Relaxed Hair Thread

[divachyk]

@divachyk I honestly dont know. I have tried so many things, jumped on so many bandwagons and still dont know what works for my hair. I have the shortest attention span...and I want everything in an instant. Bad, but true. I am going to set a regimen try it for at least and month, keep a journal and see if I can have a relationship with my hair. Thanks!!!

Ive only used it once ...but...see...I just knew for my hard earned money it would work instantly. I will try it again...thanks!!!

SunySydeofLyfe, you can't rush perfection. You must have patience and things will flow. I say try using protein 1x every month. If you feel your hair needs/requires more, then perhaps try 2x monthly (every other week) the following month. Then continue to tweak the protein frequency by gauging it that way month after month. It's easier to correct a moisture overload than protein overload. So, my advice is to go easy with the protein until you have a better understanding what your hair desires. The wet strand test works for some. You might try that trick to see if works. Link 1 and Link 2.

In my early stages of using AE garlic, it didn't work instantly. It took about 2 uses. Because I now have it in rotation, my hair responds quicker. There are those few times when my shedding has increased such that I use it twice (two weeks straight) but even after the first use, I could tell a difference in the amount of sheds. It won't, however, stopped shedding completely. It will only reduce the amount in which you shed. Some argue that attempting to combat shedding is not healthy because shedding is normal. I find that I shed a lot more than normal 1 week post-TU and when deep into a stretch. I allow my hair to shed normally, meaning, I don't use AE garlic weekly. I only break it out when the shedding has increased significantly and considered more than normal.

HTH

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

Nix08

Just 4 weeks until my next relaxer.

 

[SunySydeofLyfe]

SunySydeofLyfe, you can't rush perfection. You must have patience and things will flow. I say try using protein 1x every month. If you feel your hair needs/requires more, then perhaps try 2x monthly (every other week) the following month. Then continue to tweak the protein frequency by gauging it that way month after month. It's easier to correct a moisture overload than protein overload. So, my advice is to go easy with the protein until you have a better understanding what your hair desires. The wet strand test works for some. You might try that trick to see if works. Link 1 and Link 2.

In my early stages of using AE garlic, it didn't work instantly. It took about 2 uses. Because I now have it in rotation, my hair responds quicker. There are those few times when my shedding has increased such that I use it twice (two weeks straight) but even after the first use, I could tell a difference in the amount of sheds. It won't, however, stopped shedding completely. It will only reduce the amount in which you shed. Some argue that attempting to combat shedding is not healthy because shedding is normal. I find that I shed a lot more than normal 1 week post-TU and when deep into a stretch. I allow my hair to shed normally, meaning, I don't use AE garlic weekly. I only break it out when the shedding has increased significantly and considered more than normal.

HTH

divachyk i feel like i need to give you a gift. Thank you so much for responding. Btw you have beautiful hair and kenra is the smack. I know you know... lol glad i know now. Continuing to listen and take notes. Thanks again!

 

[divachyk]

@divachyk i feel like i need to give you a gift. Thank you so much for responding. Btw you have beautiful hair and kenra is the smack. I know you know... lol glad i know now. Continuing to listen and take notes. Thanks again!

SunySydeofLyfe, you are far too kind. You are very welcome and I thank you for the compliments. Kenra is definitely the smack!

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I recently did a texture softner on Sunday. It is the best of 2 worlds. I can straiten with no heat and I can protective style in my twists. The funny thing, you can't really tell by looking at my hair. I no longer burn my hair to death to wear it strait. I no longer need to detangle for a half hour. I still have the same regimen as I did as a natural. I will be doing long stretches with no problem. Right now, I will be upping my protein treatments and deep conditioners.

 

[Nix08]

I recently did a texture softner on Sunday. It is the best of 2 worlds. I can straiten with no heat and I can protective style in my twists. The funny thing, you can't really tell by looking at my hair. I no longer burn my hair to death to wear it strait. I no longer need to detangle for a half hour. I still have the same regimen as I did as a natural. I will be doing long stretches with no problem. Right now, I will be upping my protein treatments and deep conditioners.

Congratulations Where are the pics????

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Congratulations Where are the pics????

Coming soon!

 

[sunnieb]

DDTexlaxed - congrats! And yeah, where the pics??????

 

[Aggie]

I recently did a texture softner on Sunday. It is the best of 2 worlds. I can straiten with no heat and I can protective style in my twists. The funny thing, you can't really tell by looking at my hair. I no longer burn my hair to death to wear it strait. I no longer need to detangle for a half hour. I still have the same regimen as I did as a natural. I will be doing long stretches with no problem. Right now, I will be upping my protein treatments and deep conditioners.

Besides where are the pics, what is this texture softener you speak about?

 

[KnottyGurl]

Me too DDT! I want to see it!

 

[Evolving78]

i wanna see too!

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I used the Just for Me texture softner. It basically mildly texturized my hair. I still can do my twists and I can straiten my hair without needing to blow dry and flat iron. I was losing my texture with the heat, so this is a better choice for my hair. I am aiming to do a stretch for a year. We'll see how my hair behaves. The softner took the guesswork out of the texlaxing process. I am very pleased with my results.

 

[HauteHippie]

DDTexlaxed I want to see, too!!!! We were in the heat training thread together. I'm relaxed now. Mostly straight. Whether natural, texlaxed or relaxed, direct heat is just too much for me.

