Relaxed Heads: How many weeks post relaxer are you and when is your next touch up???

[Aggie]

Wow! Have you posted pics?

I think I did in the APL challenge a while back with my short curly pixie cut I did in July of last year.

 

[sunnieb]

I watch TheTabbi1 on YT. She’s low density like me but she relaxes bone straight. She gets really good results. I love her hair and her laid back approach. She has hit HL a few times and she has obvious kinky/type 4 newgrowth. I have seen her use African Pride and CON Out of Eden.

I love her! Been a subscriber for a while.

 

[gemruby41]

Relaxed today at 4 months post. She added Olaplex to the relaxer and also after rinsing as a standalone treatment. I had bad breakage after having my son and it's slowly coming back. Used Affirm Fiberguard.

Does your stylist use the Affirm reconstructor with your relaxer when she uses the Olaplex?

 

[danysedai]

Does your stylist use the Affirm reconstructor with your relaxer when she uses the Olaplex?

Yes, she does, but the steps are reversed. It becomes a lengthier process, because, as per Olaplex instructions on their website, my stylist adds no 1 to the neutralizing shampoo, then no 2 for 5 minutes, rinse, then reconstructor. Usually it's rinse the relaxer, apply reconstructor for 5 minutes, then neutralizing shampoo. Will try the Affirm steps next time, but it's my sister doing my relaxer. $ is tight.

 

[gemruby41]

Yes, she does, but the steps are reversed. It becomes a lengthier process, because, as per Olaplex instructions on their website, my stylist adds no 1 to the neutralizing shampoo, then no 2 for 5 minutes, rinse, then reconstructor. Usually it's rinse the relaxer, apply reconstructor for 5 minutes, then neutralizing shampoo. Will try the Affirm steps next time, but it's my sister doing my relaxer. $ is tight.

Does your hair feel different when the reconstructor is not done?

 

[danysedai]

Does your hair feel different when the reconstructor is not done?

she's always done the reconstructor though. it's just that she does olaplex steps first with the neutralizing shampoo. I meant that next time (Monday) I'll try rinsing the relaxer, doing the reconstructor for 5 minutes, neutralizing with the shampoo +olaplex no 1 , rinsing, then olaplex no 2.

 

[gemruby41]

she's always done the reconstructor though. it's just that she does olaplex steps first with the neutralizing shampoo. I meant that next time (Monday) I'll try rinsing the relaxer, doing the reconstructor for 5 minutes, neutralizing with the shampoo +olaplex no 1 , rinsing, then olaplex no 2.

thanks

 

[KhandiB]

Hey Everybody!

I am currently 30 weeks post.

And do you know, all this time I have been treating my hair as if it was high porosity, and all this time my hair is low porosity!

After watching numerous video's on youtube, it makes so much sense!! I always feel like I have product buildup. Using heavy butters and creams because my hair always feels so dry and looks dull when I try to do anything with my hair except blowdry and flat iron.

But now I dont know what "light" moisturizers to use,

I bought the Plex Breakage System my Cream of Nature, I am going to try it tonight and see what it does for my hair. Because I'm sick of my hair. Hopefully the conditioner in the system will be good for my hair, I feel like every single conditioner I use leaves a build up on my hair. Ugh!

 

[Reinventing21]

@sunnieb @MzSwift

Thank you for the responses! I miss the swing my hair used to have. I don't know if that is due to bigen dye I have been using? Or the process I use, what I use to straighten?

eta: LOVE that video of that youtuber! Subscribed!

 

[Celestialx]

3 hours post and I'm sooo excited about the length I've managed to retain. I'm finally at APL, the longest my hair's ever been, so I'm really stoked about that. ^_^

 

[Aggie]

Yes, she does, but the steps are reversed. It becomes a lengthier process, because, as per Olaplex instructions on their website, my stylist adds no 1 to the neutralizing shampoo, then no 2 for 5 minutes, rinse, then reconstructor. Usually it's rinse the relaxer, apply reconstructor for 5 minutes, then neutralizing shampoo. Will try the Affirm steps next time, but it's my sister doing my relaxer. $ is tight.

Now this makes a lot of sense using Olaplex when relaxing the hair. I use it in my henna treatment now and getting great results.

 

[Aggie]

3 hours post and I'm sooo excited about the length I've managed to retain. I'm finally at APL, the longest my hair's ever been, so I'm really stoked about that. ^_^

Congratulations @Celestialx. You should be celebrating somehow. Maybe buy your hair a new toy, ie, accessory

 

[PlanetCybertron]

For those of you that like straight results, what relaxer are you using these days?

ORS. I’ve tried many others, and sometimes try to deviate from my regular, but every single time, I under-process if I use anything other than ORS.

