Relaxing every month

L

LuLu

New Member
okay, I have to ask you guys...is it so bad?

I've been doing this for a long time and I've never thought that my hair suffered because of it but I have yet to see one single other person on this board that does this.

Does anyone else relax this often? Am I doing something awful to my hair?

I've tried to even get passed 5 weeks and I can't, I get a certain amount of new growth and I can't handle it anymore.

Help? Input? /images/graemlins/look.gif
 
I don't JUST BECAUSE my hair doesn't grow that fast. After one month I would only be relaxing 1/3"....I would definitely be overprocessing if I did that. After 3 months I have about 1" to work with so I feel better doing it at 4 months. How much growth do you have after 4 weeks???
 
I guess it would depend on how you prepare your already processed hair. If you cover it with conditioner or neutralizing shampoo so that it's not proecessed each and every month, I guess there would be no damage. But if you're not and you're getting the average 1/2 inch per month, unless you're being really careful to apply the relaxer to ONLY the 1/2 inch, then you're processing at least 1/2 inch or more of previously processed hairevery month. That will lead to breakage eventually.
 
I am with Faith & GMMP on this. My hair doesn't grow that fast. I guess if I was seeing about an inch a month then I would probably not stretch my relaxers as long.
 
I'm not sure how much growth I have after 4 weeks...an inch, probably.

When I base myself I just go through and put vaseline on the previously relaxed hair, do you think I need to put neutralizing shampoo on it instead?

And I only relax my edges every other relaxer since they don't seem to grow as fast as the rest of the hair.

Maybe I will try to go to 5 or 6 weeks, I doubt I'll make it to six...I've tried that before.
 
Then again I don't know, my hair could be reverting but after 4 weeks there looks like an inch of new growth, I would assume though that my hair would break if it was just reverting and I was relaxing it over and over again../images/graemlins/look.gif
 
I relax my hair every 4-6 weeks, and I have never had a problem/..............only when I put in microbraids on my relaxed hair did it get thin and damaged....
 
[ QUOTE ]
I relax my hair every 4-6 weeks, and I have never had a problem/..............only when I put in microbraids on my relaxed hair did it get thin and damaged....

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh thank God! I'm not alone...I felt like I should be growing a third head or something!
 
If I relaxed every month this would be me
18.gif
 
Okay..I used to relax every month..like clockwork.. my mother NEVER told me that I didn't have to.. she always made me think that I just had to do that every month.. and I didn't need to.. I only know that now because of this board.. I was even using a regular strength relaxer and would do just about the whole length of my hair.. /images/graemlins/nuts.gif It wasn't until a few months ago that my mother told me that she only ever used mild on me and only about 3 times a year.. even with what I did..I had long healthy "looking" hair..and I even got it highlighted every few months.. I don't think there is a problem with is as long as you aren't overprocessing..

I'm transitioning now.. so no more relaxers for me! /images/graemlins/clap.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
If I relaxed every month this would be me
18.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Girl you have had me cracking up today /images/graemlins/rofl.gif ... and that is a cute smiley!
 
Hey Lulu!

Just to straight up answer your question--relaxing your hair monthly is not a good thing. /images/graemlins/nono.gif The exception of course would be if your hair grows outrageously fast.
 
[ QUOTE ]
okay, I have to ask you guys...is it so bad?

I've been doing this for a long time and I've never thought that my hair suffered because of it but I have yet to see one single other person on this board that does this.

Does anyone else relax this often? Am I doing something awful to my hair?

I've tried to even get passed 5 weeks and I can't, I get a certain amount of new growth and I can't handle it anymore.

Help? Input? /images/graemlins/look.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I relax every month no longer than 5 weeks. My hair is a mess if I don't. /images/graemlins/antlers.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hey Lulu!

Just to straight up answer your question--relaxing your hair monthly is not a good thing. /images/graemlins/nono.gif The exception of course would be if your hair grows outrageously fast.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks SG, I am going to work on strtching it out a little longer at a time, especially with winter coming I should be able to get to 6 weeks.

I will just have to figure out how to deal with it, usually when I get so much newgrowth my hair will start breaking.

Thanks
 
Thanks God_Favor, but I figure if my hair looks okay now and I'm doing something unhealthy to it, how much better could it look if I tried a little harder? So that's what I'm goin to do....sigh , wish me luck!
 
I agree! Your hair is gorgeous! I say go with what works for you! There are many people that stretch out relaxers whose hair doesn't look as thick and healthy as yours /images/graemlins/notworthy.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Okay..I used to relax every month..like clockwork.. my mother NEVER told me that I didn't have to.. she always made me think that I just had to do that every month.. and I didn't need to.. I only know that now because of this board.. I was even using a regular strength relaxer and would do just about the whole length of my hair.. /images/graemlins/nuts.gif It wasn't until a few months ago that my mother told me that she only ever used mild on me and only about 3 times a year.. even with what I did..I had long healthy "looking" hair..and I even got it highlighted every few months.. I don't think there is a problem with is as long as you aren't overprocessing..

I'm transitioning now.. so no more relaxers for me! /images/graemlins/clap.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know why I didn't see your reply until just now but congrats on transitioning!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Okay..I used to relax every month..like clockwork.. my mother NEVER told me that I didn't have to.. she always made me think that I just had to do that every month.. and I didn't need to.. I only know that now because of this board.. I was even using a regular strength relaxer and would do just about the whole length of my hair.. /images/graemlins/nuts.gif It wasn't until a few months ago that my mother told me that she only ever used mild on me and only about 3 times a year.. even with what I did..I had long healthy "looking" hair..and I even got it highlighted every few months.. I don't think there is a problem with is as long as you aren't overprocessing..

