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Relaxed Hair Thread

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klsjackson said:
Hello Ladies!! I am currently 12 weeks post. This is the longest I have ever stretched. I had considered going natural (straight natural) but I don't like flat ironing my hair weekly. It has done very well, but I am just hesitant to use flat irons so frequently. I am debating on whether or not I should relax this weekend or stretch a few more weeks. Any ladies flatiron during your stretch? If so how do you maintain the health of your hair? Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions. I am at Arm pit grazing BSL. My goal is full BSL by the end of the year.
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If you are able to maintain without breakage then you should S T R E T C H a few more weeks!
 
klsjackson said:
Hello Ladies!! I am currently 12 weeks post. This is the longest I have ever stretched. I had considered going natural (straight natural) but I don't like flat ironing my hair weekly. It has done very well, but I am just hesitant to use flat irons so frequently. I am debating on whether or not I should relax this weekend or stretch a few more weeks. Any ladies flatiron during your stretch? If so how do you maintain the health of your hair? Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions. I am at Arm pit grazing BSL. My goal is full BSL by the end of the year.
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This is just me personally.

But I usually stretch to 6 months. I have kind of been graced with extremely fine strands. My hair is overall on the denser side, but the fine strands are soft so my new growth doesn’t put up a fight when I soften it with moisture.

I do flatiron. But it’s only the 3-4 days prior to relaxing. Helps with parting and smoothing too. Cuts my time pretty much in half, and helps the relaxer take because my hair generally doesn’t take to normal strength relaxers at all even it’s super moisturized.

So I’ll shampoo, condition, DC, and apply a light oil just where my new growth ends and keep my hair up until I relax and moisturize my already relaxed hair up until then.

When it’s relaxed I make a point to not manipulate it much. If I need to detangle a bit I’ll separate with my hands, or put my hair up in four big twists, or loose bun. But I don’t put a comb or brush to my hair whatsoever when it’s flat ironed for those days. For my flat ironed new growth I don’t mind it puffing up a bit because I’ll spritz it to keep it moisturized, but I just make a point to keep it neatly separated and put up so it doesn’t tangle within itself.

If I don’t flat iron prior to relaxing, I’ll blow dry on cool for however long it takes to dry and do the same to it for the few days prior to the relaxer like I would if I flatironed. I tend to blow dry more than I flatiron just because I don’t have to worry about heat. I only do this twice a year since I relax twice a year. If I do neither I’ll put in loose big twists after the initial detangle from washing, and redo them if needed.i make six sections and when I take them down to relax I just relax the sections since it’s already parted and everything.

I just make sure to be gentle and separate any tangles gently and soften my new growth as much as I can prior to blow drying or Flat ironing.

This seems like a lot but it goes by pretty fast in real time.
 
Thanks ladies!!! I think I will stretch a few more weeks. I have a trip out of town in a few weeks and kinda wanted to relax before the trip but I will see how it goes. @Bad&Bougee @PlanetCybertron I too have fine strands, but a dense amount of hair. I used to get a relaxer every 6 weeks!! My hair always thrived and grew but the stylist was trimming off my new growth at each relaxer. But I prefer to flatiron and not use the chemicals in my hair. I will keep you ladies updated. I will also upload a hair pic real soon.
 
I'm going to miss the Relaxed Hair Thread :cry3:I am transitioning back to natural. I enjoy relaxed hair, the myriad of styles that I can wear, and the response my hair has when relaxed but natural hair is probably my better bet. I truly miss the curls and coils, the density that natural hair has and all the protective styles that, apparently, others deemed to be my signature hairstyles. Not looking forward to the transition process or cutting off hair that has grown to a couple inches past SL but it will grow back.

I wish you Ladies healthy, happy, relaxed, long hair.
 
