MzSwift
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
OK, that makes sense. So 2-3 inches is what I look for too but mainly bc of the way that I smooth my relaxers, I want to avoid too much overlap.
Relaxed Heads: How many weeks post relaxer are you and when is your next touch up???
- Thread starter sunnieb
- Start date
OK, that makes sense. So 2-3 inches is what I look for too but mainly bc of the way that I smooth my relaxers, I want to avoid too much overlap.
divachyk
Instagram: adaybyjay
I always feel at home in the relaxer thread because my relaxed years still outnumber my natural years currently. Relaxer runoff is something that I struggled with, especially when I was getting my hair relaxed at a salon. Make sure you protect the length of your hair. Ok, back in lurk mode I go. 
IDareT'sHair
PJ Rehabilitation Center
@LushLox
This whole thing right here!
I feel the same way.However, I did manage to do mine today although it was a real struggle.
secretdiamond
Well-Known Member
Question:
When you all are assessing new growth for retouches, are you referring to the inches of new growth in the stretched or unstretched state?
Because we know shrinkage in our hair is real
So, the growth may be more than what is seen?
When you all are assessing new growth for retouches, are you referring to the inches of new growth in the stretched or unstretched state?
Because we know shrinkage in our hair is real
So, the growth may be more than what is seen?
MzSwift
Well-Known Member
Question:
When you all are assessing new growth for retouches, are you referring to the inches of new growth in the stretched or unstretched state?
Because we know shrinkage in our hair is real
Lol, true! And good question!
I've been thinking in terms of unstretched ng but maybe...
I remember reading that some ladies blow dry or even flat iron to prep for a touchup -- and I may have even tried it once (I need to check my notes) -- bc it's supposed to make the results better to relax already stretched ng.
sunnieb
Well-Known Member
@secretdiamond I measure in terms of stretched newgrowth. I have like 4 different typed of newgrowth on my head so I take that into account as well.
Fashionista922
Back at it! 4b/4c High Porosity Relaxed hair
6 weeks post! 4 more to go. I'm getting into the harder part of my usual stretch, but I'm almost there. Fresh roots are only a month away!
LushLox
Well-Known Member
How are you finding the stretching? It's a big jump from 8 weeks, but I know you've stretched to these periods previously.
Whereas I'm doing an about turn, and I am struggling at 8 weeks currently and suddenly I am quite tempted to touch up! But I have no relaxer kits so no relaxing for me just now anyway lol.
sunnieb
Well-Known Member
@LushLox stretching is pretty easy for me now that I'm a little past SL. I had a difficult time when my hair was short. It's much harder for me to work with a layer of newgrowth when my total length is NL.
Longer hair makes for an easier stretch. I can do curly styles and buns to blend newgrowth better.
Longer hair makes for an easier stretch. I can do curly styles and buns to blend newgrowth better.
secretdiamond
Well-Known Member
I'm 25.5 weeks post. Was aiming to relax next weekend or try to continue stretching even past that.
But, depending on how I feel, I may relax today. I've devised a new, tedious strategy to minimize overlapping, and it may take forever, so we'll see if I have the energy. lol
But, depending on how I feel, I may relax today. I've devised a new, tedious strategy to minimize overlapping, and it may take forever, so we'll see if I have the energy. lol
MzSwift
Well-Known Member
divachyk
Instagram: adaybyjay
I would measure in shrunken state since that’s the state that I arrived in to the salon.Question:
When you all are assessing new growth for retouches, are you referring to the inches of new growth in the stretched or unstretched state?
Because we know shrinkage in our hair is real
4 days post!! FINALLY!!! After 18 weeks lol (unintentional stretch) I went ahead and tried Hawaiian Silky lye (normal) since ORS lye kept leaving me underprocessed. I like that HS left me with some texture and not flat and my hair was shiny whereas my hair was dull with ORS. My scalp didn't burn even though I spent hours detangling my hair right before I got it done.
Now that I know I can go 18 weeks, I'll make 14 weeks my new touchup instead of 10.
Now that I know I can go 18 weeks, I'll make 14 weeks my new touchup instead of 10.
secretdiamond
Well-Known Member
GL!
So, I ended up not doing it. lol. One reason is because all the new growth is making me lazy. But, the main reason is I'm afraid of another setback. Something in me keeps saying, if I leave my hair alone (i.e. no chemicals), I will finally be able to retain the hair I've grown.
Plus, even though it takes forever to detangle and blow dry my hair now, after I finished, my hair looked and felt great. And, I forget about the bush of new growth I'll have to deal with next wash. smh lol
As it stands, I may be unintentionally doing a long transition to natural, or setting myself up for a super long relaxer process, when I finally re-touch.
MzSwift
Well-Known Member
I also do really long stretches and am dealing with ng most of the time. You can definitely grow your hair longer by doing long stretches. In fact, I would say that's probably why I have been able to retain as I have in the past. I usually only relax twice a year and I try to make it the least cumbersome process possible so if you want any pointers I'm here
I dunno if you remember a lady named Sylver (I think?) around here but she only relaxed once a year and I believe she was a resident HLer.
Also, I found no difference in my relaxing time or process the few times I've relaxed earlier than 12 weeks or 33 weeks. The only thing that might take longer is the prep. But even that depends on how I've been wearing my hair.
