Relaxed Hair Thread

[sunnieb]

How did you like this product?
It looks yummy for my hair but I haven't had much luck with Garnier products.

So far so good!

Didn't have the aromatic smell I like, but it'll do for a cowash. My hair is bouncy and not weighed down.

I have other Garnier conditioners to try. I used Garnier all the time when I first found LHCF.

I need an alternative to using WEN every week. That stuff is expensive!

 

[MzSwift]

My son is 4 years old and still manages to pull my hair. lol I understand your look/attire! lol I don't care at this point! I'll look good when I go out. I got some cute scarves and some cute studs. do you wrap the scarves in a style?
I thought about what you told me, about putting my hair away. You probably braid better than me and your hair is longer. Can you put in a few braids, and wear it in a bun?

Oh you got your hair up already!

Yes, I have a ton of scarves from my natural days. I rocked scarves at first but after he kept pulling them off, I decided to PS. Girl, when I had it cornrowed back into a low bun this little knucklehead was STILL pulling my cornrows! He does it absentmindedly though, it's like it's his way of caressing mommy. Lol. I'm gonna have to teach him gentle touch but until he's old enough, I have to find a way to protect my hair!

That's why I was like, well shoot, I'mma put some fake hair in and he can pull that. But extensions still have my hair braided into them and he loooves to pull on them. He does it mainly in the back of my head but if I wrap him on my back, he goes for my high bun. So I'm thinking putting the fake hair over my hair is best and then when he pulls it won't be mine. Can't have him pulling off my scarf in the grocery store! Lol

 

[Evolving78]

Yes, I have a ton of scarves from my natural days. I rocked scarves at first but after he kept pulling them off, I decided to PS. Girl, when I had it cornrowed back into a low bun this little knucklehead was STILL pulling my cornrows! He does it absentmindedly though, it's like it's his way of caressing mommy. Lol. I'm gonna have to teach him gentle touch but until he's old enough, I have to find a way to protect my hair!

That's why I was like, well shoot, I'mma put some fake hair in and he can pull that. But extensions still have my hair braided into them and he loooves to pull on them. He does it mainly in the back of my head but if I wrap him on my back, he goes for my high bun. So I'm thinking putting the fake hair over my hair is best and then when he pulls it won't be mine. Can't have him pulling off my scarf in the grocery store! Lol

Girl sounds like my little bear! Lol too cute!

 

[LushLox]

@lalla Did you end up relaxing? We'd love to have you with us in this thread, for additional support if you wish. I appreciate it must be daunting after such a long time being a natural.

 

[lalla]

@lalla Did you end up relaxing? We'd love to have you with us in this thread, for additional support if you wish. I appreciate it must be daunting after such a long time being a natural.

No, I did an aphogee treatment to prépare. I think I will need to way at least a week till my hair gets dirty enough.

 

[Evolving78]

My protective style only lasted for a couple of days. I will be washing my hair today, and putting the braids back in. I may try to put in three braids on each side, instead of two. I need to watch how I pin them down though. I don't want my ends getting drawn up.

 

[LushLox]

No, I did an aphogee treatment to prépare. I think I will need to way at least a week till my hair gets dirty enough.

You don't need to relax on dirty hair, I think this is a myth of old. My hair is always very clean before I relax the only product on it is the base on my scalp and some product to protect the length.

 

[lalla]

You don't need to relax on dirty hair, I think this is a myth of old. My hair is always very clean before I relax the only product on it is the base on my scalp and some product to protect the length.

Well thanks! I will relax next week then . I am so excited.
I've been bored with my hair for so long!

 

[beloved1bx]

I emailed my stylist and asked her if I could bring my own relaxer. My hair felt at it's best years ago when I was relaxed with Linange Shea Butter Relaxer (lye). Other relaxers seem to dry my hair out. Suprisingly she said it was ok. I also have a sensitive scalp and burn easily. Linange seems to process more slowly so it could sit a little longer. For that reason she said she liked that relaxer for me and I'll be bringing it for future touchups.
Now if I could just get my hormones and shedding in check...

 

[LushLox]

I emailed my stylist and asked her if I could bring my own relaxer. My hair felt at it's best years ago when I was relaxed with Linange Shea Butter Relaxer (lye). Other relaxers seem to dry my hair out. Suprisingly she said it was ok. I also have a sensitive scalp and burn easily. Linange seems to process more slowly so it could sit a little longer. For that reason she said she liked that relaxer for me and I'll be bringing it for future touchups.
Now if I could just get my hormones and shedding in check...

That's good, some stylists can be a bit funny about things like that. At least you won't pay as much too, well in theory.

 

[beloved1bx]

That's good, some stylists can be a bit funny about things like that. At least you won't pay as much too, well in theory.