Bad&Bougee said:
I'm going to miss the Relaxed Hair Thread :cry3:I am transitioning back to natural. I enjoy relaxed hair, the myriad of styles that I can wear, and the response my hair has when relaxed but natural hair is probably my better bet. I truly miss the curls and coils, the density that natural hair has and all the protective styles that, apparently, others deemed to be my signature hairstyles. Not looking forward to the transition process or cutting off hair that has grown to a couple inches past SL but it will grow back.

I wish you Ladies healthy, happy, relaxed, long hair.
Click to expand...

Happy transitioning!!!

Show us your lovely curls after a while!
 
Bad&Bougee said:
I'm going to miss the Relaxed Hair Thread :cry3:I am transitioning back to natural. I enjoy relaxed hair, the myriad of styles that I can wear, and the response my hair has when relaxed but natural hair is probably my better bet. I truly miss the curls and coils, the density that natural hair has and all the protective styles that, apparently, others deemed to be my signature hairstyles. Not looking forward to the transition process or cutting off hair that has grown to a couple inches past SL but it will grow back.

I wish you Ladies healthy, happy, relaxed, long hair.
Click to expand...
I was literally about to type something similar :lachen:


Well ladies, I think my season of relaxed hair is over for now.

I’m still gonna pop in and like y’all posts. You can’t stop me:angeldevil:
 
I decided to relax yesterday. I was a few days past 13 weeks. Relaxer went well. I did not relax bone straight. Now I can focus on something else. I just know that natural is not for me and I don’t want to flatiron every week. My hair is 4a/b and fine. So most protective styles are hard on my nape and edges. Wrapping and or pin curling works best for me but I do like stretching my relaxers so I,will try to do 16 weeks this time. Thanks for your advice ladies.
 
sunnieb said:
I found more of my hair notes from 2011. It's amazing how I used to be so into my haircare. No wonder my hair blossomed! I never got tired or lazy. Taking care of my hair was like brushing my teeth or taking a bath - just a regular part of my daily routine.

I hate it took losing half my hair to realize this. Learn from my mistake ladies! Don't get lazy!!!!
Click to expand...

This was me. If you want to, I can find/post it, but I was just over BSL in January 2011. I was so proud -- that was my real hair care goal. My hair looked GREAT. In 2006/2007 when I started, I kept meticulous notes. I wrote about conditioners, shampoos, co-washes, scents and oils and everything!

I started getting lazy. Then in late 2016 I started losing my hair like crazy and couldn't figure out why. I may be shoulder length if that now. I had a second set of tests and it's either due to low iron or iron stores (I'll tell you in a few weeks). Now I have to start from scratch.
 
alundra said:
This was me. If you want to, I can find/post it, but I was just over BSL in January 2011. I was so proud -- that was my real hair care goal. My hair looked GREAT. In 2006/2007 when I started, I kept meticulous notes. I wrote about conditioners, shampoos, co-washes, scents and oils and everything!

I started getting lazy. Then in late 2016 I started losing my hair like crazy and couldn't figure out why. I may be shoulder length if that now. I had a second set of tests and it's either due to low iron or iron stores (I'll tell you in a few weeks). Now I have to start from scratch.
Click to expand...
@alundra I deal with low iron and low blood. I got sick in November and was not able to take care of my hair as normal until January. My hair suffered!!! It was literally falling out of my head. The shedding was horrendous. I lost quite a bit of hair on my edges and it was so thin. I felt horrible. Dr put me on iron pills and I put myself on a hair vitamin that helped me the last time I dealt with hair loss due to low iron / anemia. It’s called Hair Revive. I will post a link later. My shedding and breakage slowed within two weeks and I noticed a complete end of it within a month. Absolutely no shedding or breakage and my hair started back looking like “my” hair. It doesn’t make my hair grow so to speak not like Hairfinity but the overall health of my hair improved greatly with this product. I have ordered enough to last the rest of this year and will do to take. I hope your dr can give you some advice. Good advice. Most people don’t understand the seriousness of low iron. And when it begins to effect your hair, that means you need immediate help.
 
Here's some notes I found on my computer from 2007. You can tell how old it is by the product recommendations.

