Relaxer "Pull Through"

J

Julia

New Member
Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

What is the correct procedure for relaxer application? Overtime can damage be done to the hair if the relaxer is pulled or worked/combed through the hair too strenuously? Daviine mentioned in her thread about her visit with Marvin that Marvin said something about her hair thinning as a result of this? /images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Hi Julia,

If you are relaxing virgin hair, then you would work the relaxer through the length of your hair. But if you are getting a touchup, you should only touch-up the new growth. If you keep re-relaxing the whole length of your hair, it will thin out. It is not recommended to pull a relaxer through the length of your hair every time you get a touch-up. HTH /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Hi pebbles (by the way, I just love your user name! this has been my dad's pet name for me ever since I was an ankle biter)

I understand about overlapping, what I wanted to know was about touch ups (sorry I should have specified). I am concerned about how my ex-hairdresser and future hairdressers have and will process my new growth. After reading Davine's post I realized that my hair has become much thinner and I hardly blow dry.

I am interested in knowing how the relaxer should be worked into the new growth. What is the proper procedure, do's and don'ts. Some say it should not be combed through, others insist that it should be.

Thanks
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Sorry sweetie.

Well, when I get it done, it usually gets massaged in. She smooths it with the back of the comb, but she's never combed it. I'm not sure how everyone else does it. But with my hair, the new growth never needs more than smoothing in. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Ditto on that for me. My hairdresser smooths with the back of the comb but rarely uses the teeth. And NEVER combs thru the full length of course.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Must start doing my own relaxer..... /images/graemlins/wallbash.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Your hair should be parted in sections and the stylist should work quickly to avoid burning and over processing. On virgin hair, the relaxer should be applied to the ends last as they are the oldest part of the hair and therefore the most fragile. Retouches should be done only on the hair's new growth. Your stylist should only leave the relaxer on for the time as set by your hair type, condition, and desired results, but never longer than the recommended time on the relaxer instructions. It is always better to slightly under process than to over process the hair. Hair should be checked continuously. After processing the hair it should be very well rinsed for at least 15 minutes with warm water. Your hair should be shampooed with a neutralizing shampoo not just regular shampoo. A neutralizing shampoo stops the lye's reaction with your hair and helps the hair to set in its new straight shape. A better technique is for the stylist to neutralize your hair with conditioner. This is also the best time to perform a protein conditioner because the hair cuticles are open after a relaxer application. Then they can use a neutralizing shampoo, your hair should be rinsed very well again to remove all traces of the relaxer from your hair. After any chemical treatment your hair should be deep conditioned to add moisture and help restore its elasticity.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

The lady who does my touch-ups pulls through...i haven't noticed any breakage though ....i don't want to think about this too much or I'll get frustrated all over again. /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/wallbash.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Moni,

When you say your hairdresser pulls through, do you mean the whole length of your hair? /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

yes...she does. I didn't know that doing that was wrong because she's been doing it for so long. /images/graemlins/confused.gif i'm confused. <sigh>
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Hmmm. My advice would be to have her stop pulling it through your hair. Remember that a relaxer is actually breaking down the bonds of your hair. If she keeps doing this, eventually your hair will start to thin out. I know you don't want that. Don't worry about the roots looking smooth and the rest of your hair looking kinky. Usually when you do a touch up to the roots, as you are washing off the relaxer, it's running the length of your hair, so your hair will look smooth again without re-relaxing all of it.

You have some tough hair if you've been doing this for a long time, but that practice will catch up with you eventually. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

that is what i am afraid of. but she's way older than me, i have a hard time telling older people what not to do to me. I would go to someone else but it is so hard trying to find people. I don't know anyone here in orlando that does hair. i just hope that my hair will continue to be ok.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Moni for the fear of not going bald, please SPEAK UP. Leave a strand of hair in a relaxer tub for an hour and then stretch it. Overtime that is what will happen to your hair, it will thin and snap off. If she's persistent then go to someone else. She's not the only person on this earth capable of relaxing your hair safely.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Moni-dearest,

I agree with LondonDiva, you have got to speak up and tell her to stop. She really isn't doing it right. This has nothing to do with being disrespectful. Whether she's young or old there is a right way to do a touch-up; she's not doing it correctly. If she won't listen, find someone who will. I know that Orlando has to be a hard place to find a hair stylist, but there has to be someone who can do a touch-up properly. Start checking the phonebook and look for hair dressers there. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Thanks LondonDiva and Pebbles for the suggestions. I am going to handle it by telling my mother, (a punk move i know) but she'll fix it. I've enquired as to hairstylists in orlando, the lady i usually go to lives in jacksonville, fl., and maybe i'll try one of those. I wish I knew how to put in my own relaxers. Thanks again for the suggestions. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Ditto on that for me. My hairdresser smooths with the back of the comb but rarely uses the teeth. And NEVER combs thru the full length of course.