I didn't expect her to comply but at the end of the day she wants to get money I guess, LoL. She didn't charge me any less for bringing my own relaxer but I didn't stress it. There's enough for another touch-up but like you said I get a different kind of payoff - a better relaxer experience.

 

[MzSwift]

So I finally finished my crochet style last night. I was so tired that I didn't do any shaping or anything so it's a big, curly mass on my head right now. Lol. I just slapped a hairnet over it, put a scarf over the front and went to sleep.

The true test was little man pulling on it. He did it while I was installing and now almost all morning so far and I haven't felt anything but a tug. YAY!! This may have to be my style until he's a little older. I think the weaving cap I used also helps to keep some of the stress off of my hair.

I'll post pix once I shape it and play with it a bit. I was just too tired to do the finishing touches last night.

 

[abioni]

Is it better to do a hard protein treatment before or after a relaxer?

 

[Lymegreen]

I just got my hair toned today.
I went from this(at home wrap)
Orange


To this (salon flat iron)
Brown

 

[MzSwift]

Is it better to do a hard protein treatment before or after a relaxer?

I'm not sure which is better but I usually do a stronger protein after the relaxer. My thinking is that I want to help repair any damage. I still give my hair more milder protein prior to the relaxer to help give my hair a little strength to decrease damage during the process.

Some say doing a hard tx afterwards messes up bone straight results if it's done too soon after the process. So if you're a bone straight lady, that might not be good. I texlax so I'm not sure if that's true.

 

[Lymegreen]

Guys, Since moving; I've been going to the yt salon for my color and trims after I self relax.

My stylist has been trying to talk me into going natural !

First, she mentioned that she went to atl to learn how to apply lacefront wigs....lol
Then, the mentioned that she knows how to do extentions... but she wouldn't recommend them for me.

I told her that if I did a wig that I didn't want any hair left out.
She said she didn't think that would be good due to possible damage to my edges... I agreed.

So, I was feeling her out...
She said her nephew is "mixed" and told me the whole story about the baby daddy drama etc...

ok.. I'm still feeling her out...
Then she said she would only cut my hair while it was dry because she didn't want to get confused due to shrinkage
ok? I'm relaxed but ok?

She always combs my hair in sections (again, I'm a straight relaxed and usually see her 1 week after I touch up) I've seen her two times....

I went in for a third time to get toner because the highlight color was too harsh... this is when she made a pitch me to go natural.

She started..."Have you ever been natural?"
Me: yes, I was natural twice
her: how'd you wear your hair
me: I usually wore fades because it was hard for me to care for
her: oh no!, I love a long haired natural
me; but my hair has a lot of shrinkage (I showed her for effect)
me: showed her pictures of my niece's natural hair, pics of my sister's natural hair, pics of my step daughters natural lhair

I was just trying to show her that I WAS aware that naturals can get great length... I just chose to keep my hair short.

ANYWAY, she started telling me about E'tae carmal treatments that she would do and how I could be natural and still have the straight hair I want but have the flexibility to be natural.

I know this is a relaxed thread, but my question is:

Can I transition like this?
What about my relaxed hair?
Would I have to cut the relaxed hair off?

 

[irsgirl]

I a

Is the YTber Sw33tSparkl3? I love her. It might not be her since I don't think Sparkle colors her hair. She does relax once a month though. I have no idea who the other Youtuber is.

^^^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.

I guess it's different for everyone. I relax every 17-20 weeks and and it works out great for me. I have a tighter curl pattern in the crown and it can be more of a challenge to deal with when I towards the end of my stretch, but it's the first area to break if I relax too soon!

 

[Evolving78]

Guys, Since moving; I've been going to the yt salon for my color and trims after I self relax.

My stylist has been trying to talk me into going natural !

First, she mentioned that she went to atl to learn how to apply lacefront wigs....lol
Then, the mentioned that she knows how to do extentions... but she wouldn't recommend them for me.

I told her that if I did a wig that I didn't want any hair left out.
She said she didn't think that would be good due to possible damage to my edges... I agreed.

So, I was feeling her out...
She said her nephew is "mixed" and told me the whole story about the baby daddy drama etc...

ok.. I'm still feeling her out...
Then she said she would only cut my hair while it was dry because she didn't want to get confused due to shrinkage
ok? I'm relaxed but ok?

She always combs my hair in sections (again, I'm a straight relaxed and usually see her 1 week after I touch up) I've seen her two times....

I went in for a third time to get toner because the highlight color was too harsh... this is when she made a pitch me to go natural.