---------------------------------------------------
Part 1, 15 April 2007

I have washed my hair about twice this month so far. I used Amla Oil as a pre-shampoo. It really detangles my hair and makes it soft!
I do not have problems with detangling at all. I notice a lot of ladies do at the LHCF. (2018 note: I really have problems with detangling now!)

I have sat under a small bonnet dryer that my aunt gave me to dry my hair. It doesn't get very hot at all, and my roller set turned out really well, I just should've waited until it dried because it frizzed up.

I didn't seal my hair with oil, so it looked kind of ... raggedy until I put some vatika oil on it and mixed it with the dove moisturizer. Next time I will give it a try. Was I over moisturized?

Things I am having trouble with:

1. Protein treatments and DC
I don't know when to do a protein treatment. WHat does it mean when your hair is "mushy"? I'm not sure.
2. Products
I still have not found a regiment that is right for me, although I am working on it.
3. PJ-ism
I want to try everything that everyone is recommending, but my wallet does not like me.

I will try to stick to washing my hair once a week until I get a good regiment going.

NG
I am having some NG in my crown area. Just a little bit - I can feel it, but it's not like a forest. It's growing in soft. I don't have any in the back.

Products:
Silicon Mix, Amla Oil, Redkin product removing shampoo, Rusk smoother conditioner, Nexxus Moisturizing Shampoo.

Products I want to try:
Lacio Lacio leave in, Salerm Leave in, Boundless Tresses (I ordered it), EVOO

Final verdict:
Everything seems fine. My next relaxer will be around May 10th. If I can stretch until May 17th, that would be good too as it will be near payday!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
VimiJn said:
I haven't been to the hair forum in months. I'm so sorry you had a setback. Like my heart skipped a beat when I read that. Your hair is goals.
What happened ?
Click to expand...

Lost over half of my hair back in December. I began skipping dc's and regular maintenance. My hair was so damaged that by the time I relaxed, most of it broke off.

I'm recovering and my last relaxer went well. I'm documenting my journey back to hair health in my Fotki. It'll take me a few years, but my hair will be back better than ever! :)
 
i
sunnieb said:
Lost over half of my hair back in December. I began skipping dc's and regular maintenance. My hair was so damaged that by the time I relaxed, most of it broke off.

I'm recovering and my last relaxer went well. I'm documenting my journey back to hair health in my Fotki. It'll take me a few years, but my hair will be back better than ever! :)
Click to expand...
Wow. I'm glad you've got a plan of action. Sending:bighug:your way.
I am still using the Design Essentials sensitive scalp relaxer (i think I have about 15 tubs left). Though I could never find the other items like pre relaxer treatment or the neutralizer, so I just use what I have at home. It's going well. I definitely could implement a better protein regiment (as in it's non existent at the moment).
 
alundra said:
This was me. If you want to, I can find/post it, but I was just over BSL in January 2011. I was so proud -- that was my real hair care goal. My hair looked GREAT. In 2006/2007 when I started, I kept meticulous notes. I wrote about conditioners, shampoos, co-washes, scents and oils and everything!

I started getting lazy. Then in late 2016 I started losing my hair like crazy and couldn't figure out why. I may be shoulder length if that now. I had a second set of tests and it's either due to low iron or iron stores (I'll tell you in a few weeks). Now I have to start from scratch.
Click to expand...

I have a similar story, lost a lot of hair due to a lack of iron - make sure you aren't iron deficient ladies as it will ruin your hair.

I ensure that I get plenty of iron though my diet, I eat a lot of green leafy veg every day my hair is finally making its recovery.

And I do a full hair diary, I comment on what I'm doing to it and the products that I'm using. It's very useful and I'm finally starting to see a bit of improvement as I look back at earlier entries.
 
alundra said:
Ladies -- have you always been relaxed or have you alternated between relaxed and natural? What made you decide to get relaxed?

I'm just curious -- I've been relaxed for a long time.
Click to expand...

I’ve been relaxed since I graduated high school in 2014.

