Awww! Oh no! ((BIG HUG)) And no, please do not shave ... yet.
So interesting, right before you and I started talking about you relaxing, I had just posted about how all neutralizing shampoos aren't created equal! I bought Isoplus neutralizing shampoo sometime last year or in 2018 because I wanted to try something with a color indicator. Let me tell you, my hair always felt weird when I was neutralizing those relaxers. I thought it was something else bc I was also adjusting other things in my process. But this last time, in November, I was using the last of the Isoplus on my second wash and then added in my usual Motions neutralizing poo. And it was amazing the difference, immediately! My hair was so rough w the Isoplus, I kept thinking how my cuticles must be extra lifted or something. As soon as I added in the Motions, my hair got soft. I couldn't believe it! I learned then and there that all neutralizing poos are NOT created equal and I will stick w Motions from here on out.
About the corrective: Sis, let me tell you, the ladies were warning me not to do mine too but I was like, naw I'll be cool, no worries. Almost immediately, I regretted doing it ... both times. LOL. The second time I did it was years later and I had forgotten how much I hated it the first time. No more for me. I learned that if my relaxer is bad then I'll adapt and live with it until the next time I relax. I view life as endless opportunities to learn so I was like, nope I'm not giving up, I'm gonna find a simple regi that works for my laziness and ride that puppy until my hair is healthy again. And I think you can do the same! You can have the hair that YOU want without having to do 50-11 things to get it! This is not an infomercial, Lol. Really, there's waaayyy too much info on this board and for YEARS there were ladies growing long, MBL/WL/HL healthy relaxed hair so I know it's possible!
For instance, don't beat me up, but *I think* that maybe you don't need to dilute your relaxers. Maybe the way you keep a little texture is by learning what is the amount of time that you need to keep the undiluted relaxer on. Initially, I think you should relax once every 3-4 months until you get a hang of things and your hair. Use the time to try out a new relaxer, bc it seems what you're using is not compatible w your hair. Perhaps your hair is trying to tell you that she's a no-lye lady?
For now, please baby your hair while we all put our collective heads together to figure out what it is you may need to do to get you where you wanna be. Definitely start DCing with a moisturizing DC twice a week. You can do one after a wash and then do one midweek overnight or something and then rinse it in the shower and wet bun the next day. Speaking of wash, I think you should skip the poo and strictly cowash or water rinse for a minute. If your scalp can't take that try adding some baking soda to the condish for a gentle cleanser or just massage a little poo on your scalp with your finger tips. I think you should do that until your hair is no longer brittle/dry. No protein tx yet until your hair tells you that you need it!! Once your hair is no longer dry/brittle, braid her up and put her away for at least 3 weeks.
I'm thinking you rock wet buns or even 4-5 plaits under a removable wig so that you can tend to your hair underneath. Don't over manipulate your hair. If you do the wigs/plaits, cleanse, DC and moisturize and seal in those same plaits. Only redo them once a week. And I don't mean to take them all down and redo them, I mean redo them one by one, keeping the same sections/parts. That helps to minimize manipulation.
You have to forgive me, I have been a crisis worker for many years so when a crisis happens, I go into problem solving mode. LOL. You know you don't have to listen to a word I say, LOL. I'm just hoping one of these things will help get you thru the immediate aftermath.
Sorry again for the novel.