[/ QUOTE ]

Ooooooo I feel a headache coming on...she puts it on and then combs the heck out of it.. Working it in over and over again and then she smooths it out with her fingers and then she lets me sit with it in until her little timer goes off. She does not comb through the entire length but she puts it on the ends last year and my hair broke like what!

Should I be telling whoever I find as a NEW HAIRSTYLIST not to comb the relaxer through with the teeth of the comb?

Thank God for this board! Seriously if I had not discovered it when I did, I would eventually be sporting the Kojak look.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Should I be telling whoever I find as a NEW HAIRSTYLIST not to comb the relaxer through with the teeth of the comb?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily. If your hair is really thick and resistant, maybe it needs to be combed through. I'm no expert, but the woman that does my hair doesn't come through my new growth. Someone else may do it differently. As long as it's not causing damage to your hair. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

true. thanks Pebbles, but I am leaving her for a multitude of other reasons... I can't talk to her. She is older and just knows too much...the last time she did my hair, lets just say the ends of my hair were crispy and well done. So crispy in fact that little bits were crumbling in my hand. /images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Julia,I think that's terrible and that you should find another stylist. There are rare occasions when it's appropriate for a stylist to pull the relaxer through the entire length of hair. If virgin hair is being relaxed, it's okay. If you have a head full of no lye hair and you're switching to lye relaxers, it's okay. Even in the latter case, this should only be done once, not over and over again!! And then she's combing the heck out of it?!!!

Reading through this thread, I don't understand what's up with many of these so called hairdressers. If they have a license in cosmetology, they've got to know that constant pull throughs will only cause damage! I think it's a plot to keep us coming back to them. Anyone is bound to experience thinning and breakage from this, and I guess they figure we'll just run to them to correct the problem. I know that everyone doesn't do this, but it seems common enough to show that there is a real problem here.

Julia, you should run, not walk, from this woman. Don't let her cause a setback to all your hard work. Just my opinion.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Thanks Kitkat, I am not going back to her. Little things have been adding up for a while now. I do not think she is vindictive but like I said before she knows too much and does not readily take any "new" suggestions about hair care. I have already started interviewing for new hairdressers. I am just nervous to switch. Don't want to jump from the frying pan into the fire!
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

KitKat, you do have a point because if the hair is underprocess then it would be OK, but not all the time. When I got my relaxer my stylist had to go a little above new growth cause my hair is course and the last time the relaxer did not take. Know I'm going to change my relaxer to what she use or go back to Affirm.
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
moni said:
Thanks LondonDiva and Pebbles for the suggestions. I am going to handle it by telling my mother, (a punk move i know) but she'll fix it. I've enquired as to hairstylists in orlando, the lady i usually go to lives in jacksonville, fl., and maybe i'll try one of those. I wish I knew how to put in my own relaxers. Thanks again for the suggestions. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi from one Moni to another /images/graemlins/smile.gif. I live in Jax and although I no longer relax my hair, there are several stylists in town that don't pull the relaxer thru. If you decide to look for someone new, I can ask my fairy god sis who she goes to as her stylist puts the health of her hair first. /images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

ooooooo....would you Monicurl...pretty please? I know I sound like a little kid, actually not far removed, but I would really appreciate it if you did. Wow...I love this board. /images/graemlins/clap.gif
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Moni,
Do you live in Orlando, Florida? If so, what hair dressers have you tried in the area?

Thanks!
 
Re: Relaxer \"Pull Through\"

Yep, I go to UCF in orlando. I haven't tried any hairdressers in orlando. Too scared. I travel back and forth to Jacksonville everytime I need a relaxer. (Only 2 hr. drive) I am on the eastside of the city. This is basically a white area and I don't know if I feel comfortable with them working on my hair. My friends have identified the Westside as the black side of town as the place I need to go look. But...uh...I've been over there and lets just say I speed to get through. No offense to anyone that might live on the westside of Orlando.
 
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