Before I graduated I was natural pretty much my entire young life, Although I never called it that for a while. I just called it my hair lol. It was kept in a loose banded ponytail or banded pigtails most of the time for as far back as I can remember, because I told my mom it was my favorite hairstyle that she’d do for my hair. She kept it trimmed around shoulder blade length and shampooed and conditioned my hair every week and a half or so and would put detangling cream in my hair when she would re-do my styles.

Some months before middle school I asked my mom for my first relaxer, that I tried to maintain for Somewhere around a year (I asked my mom to let me start doing my own hair at a relatively young age), and failed miserably because I constantly flatironed it. It was always right in the middle of my neck.

I decided relaxers were too hard of work to maintain, and let my hair grow it’s curls back. This was also my “Express Myself” phase. The first couple years of me being natural I got my hands on box dyes and went crazy. I switched from Turquoise blue, hot pink, magenta, sea foam green, neon orange, blonde, platinum, jet black, and rainbow colors frequently. My hair stayed at shoulder length for most of me going through that typical middle school “try everything out” phase. After that I started reading articles and skimming hair sites and started co-washing and damp wrapping my hair up at night because I still hadn’t figured out how to work with my curls at that moment. I saw BSL while doing that. This was also where I started referring to my hair as natural, due to other people categorizing it as that.

Some more years went by and I had a good regimen going, I would protective style mainly with twists, DC, etc. For a couple of years I remember never doing much of anything with my hair, and after some point in time during my senior year I reached somewhere between MBL and possibly brushing waist.

For graduation I wanted to change everything up and get a relaxer, but about 6-7 inches of my hair from the tips was still dyed some sort of fire red color that I let grow out, and I figured I should just chop everything off and start fresh since I probably would’ve found some way to mess it up if I relaxed with Almost foot of old bleached hair.

Got my hair cut in a chin to semi neck length bob for graduation, relaxed it all with my moms help since I hadn’t familiarized myself with one in years, and I’ve been relaxed since then.

Currently I’ve gotten everything pretty much down to a science although I’m always learning new things. At the moment this is the longest my hair has ever been, and I’m having to rearrange how I do things almost completely. I can’t treat my hair how it was at BSL with it being longer now, and I also realized sometime last year just how fine textured my hair truely is. Which is fine because I’ve come to love and appreciate it regardless. Other than that it’s mostly just been a balancing act of, “calm down, it’s just hair, don’t obsess”, and “I’ve never had this experience before, I wanna learn more! More! More! Buy all the products! Check my length every single day!” Lol.

I have a tendency to want my experiences to be even across the board if it’s something I take a lot of interest in espeacially if it’s more than one thing I’ve delved into. I feel like I learned my natural hair, loved it (still do), cared for it, and understood it and took care of it enough to watch it flourish, and I wanted to do the same thing with relaxed hair, since I failed miserably the first time.


I become weirdly attached to my hair in whatever state it happens to be in, so I’ll probably be relaxed for at least as long as I was natural (almost 10 years? Something like that), just to say I’ve had the experience of taking care of my hair in its different states for a decent amount of time. Heck, maybe even longer.
 
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alundra said:
Ladies -- have you always been relaxed or have you alternated between relaxed and natural? What made you decide to get relaxed?

I'm just curious -- I've been relaxed for a long time.
Click to expand...

I was relaxed since the age of 12. Once I turned 18, I would shave my head once per year to see my curlies but that would only last 3 months or so before I'd relax that. Even though I didn't know it, I've only relaxed bone straight a handful of times. From age 12-29, I was primarily texlaxed. I liked the option of wearing my hair curly by just leaving in some condish and I could straighten it when I felt like it. I was never a long-haired relaxed lady though. My hair was always between 0-4 inches or so.