 

[sunnieb]

I'm feeling lazy with my hair. It's in a bun and I didn't moisturize last night or this morning.

I've gotta snap out of it!

 

[LaidBak]

I'm at a crossroads again. Trying to determine the best relaxer. Mizani? Affirm? Something else? Does the relaxer cream itself even matter, or is it all the other steps before and after that determine the health of your hair? *deep sigh* I just don't want to have any more setbacks.

 

[Fyne]

LaidBak What makes you want to change relaxer?

 

[SunySydeofLyfe]

I'm at a crossroads again. Trying to determine the best relaxer. Mizani? Affirm? Something else? Does the relaxer cream itself even matter, or is it all the other steps before and after that determine the health of your hair? *deep sigh* I just don't want to have any more setbacks.

I love Nairobi. What are you looking for in your relaxer?

 

[LaidBak]

@LaidBak What makes you want to change relaxer?

When I examine all parts of my regimen, that's the only part that I haven't figured out. Its a huge unknown for me. And since I relax every 5 weeks, I need to get a handle on it. I was going to the salon regularly, but I have no idea what she was using, and I still can't retain growth. So I went back to self relaxing. I used a box relaxer last time. But now I have breakage. I'm just frustrated.

 

[SunySydeofLyfe]

When I examine all parts of my regimen, that's the only part that I haven't figured out. Its a huge unknown for me. And since I relax every 5 weeks, I need to get a handle on it. I was going to the salon regularly, but I have no idea what she was using, and I still can't retain growth. So I went back to self relaxing. I used a box relaxer last time. But now I have breakage. I'm just frustrated.

Im so not an expert but why do you relax so often?

 

[Lilmama1011]

Im so not an expert but why do you relax so often?

Maybe that's why you are unable to retain length, you are over lapping or haven't got enough new growth to distinguish new growth from previously relaxer hair

 

[LaidBak]

Im so not an expert but why do you relax so often?

Unmanageable new growth and dense 4bczx hair. I get an average 3/4 of an inch a month. I just suck at retaining. *sigh*

 

[LaidBak]

Maybe that's why you are unable to retain length, you are over lapping or haven't got enough new growth to distinguish new growth from previously relaxer hair

I should clarify. I first joined the board in late 2008 because I came across it by accident. In 2009 I had an awesome year, I trimmed myself even, then went from high NL to CBL in 6 months. I was inching toward full SL. I had shiny wonderful hair. 2010 I moved overseas, my hair got ravaged by horrible non-potable water and a stylist who meant well but ended up killing me with too much protein. In 2011 I moved back stateside, quit the board, and quit hair in general. That year I ripped a hole in the back of my hair with 6 months of fake bunning. After that I destroyed my nape with a wig cap when I tried to hide my hair with wigs. All that ended about January 2012. So I shouldn't say I can't retain, I just didn't retain anything in 2011. Because every PS I tried backfired.

Stretching does not work for me. Been there tried that. Heck, I even wanted to go natural. But nope. I relax only when I really need it, and that's about every 5 weeks. Been doing that for 30+ years. The frequency aint the issue; its Lye or No Lye; and cheap vs expensive; salon vs at home--etc. I need to figure it out. *deep sigh*

 

[DDTexlaxed]

@DDTexlaxed I want to see, too!!!! We were in the heat training thread together. I'm relaxed now. Mostly straight. Whether natural, texlaxed or relaxed, direct heat is just too much for me.

That is what caused me to lightly texlax. It took too much heat to get my hair strait. In some places I lost my curls, so I could not wash n go. However, I can still do natural styles now, if I want. I do not need to use high heat to straiten and I am finally able to fully enjoy my hair. You tube helped me with this decision. If in the future, I want to relax my hair more strait, I will still use the softner. I'll just leave it on longer. It is so gentle because you use sunflower oil on your hair before and you weaken the relaxer by adding it to the mix. I think sunflower oil is a ceramide that aids in the health of relaxed hair. Wheat germ oil is another healthy oil. I think I will be able to take better care of my hair because of my previous natural j0ourney. This just works best for me.

 

[mamaore]

Laidbak....I had setback with affirm no lye. It caused breakage and thinning for my hair. Unfortunately, the damage was done before I knew what was going on.

 

[mamaore]

Laidbak....I had setback with affirm no lye. It caused breakage and thinning for my hair. Unfortunately, the damage was done before I knew what was going on.

 

[divachyk]

Unmanageable new growth and dense 4bczx hair. I get an average 3/4 of an inch a month. I just suck at retaining. *sigh*

@LaidBak, prior to LHCF, I was getting TUs every 6 weeks. I now go 10-12 weeks. I slowly increased my frequency because I too once thought my hair was unmanageable.

ETA: DDTexlaxed, did you post pics yet?

 

[divachyk]

sunnieb, I'm being lazy too. I need to do something with/to my hair but shole don't feel up to.

 

[sunnieb]

divachyk - Girl, my hair is still in an ugly, rolled up bun!

I planned to cowash tonight, but I was like "meh".

I'll force myself to dc or at least cowash tomorrow....maybe

 

[divachyk]

sunnieb, I must bring myself to doing my hair tomorrow because I only have time for cowashing during the week.

 

[LaidBak]

I love Nairobi. What are you looking for in your relaxer?

Just straight hair and no breakage.