 

[PlanetCybertron]

I’m almost two months post. Don’t know when I’m gonna relax again. Probably when I return to work on the 7th of July. Maybe.

By then I might hit my goal length of Classic. Idk. I’ve been having awful scalp flare ups, so all of my attention has been directed towards scalp care. And trying a bunch of things until something helps. So I may put off relaxing even longer.

 

[Celestialx]

Congratulations @Celestialx. You should be celebrating somehow. Maybe buy your hair a new toy, ie, accessory

Thank you!

I've actually been eyeing some satin scrunchies on Etsy that I've been wanting to treat myself to, so I may do just that. ^_~

 

[MzSwift]

3 hours post and I'm sooo excited about the length I've managed to retain. I'm finally at APL, the longest my hair's ever been, so I'm really stoked about that. ^_^

Whohoo, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Yes, I agree, this milestone deserves a reward. Shoot, get yourself some ice cream too while you're at it (the protein is good for hair growth ). That's a big deal!

Sidenote: When I started my HHJ, APL was my ultimate goal. My hair has always been 3-4 inches long at most bc I didn't think I could grow it long. Everytime I tried, I would just cut it all off once it hit that in between stage. So I kept it short. I made a length check shirt when I started my HHJ and made a marker only for APL . To me, NL/SL was long. I thought if my hair EVER reached APL, I would be satisfied. The other lines after that I drew in for fun. Well, I was PSing so much that I totally bypassed APL and hit BSB!

You've already made it to a major milestone. Once you hit APL, BSB/BSL and MBL aren't too much further. And then next thing you know you'll be heading toward WL and HL. Keep moving that marker down, girl, you can do it!!

 

[MzSwift]

12 hours post! I relaxed spontaneously last night at 13.5 weeks. Lol, SMH. It was a late night, last minute decision but I feel so much better. I did a mid-step protein this time because I felt like I left the relaxer on longer than I usually do since I was not prepared to relax. The midstep usually helps my relaxer to process less. Since I texlax, I usually don't need it but I was worried about having bone straight results.

I wasn't planning to relax until at least August but I had no energy to deal with my new growth right now. It was time to redo my plaits. I'd had them bunned for a the last week or so and it was time to rebraid them. I was tired. Things have been pretty busy. Sent my big boy out of state to his dad's for the summer. My baby boy had an accident that required stitches. My 100 lb puppy was sick so we were taking him out every hour for the last 2 days, day and night. We had a stamped concrete patio poured so there we contractors all over the place and I also went out to finish my baby's play area in the backyard. But let me tell you, none of that was as dreadful as having to detangle and restyle my hair for the next week. Lol

Also, thanks to @PlanetCybertron for recommending baking soda to help eliminate the fresh perm smell, I did a baking soda + Braggs Amino Acids + conditioner DC after my relaxer. OMG, my hair was so soft and easy to cowash in the shower this morning. Why did I ever stop doing that?! Probably exhaustion. Lol. Anyway, my hair smells so much better, no fresh perm smell. I just realized that the baking soda condish is why I was able to stretch so long in the past. It'll be returning to my regi along with my salt/hibiscus DC. Back to using my mixed products. The store bought ones aren't working out as well for me.

 

[sunnieb]

3 weeks post. Relaxing in 5 weeks.

 

[MzSwift]

1 week post. Surprisingly, I have no desire to go back into a PS right now. I've been bunning and washing/conditioning every couple of days or so. Did a banded ponytail today. I may stick with this style, not yet sure.

I plan to wait until the EOTY to relax again. If I'm impatient, I may relax in Sept to give me 3 months between relaxers.

Forgot to put my relaxer pix here. Parted my hair down the middle and pre-twisted my hair into 4 twists on one side and 5 on the other. It turned out ok, I believe.

Relaxer sections-
View media item 130251
Relaxer results-
View media item 130249
Airdried in a bun-
View media item 130247
Today's banded ponytail-
View media item 130261

 

[SpiceUpMyHair]

1 week post. Surprisingly, I have no desire to go back into a PS right now. I've been bunning and washing/conditioning every couple of days or so. Did a banded ponytail today. I may stick with this style, not yet sure.

I plan to wait until the EOTY to relax again. If I'm impatient, I may relax in Sept to give me 3 months between relaxers.

Forgot to put my relaxer pix here. Parted my hair down the middle and pre-twisted my hair into 4 twists on one side and 5 on the other. It turned out ok, I believe.

Relaxer sections-
View media item 130251
Relaxer results-
View media item 130249
Airdried in a bun-
View media item 130247
Today's banded ponytail-
View media item 130261

Beautiful hair

 

[SpiceUpMyHair]

4 weeks post 8 more to go

 

[weavepat]

1 day post. I relaxed at 13 weeks. Pre sectioning my hair really cut down on the tangles so I'm thankful.