She started..."Have you ever been natural?"
Me: yes, I was natural twice
her: how'd you wear your hair
me: I usually wore fades because it was hard for me to care for
her: oh no!, I love a long haired natural
me; but my hair has a lot of shrinkage (I showed her for effect)
me: showed her pictures of my niece's natural hair, pics of my sister's natural hair, pics of my step daughters natural lhair

I was just trying to show her that I WAS aware that naturals can get great length... I just chose to keep my hair short.

ANYWAY, she started telling me about E'tae carmal treatments that she would do and how I could be natural and still have the straight hair I want but have the flexibility to be natural.

I know this is a relaxed thread, but my question is:

Can I transition like this?
What about my relaxed hair?
Would I have to cut the relaxed hair off?

Yeah that is the typical way to transition, and no you don't have to cut your relaxed hair. You will have to deal with two textures, and you can cut your relaxed ends off gradually.

 

[Destiny9109]

Just an update on the Affirm Fiberguard. It didn't seem to last long, I was 3 weeks post looking like I was 10 weeks post. I don't know what happened because I didn't underprocess. On the search again because I can't go back to no lye.

 

[Rozlewis]

Just an update on the Affirm Fiberguard. It didn't seem to last long, I was 3 weeks post looking like I was 10 weeks post. I don't know what happened because I didn't underprocess. On the search again because I can't go back to no lye.

Affirm Fireguard leaves me with texlaxed results. I am not sure if that is what you wanted. I leave my relaxer in for 18 minutes before rinsing it and it relaxes my new growth nicely but not bone straight.

 

[Evolving78]

Just an update on the Affirm Fiberguard. It didn't seem to last long, I was 3 weeks post looking like I was 10 weeks post. I don't know what happened because I didn't underprocess. On the search again because I can't go back to no lye.

I don't know what to tell you, but I never get straight with lye. That's why I can't stretch long term using it, but it's healthier for the hair.

Go back to no lye, but use a professional brand and not a box kit. Make sure you chelate.

 

[LushLox]

I don't know what to tell you, but I never get straight with lye. That's why I can't stretch long term using it, but it's healthier for the hair.

Go back to no lye, but use a professional brand and not a box kit. Make sure you chelate.

What brand would you suggest as I need to rethink this.

 

[Evolving78]

What brand would you suggest as I need to rethink this.

I would do Mizani or Design Essentials

 

[nymane]

Just an update on the Affirm Fiberguard. It didn't seem to last long, I was 3 weeks post looking like I was 10 weeks post. I don't know what happened because I didn't underprocess. On the search again because I can't go back to no lye.

Affirm Fiberguard almost destroyed my hair a couple of years ago. When I switched back to the Affirm Sensitive Scalp (No lye), my hair transformed into silk

 

[LushLox]

Affirm Fiberguard almost destroyed my hair a couple of years ago. When I switched back to the Affirm Sensitive Scalp (No lye), my hair transformed into silk

Hmm that's interesting, do you still use it?

 

[nymane]

Hmm that's interesting, do you still use it?

Yep, I love the Affirm Sensitive Scalp No Lye. I buy it in bulk (20 applications) on Amazon.

My stylist offers the same relaxer in her salon, but I bring my own so that I can adjust the strength to my liking, not hers. I relax at mild or normal strength.

 

[LushLox]

Yep, I love the Affirm Sensitive Scalp No Lye. I buy it in bulk (20 applications) on Amazon.

My stylist offers the same relaxer in her salon, but I bring my own so that I can adjust the strength to my liking, not hers. I relax at mild or normal strength.

Yeah that's what was putting me off buying it because you can't just buy a kit you have to buy it in bulk lol.

Do you relax bone straight, straight or tex laxed?

 

[nymane]

Yeah that's what was putting me off buying it because you can't just buy a kit you have to buy it in bulk lol.

Do you relax bone straight, straight or tex laxed?

lol yeah the minimum on Amazon is a 4 pack. I relax straight (but not bone straight).

ETA: I lightly coat my hair with the Affirm FiberGuard Preservo Strengthening Serum right before my relaxer. It has a low ph (4.0) and it's supposed to minimize cuticle swelling during the relaxer process and preserve strength.

 

[Evolving78]

I would love to get a professional service for my birthday next April. I'm thinking of stretching for 6 months, or stretching until the end of this year, and then stretch for another 4 months. For my next wash, I'm gonna use my TMS kit. The only thing about it is I don't care for using non sulfate shampoos and I will have to cut out shampooing 2x a week to make the product last.

I decided I'm gonna try the ORS system Friday. I'm excited! I'm just trying to build my hair up as much as possible and have enough new growth for a stylist to work with.

 

[Wenbev]

hi everyone, I'm newly relaxed, self relax, no lye. I havent been realxed in over 11 years. Still working on nailing down a regi. any advise will be gladly taken.