but what works for one does not work for all. It took me a while to get the hang of it. Good luck.
 
shortdub78 said:
^^^i'm really trying to see the benefit of long term stretching for me... I already have a lot of new growth just at 4 weeks! That's why I'm really working on my appplication skills and timing.
I like wearing my hair straight. Trying to grow out a bunch of natural hair, on top of relaxed hair doesn't make any sense.
Stretching long term doesn't increase growth. It creates more challenges, and can cause damage. People that have more wavy texture patterns can get away with it. There is only one YouTube who has new growth like me, and she doesn't stretch at all! She relaxes once a month! Her hair doesn't suffer from it. Now if she stopped getting pregnant, using permanent hair color, and styling so much, her hair would be down to her butt by now. I try to wait 8-10 weeks.
There is another YTer that goes to the salon and gets a touch up every 5 weeks. She has nice healthy hair as well.
I think the key is to listen to my hair and not fight it.
Click to expand...

I see your point.. I think it depends on personal preference and the head of hair.

I agree stretching can be troublesome and seem pointless to some if you wear your hair out regularly. For example, if one colours their hair, leaving long periods of time between touch ups would mean you'd always have roots so what would be the point of colouring? Also mastering how to manage the two textures can be difficult and frustrating if you find your relaxed hair products aren't compatible with your regrowth.

However, I think stretching may have its benefits... reduced exposure to chemicals, less chance of thinning ends from continual relaxer-run off when rinsing, a longer period to practice healthy hair care and treatments which may have a cumulative effect e.g strength, thickness and the best bit.. a surprise to see how much length you've retained!

I feel those with coarse-resistant strands like Sparkle may not see adverse effects from relaxing frequently... I say this as I know a friend who relaxes every 8 weeks with a box relaxer, leaves it in for 45 mins to 1 hour and pulls it through to the midlengths. Her hair is still thick / healthy looking because its what her hair can withstand. If i were to do this, my hair would just dissolve as my fine strands wouldn't be able to cope!

Im about to get off my soapbox now but I think do what you feel works for you AND your lifestyle. Lifes too short to not enjoy it :blush2::blush2::blush2: @shortdub78 You will be at unicorn length before you know it hun!!
 
shortdub78 said:
^^^i'm really trying to see the benefit of long term stretching for me... I already have a lot of new growth just at 4 weeks! That's why I'm really working on my appplication skills and timing.
I like wearing my hair straight. Trying to grow out a bunch of natural hair, on top of relaxed hair doesn't make any sense.
Stretching long term doesn't increase growth. It creates more challenges, and can cause damage. People that have more wavy texture patterns can get away with it. There is only one YouTube who has new growth like me, and she doesn't stretch at all! She relaxes once a month! Her hair doesn't suffer from it. Now if she stopped getting pregnant, using permanent hair color, and styling so much, her hair would be down to her butt by now. I try to wait 8-10 weeks.
There is another YTer that goes to the salon and gets a touch up every 5 weeks. She has nice healthy hair as well.
I think the key is to listen to my hair and not fight it.
Click to expand...
I couldn't Agee more! I like to wear my hair straight as well and having an inch or more of new growth under my relaxed hair takes away from the look I'm going for. I don't have any problems relaxing 7 weeks. I'm trying to stretch to 8 weeks since I'm self relaxing now. But 7 weeks worked great when I was going to the salon for my touch ups.
 
I knew someone who relaxed every 8 weeks like clockwork and her hair was APL. This was back in the 90s and trust, she didn't have the best haircare routine (none of us did back then).

For a while, I was getting salon-relaxed every 4 weeks and still had hair. The reason I looked online and found LHCF was that I knew I was doing something wrong, but I didn't know how to fix it.

As of now, stretching for me is anything beyond 10 weeks or so. I usually end up relaxing around 13-14 weeks post. Once, I unintentionally stretched 18 weeks, but I've never done that again. :nono:
 
^^^ I think after that time frame, it starts to get difficult for most stylists, especially if they aren't the ones caring for your hair on a weekly, or biweekly basis. A lot of DIY may not straighten their hair before coming into the salon, they may not detangle properly, hair might dry, damaged ends, etc.

If I was a stylist, a client would have to see me a week to 2 weeks prior to the relaxer application process. I would need to wash, determine the proper conditioning treatment, detangle, heat style, and trim if needed before I put some chemicals on somebody's hair. You aren't gonna sit in my chair with 6 months of new growth, and just expect me to just deal with it! Lol
 
Should I straighten my hair before I relax? It's still straight-ish from the blow dry. Which btw is still pretty soft. I used Sw33tSparkl3's method of blow drying (divide into 4 parts, then split each of the 4 parts in half. Blow dry the roots, but don't go all the way to the ends multiple times.) Only thing I did different was that I used the cool button, then really hot, then cool again on each section.

I think I answered my own question:lachen:
I won't flat iron until after I relax. Then I need to start back on my X21 again. Only I need to buy more of the shampoo:cry3: Sommebodyyy, wasted half of it *screwface*
 
ItsMeLilLucky said:
Should I straighten my hair before I relax? It's still straight-ish from the blow dry. Which btw is still pretty soft. I used Sw33tSparkl3's method of blow drying (divide into 4 parts, then split each of the 4 parts in half. Blow dry the roots, but don't go all the way to the ends multiple times.) Only thing I did different was that I used the cool button, then really hot, then cool again on each section.

I think I answered my own question:lachen:
I won't flat iron until after I relax. Then I need to start back on my X21 again. Only I need to buy more of the shampoo:cry3: Sommebodyyy, wasted half of it *screwface*
Click to expand...

I've answered my own question before :lachen: I agree with you. I wouldn't manipulate by flat ironing if you were able to get it reasonably straight with your blow dry.

I'll pour out some likka for your wasted product. That hurts. :-(
 
ItsMeLilLucky said:
Should I straighten my hair before I relax? It's still straight-ish from the blow dry. Which btw is still pretty soft. I used Sw33tSparkl3's method of blow drying (divide into 4 parts, then split each of the 4 parts in half. Blow dry the roots, but don't go all the way to the ends multiple times.) Only thing I did different was that I used the cool button, then really hot, then cool again on each section.

I think I answered my own question:lachen:
I won't flat iron until after I relax. Then I need to start back on my X21 again. Only I need to buy more of the shampoo:cry3: Sommebodyyy, wasted half of it *screwface*
Click to expand...

If you feel you can do the sections and parting sufficiently well you shouldn't need to straighten.
 
demlew said:
I've answered my own question before :lachen: I agree with you. I wouldn't manipulate by flat ironing if you were able to get it reasonably straight with your blow dry.

I'll pour out some likka for your wasted product. That hurts. :-(
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Sometimes you need an expert opinion :lol:

Thanks *sniff, sniff* Imma start making them pay for my stuff, especially if I get it online. Shoot, stuff is expensive. And I like likka:love5:
 
I have all my materials ready for relaxing my hair. All I needed was a squeeze bottle and Aphoghee 2 minute and I got it. I want some spin pins, but I don't see them anywhere on the ground :down: I need to see if I have any more cheapie conditioners left.
 
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