Notes:

• I used ors lye in super and I think I'll stick with this strength. Regular left a bit more texture than I like.
• Processed for 13 minutes total.
• Using acidic rinses+conditioner really helped to neutralize my hair without excessive shampooing.
• I used henna to add strength afterwards and as a final neutralizing step.

 

[Celestialx]

Whohoo, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Yes, I agree, this milestone deserves a reward. Shoot, get yourself some ice cream too while you're at it (the protein is good for hair growth ). That's a big deal!

Sidenote: When I started my HHJ, APL was my ultimate goal. My hair has always been 3-4 inches long at most bc I didn't think I could grow it long. Everytime I tried, I would just cut it all off once it hit that in between stage. So I kept it short. I made a length check shirt when I started my HHJ and made a marker only for APL . To me, NL/SL was long. I thought if my hair EVER reached APL, I would be satisfied. The other lines after that I drew in for fun. Well, I was PSing so much that I totally bypassed APL and hit BSB!

You've already made it to a major milestone. Once you hit APL, BSB/BSL and MBL aren't too much further. And then next thing you know you'll be heading toward WL and HL. Keep moving that marker down, girl, you can do it!!

Thanks so much!

I'm insanely excited about it, and an ice cream celebration was definitely enjoyed over the weekend, so I appreciate that advice as well hahaha.

I honestly had a similar experience; just thought my hair would only ever be SL at best. Luckily it wasn't usually much shorter than that, but it was so damaged and anything past SL just broke right off, so I figured I was stuck at terminal.

To see my actual hair on my actual head grow past that point is so wild, I love it. ^_^ I'm soooo looking forward to seeing how far it'll flow lol.

All of you ladies have provided so much invaluable insight and I couldn't be more appreciative.

 

[a_g_doren]

Hey Everybody!

I am currently 30 weeks post.

And do you know, all this time I have been treating my hair as if it was high porosity, and all this time my hair is low porosity!

After watching numerous video's on youtube, it makes so much sense!! I always feel like I have product buildup. Using heavy butters and creams because my hair always feels so dry and looks dull when I try to do anything with my hair except blowdry and flat iron.

But now I dont know what "light" moisturizers to use,

I bought the Plex Breakage System my Cream of Nature, I am going to try it tonight and see what it does for my hair. Because I'm sick of my hair. Hopefully the conditioner in the system will be good for my hair, I feel like every single conditioner I use leaves a build up on my hair. Ugh!

I have low porosity hair too. I avoid coconut and shea based products, as well as thick heavy butters and creams. Typically I look for a leave-in conditioner that uses olive, argan, jojoba or sweet almond oils. I also look for silk proteins. I had a product that had baobab oil that I haven't been able to find again but I really liked it. I noticed my hair tends to tolerate heat really well so I use heat styling as an opportunity to press oils into my hair that otherwise might sit on the surface of the strand.

As for my hair, I am 6 weeks post relaxer and plan to wait another 14-20 weeks. I always do a minimum of 4 months between relaxers longer depending on what else is going on in my life.

 

[KhandiB]

Yup thats me. I just have to figure out what to do with how dry my hair is.

I have low porosity hair too. I avoid coconut and shea based products, as well as thick heavy butters and creams. Typically I look for a leave-in conditioner that uses olive, argan, jojoba or sweet almond oils. I also look for silk proteins. I had a product that had baobab oil that I haven't been able to find again but I really liked it. I noticed my hair tends to tolerate heat really well so I use heat styling as an opportunity to press oils into my hair that otherwise might sit on the surface of the strand.

As for my hair, I am 6 weeks post relaxer and plan to wait another 14-20 weeks. I always do a minimum of 4 months between relaxers longer depending on what else is going on in my life.

 

[a_g_doren]

Yup thats me. I just have to figure out what to do with how dry my hair is.

My hair got super dry when I was living in Arizona. Low porosity hair + dry climate tightened my hair cuticles to the point that they would not take any moisture. I was natural then and I found some other natural hair gurus that had great tips for making sure the hair absorbed moisture. I really like this lady:



I'm also going to check out this woman's videos om moisturizing low porosity hair:



I haven't watched her series so I can't recommend it but maybe she has some good info.

 

[sunnieb]

5 weeks post and relaxing in 3 weeks....... maybe.

I'll see how my hair does. It's beginning to feel like it used to, healthwise, and may not be relaxer ready.

 

[sunnieb]

6 weeks post

 

[MzSwift]

Can't believe it's already been 3 weeks. Finally getting the urge to PS again. I've been doing low mani by keeping my hair in braided pigtails pinned up around my head. Now I'm ready to mini braid and get back to daily rinsing since it's sooo steamy out.

 

[11228]

I no longer keep track. I relax when my hair tells me to.

I've realized my new growth comes in quicker when I wash often.