I'm transitioning now.. so no more relaxers for me! /images/graemlins/clap.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know why I didn't see your reply until just now but congrats on transitioning!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks girl!!

You have VERY pretty hair btw!!!
 
Ya'll are so sweet /images/graemlins/kiss.gif

So what about you other monthly relaxers? You guys want to try stretching out to 5 weeks with me? You know as support? My last relaxer was one week ago.
 
Lulu, Your hair is so thick and beautiful!!! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I don't see any visible damage from monthly relaxers, but I think stretching to 5 weeks would be a good idea to at least try. I also think your hair grows pretty fast so maybe you're getting more growth than the average.

I'm a 12 weeker/3 monther and my hair doesn't get unmanageable until the 10th week. I have a picture of my newgrowth in my album at about 5 weeks and there's a lil' newgrowth. newgrowth

Also, what kind of relaxer are you using and do you smooth really well after you apply it?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Lulu, Your hair is so thick and beautiful!!! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I don't see any visible damage from monthly relaxers, but I think stretching to 5 weeks would be a good idea to at least try. I also think your hair grows pretty fast so maybe you're getting more growth than the average.

I'm a 12 weeker/3 monther and my hair doesn't get unmanageable until the 10th week. I have a picture of my newgrowth in my album at about 5 weeks and there's a lil' newgrowth. newgrowth

Also, what kind of relaxer are you using and do you smooth really well after you apply it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, you wait 3 months! I would never make it that long!

Well, I've been flip flopping with relaxers, when I first started out I was using African Pride no lye, but after learning alot here I wanted to switch to lye so I tried mizani lye but that didn't straighten my hair at all, the last relaxer(last week) I tried Hawaiian Silky lye which I like, so I may stick with that.

My plan now is to wait 5 weeks this time (God help me because I'm taking vitamins now and my hair starting growing like a weed the last time I was on vitamins), then the next time I will try 6 weeks...the most I may get to is 7 weeks.

You know what, after looking at how far I've come in a year(even though I had 3-4 trims) I think my hair is growing faster than the average 1/2 inch a month.
 
You know Lulu, this may seem weird, but many times the type of relaxer makes a difference as far as stretching. At least in my experience and I don't know why. I've never been able to stretch my relaxers as long as 3 months, until I started using Affirm.

Long ago I've used:

* A couple of No-Lye box brands (Regular)- 5 weeks
* Optimum Lye (Regular)- 6-8 weeks
* Bantu Lye (Regular)- 6-8 weeks
* Designer's Touch Lye (Mild) - 5 weeks
* Hawaiian Silky Lye (Regular) - 6 weeks
* Affirm Lye & No Lye (Mild)- 12-14 weeks /images/graemlins/up.gif

Oh yeah, the technique was pretty much the same, because I've self relaxed for many years or I would have a "good" stylist do it.

I have no idea why the big difference. /images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
i would try to be extra careful that you are relaxing the new growth only.... your hair looks very healthy though....
 
[ QUOTE ]
You know Lulu, this may seem weird, but many times the type of relaxer makes a difference as far as stretching. At least in my experience and I don't know why. I've never been able to stretch my relaxers as long as 3 months, until I started using Affirm.

Long ago I've used:

* A couple of No-Lye box brands (Regular)- 5 weeks
* Optimum Lye (Regular)- 6-8 weeks
* Bantu Lye (Regular)- 6-8 weeks
* Designer's Touch Lye (Mild) - 5 weeks
* Hawaiian Silky Lye (Regular) - 6 weeks
* Affirm Lye & No Lye (Mild)- 12-14 weeks /images/graemlins/up.gif

Oh yeah, the technique was pretty much the same, because I've self relaxed for many years or I would have a "good" stylist do it.

I have no idea why the big difference. /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, that is a big difference..do you think your hair was just reverting? Maybe I should see how long I can go since I just tried Hawaiian Silky and if they doesn't work well I'll try affirm.
 
[ QUOTE ]
i would try to be extra careful that you are relaxing the new growth only.... your hair looks very healthy though....

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Sherrylove I will, and your hair is gorgeous girl /images/graemlins/up.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i would try to be extra careful that you are relaxing the new growth only.... your hair looks very healthy though....

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Sherrylove I will, and your hair is gorgeous girl /images/graemlins/up.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks,,,girl..... /images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I would relax only if was getting a lot of new growth that I could manage. From personal experience, when I relaxed every month my hair was really thin and had no life to it.
 
lulu your hair does look very thick and healthy but you don't often see the results of damage onto years and years of relaxing. if i were you i would try to space them out for longer. if you can i would say try and go for 8 weeks.(if you don't have too much breakage)
good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FemmeCreole
Relaxing every month
2
Replies
35
Views
10K
sylver2
S
Poohbear
Consequences of RELAXING Forever???
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
inthepink
I
SilverSurfer
Is (Relaxing = Chemicals) while pregnant safe?
Replies
9
Views
1K
Hair Peace
Hair Peace
Cayenne0622
Help! Self-relaxing...can't find threads...
Replies
4
Views
1K
Radianthealth
Radianthealth
Tresses
Help Self Relaxing Today.
Replies
15
Views
2K
aileenadq
aileenadq
Back
Top