I decided to grow out my hair natural at the age of 29. I grew from a shaved Ceasar cut (my favorite hairstyle) to WL in 4.5 years. It was amazing because I never thought I could even reach APL -- until then, my hair was ALWAYS short. I loved my natural hair but I found it to be more restrictive than my texlaxed hair. I couldn't do WNGs. I couldn't wear buns. I couldn't wear puffs without serious SSKs. Oh the SSKs!!! Wash days would take all day long, sometimes two days. I couldn't straighten too often for fear of heat damage. I kept it in cornrows under wigs or in mini braids. When I did do an out style, I would spend a day and a half prepping my style and waiting for it to dry. Then I would take it out and it would only be in the style for a couple of hours!! After that, it was just a poof. I loved my poof but I wasn't going for a poof on those days. It was just too much effort with very little reward. I straightened my hair once I hit WL and realized that I wanted to always see my length that I worked so hard for as much as possible. That's when I decided to return to texlaxing.

It's been 4 years now and I don't regret it at all! I feel like it's the best of both worlds. I have the poofy, blowout texture by just air drying and it's easier to bun and WNG if I want. I also feel my styles hold much longer without as much effort as it took to set as a natural. I put work into finding out what worked on my natural hair (a lot of trial and error) and I feel my texlaxed hair deserves the same thought and attention. I think I've got it down. Now, I'm just working on getting my length back because I've fallen off of proper haircare and stalled in MBL land for a while. I just cut back to BSB in January for my new starting point.

Whew! I did NOT intend for my reply to be this long. Sorry! :blush2:
 
alundra said:
Ladies -- have you always been relaxed or have you alternated between relaxed and natural? What made you decide to get relaxed?

I'm just curious -- I've been relaxed for a long time.
Click to expand...
Short n sweet
I was relaxed as a teen and adult. Went natural after my son was born due to low iron and newly developed thyroid issues. Went from a fade to APL in two years, was feelin myself and decided to texlax at miss jessie salon. was great the first time, but she was to aggressive the second time around. was basically bone straight relaxed. transitioned and remained natural for another 10 years. decided last fall on a whim to relax. Kinda wish I had self tex laxed all those years back.
edited to add**

Currently two weeks post and I feel like 6 weeks post. I will not mix olaplex into my relaxer ever again. my newly relaxed roots look texlaxed. Now while it is still manageable,I dont want two textures. Will need to fix when I relax again.
 
Last edited:
I like reading both the long answers and the short answers!

I've been relaxed for a long time -- my grandmother insisted that my mother do it when I was younger.

When I discovered the board in 2006 and joined in 2007, I was determined to get BSL length relaxed hair, which I did. Now I'm determined to get it back. I feel happy with being relaxed at the moment.
 
Hey Ladies!!! I a week post relaxer. I shampooed yesterday and I am really pleased with my results. I DC on dry hair with a mixture for ORS Replenishing Conditioner; Aphogee 2 minute; and Duo Tex. I applied Wild Growth oil to my scalp before the DC and I sat under a steam cap for about 20 minutes. I shampooed my hair with ORS Creamy Aloe shampoo and was prepared to follow it with my Kedra Care Hydrating detangling shampoo and sit with Humecto for my deep conditioner, but my hair felt so good after I shampooed with the Creamy Aloe that I didn’t to anything else. It felt so soft and strong!! I was very surprised. I applied my leave ins (Aphogee Keratin and Green tea and Ion Heat protectant spray) then I blow dried and flat ironed and my hair looked great.

This is very different form my normal routine, but it was faster, my hair felt really good. So I may just DC on dry hair for awhile and see if I notice any major difference in my hair. Do any of you ladies deep condition on dry hair? If so what products do you use... Just curious
 
alundra said:
Ladies -- have you always been relaxed or have you alternated between relaxed and natural? What made you decide to get relaxed?

I'm just curious -- I've been relaxed for a long time.
Click to expand...
I have been relaxed since middle school. Never had any real issues with being relaxed or any hair issues, until my anemia got worse a few years ago. I have to be more intentional about what I do to my hair and be sure to get enough iron through diet and take vitamins. I have thought about going natural but I don’t really see the point.
 
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