One last thing, I promise
, have you ever tried the Amino Acid tx? It's pretty much adding a few tbsp of Amino Acids (I use Braggs from the grocery store cooking aisle) to your DC and then adding a few tsp of baking soda. DC with heat and rinse. That tx makes my new growth much softer. It's still 4b but it's more pliable (if that makes sense). And if I flat iron afterwards, the new growth gets silky straight.
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ItsMeLilLucky
NotLucky no mo' just blessed.
Okay I have a few questions about the amino acid tx lol. How much is a few? What kind of deep conditioner are we talking? Is it a moisturizing deep conditioner or more of a strengthening one? Or does it even matter what conditioner it is? How long do you sit under the heat? Is your hair covered or no? I think that's it for the questionsI also do really long stretches and am dealing with ng most of the time. You can definitely grow your hair longer by doing long stretches. In fact, I would say that's probably why I have been able to retain as I have in the past. I usually only relax twice a year and I try to make it the least cumbersome process possible so if you want any pointers I'm here
I dunno if you remember a lady named Sylver (I think?) around here but she only relaxed once a year and I believe she was a resident HLer.
Also, I found no difference in my relaxing time or process the few times I've relaxed earlier than 12 weeks or 33 weeks. The only thing that might take longer is the prep. But even that depends on how I've been wearing my hair.
One last thing, I promise
MzSwift
Well-Known Member
Okay I have a few questions about the amino acid tx lol. How much is a few? What kind of deep conditioner are we talking? Is it a moisturizing deep conditioner or more of a strengthening one? Or does it even matter what conditioner it is? How long do you sit under the heat? Is your hair covered or no? I think that's it for the questions
You're right! These things matter!
I use Queen Helene cholesterol as my base DC. I start with about 1/3 - 1/2 of the 15 oz jar, so about 5-7.5 oz. I add in about 3 squeezes of whatever cheap moisturizing conditioner I have on hand. Then I add 2-3 tbsp of Braggs to that and stir. At this point, I personally add about 5-10 drops of sweet orange oil for scent bc I don't wanna bake soy sauce smell into my hair, lol. Then I add 2-3 tsp of baking soda to the mix. Once you stir in the baking soda, the mix turns into a froth and expands. Sometimes, if I start with too much condish, it will over flow the little 15 oz jar, lol. I part my hair and apply that froth to each section like a relaxer. Bantu knot into 1 or 2 sections and then cover with two grocery bags. I use a conditioning cap or a soft bonnet dryer for 20-30 mins and then rinse.
ItsMeLilLucky
NotLucky no mo' just blessed.
secretdiamond
Well-Known Member
I also do really long stretches and am dealing with ng most of the time. You can definitely grow your hair longer by doing long stretches. In fact, I would say that's probably why I have been able to retain as I have in the past. I usually only relax twice a year and I try to make it the least cumbersome process possible so if you want any pointers I'm here
I dunno if you remember a lady named Sylver (I think?) around here but she only relaxed once a year and I believe she was a resident HLer.
Also, I found no difference in my relaxing time or process the few times I've relaxed earlier than 12 weeks or 33 weeks. The only thing that might take longer is the prep. But even that depends on how I've been wearing my hair.
One last thing, I promise
Thank you!! I've been doing twice a year since being relaxed again. I actually remember Sylver and had no idea she was relaxing only once a year!!! I LOVED her hair, and she was one of my first inspirations here. Makes so much sense now why her hair was so long and healthy. She's the reason I've been hooked on the NTM leave in!
I've actually been contemplating pushing out to a year to relax, if I can make it. Your post just gave me the push I needed to try!
MzSwift
Well-Known Member
Thank you!! I've been doing twice a year since being relaxed again. I actually remember Sylver and had no idea she was relaxing only once a year!!! I LOVED her hair, and she was one of my first inspirations here. Makes so much sense now why her hair was so long and healthy. She's the reason I've been hooked on the NTM leave in!
I've actually been contemplating pushing out to a year to relax, if I can make it. Your post just gave me the push I needed to try!
Yay!! So happy to have helped!
I admired her hair too - even though I was a natural. And since I was natural for about 5 years and I PS 99% of the time, it feels easy for me to stretch relaxers. I tried to push it to one year but the most I've made it was 9 months. lolI primarily do a May and Nov schedule. That's only bc May is a big month for us (Birthdays for DH and I and our wedding anniversary. Not to mention Mother's Day and Memorial Day are usually gathering holidays). And then in Nov for the holidays and EOTY progress pix. Otherwise, I would probably just do one relaxer at the EOTY.
sunnieb
Well-Known Member
@demlew glad you liked Hawaiian Silky. I may try it in the future. ORS changed their formula and left me under-processed too! What a shame that they ruined a good product.
@MzSwift I think I have Sylver2's photo album committed to memory!
She almost had me willing to try a one year stretch.... almost. She was one of the ladies here who truly inspired me to do what I need to do to retain every inch I grow. I miss those days.
I'm 6 weeks post today. Still planning to go to 14 weeks.
@MzSwift I think I have Sylver2's photo album committed to memory!
She almost had me willing to try a one year stretch.... almost. She was one of the ladies here who truly inspired me to do what I need to do to retain every inch I grow. I miss those days.I'm 6 weeks post today. Still planning to go to 14 weeks.
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