Self-relaxers--- is your hair healthier and longer now versus going to salon

[levette]

Do you see a major improvement with the health of your hair? What type of relaxer are you using? I am about to jump on the self-relaxing bandwagon but I am a little afraid as I do not want my hair to have any more setbacks. But I believe I can relax my hair and have it reach longer lengths versus have my hair remain at the same length year after year. My salon relax with affirm sensitive scalp for years but my hair has stayed the same length and it tends to be extremely dry . I wonder if the stylist really follow the proper steps to relax my hair. They never deep condition it unless I pay extra for it. It makes me wonder what to do.

 

[MileHighDiva]

Have you considered using a lye relaxer instead of the sensitive scalp? Do you use a neutralizing/ chelating poo one week post touch up to get rid of the calcium deposits?

Sent from my Speak & Spell using LHCF

 

[Sosoothing]

I'm not sure. I have never had my hair relaxed in a salon. I have been doing my own relaxers and hair in general since I was 13 years old.

My hair is healthy and I don't believe having it relaxed at a salon will make it healthier. I believe it's healthy due to a combination of practices and not just self relaxing. I use Soft and Beautiful no lye regular with 2 tablespoons of olive oil added.

 

[koolkittychick]

I have tried self-relaxing three times now since I went back to relaxing 5 years ago, and the results have been less than stellar. One time, I didn't manage my time correctly (I was using Silk Elements lye relaxer in the brown jar, regular strength,) and left it on too long in a section by over 12 minutes. I didn't burn too bad, since I had based the hell out of my scalp, but I lost a patch of hair around the size of a dime in my nape area; the relaxer acted like a depilatory (like Nair) and dissolved my hair right off. Thankfully, the area has grown back in, but it's giving me severe pause about self-relaxing again.

I used to self-relax all the time about 15 years ago with no-lye relaxers with no problems, but my hair would always break off around shoulder length, and then one day they just stopped working on my hair.

Fast forward to the salon I usually go to. It is excellent, and they practice good hair care practices--they don't have a problem with me stretching for 3 months at a time, they are very careful handling my hair, and they never cut my hair unless I okay it. I usually get very good results with them, but they are EXPENSIVE, and they are all the way in the next town from me. It take me three buses and a train ride just to get to them, and it usually costs me $140 with tip, plus the products for upkeep at home, which cost another $50-$70! Even going every 3-4 months, that's still a lot to pay, but I may have to bite the bullet and go back, or else I may have to cut my almost waist length hair back up to APL if I cause any more damage or breakage to it due to my DIY efforts.

 

[levette]

Have you considered using a lye relaxer instead of the sensitive scalp? Do you use a neutralizing/ chelating poo one week post touch up to get rid of the calcium deposits? Sent from my Speak & Spell using LHCF

My scalp can't handle lye... I haven't tried a chela ting shampoo....

 

[levette]

I have tried self-relaxing three times now since I went back to relaxing 5 years ago, and the results have been less than stellar. One time, I didn't manage my time correctly (I was using Silk Elements lye relaxer in the brown jar, regular strength,) and left it on too long in a section by over 12 minutes. I didn't burn too bad, since I had based the hell out of my scalp, but I lost a patch of hair around the size of a dime in my nape area; the relaxer acted like a depilatory (like Nair) and dissolved my hair right off. Thankfully, the area has grown back in, but it's giving me severe pause about self-relaxing again. I used to self-relax all the time about 15 years ago with no-lye relaxers with no problems, but my hair would always break off around shoulder length, and then one day they just stopped working on my hair. Fast forward to the salon I usually go to. It is excellent, and they practice good hair care practices--they don't have a problem with me stretching for 3 months at a time, they are very careful handling my hair, and they never cut my hair unless I okay it. I usually get very good results with them, but they are EXPENSIVE, and they are all the way in the next town from me. It take me three buses and a train ride just to get to them, and it usually costs me $140 with tip, plus the products for upkeep at home, which cost another $50-$70! Even going every 3-4 months, that's still a lot to pay, but I may have to bite the bullet and go back, or else I may have to cut my almost waist length hair back up to APL if I cause any more damage or breakage to it due to my DIY efforts.

This is why I am afraid to self relax on one hand

 

[Jewell]

Yes my results are 100% better versus salon, in my honest opinion. My hair is 80% thicker, three times as long (stayed about shouoder blade length due to excessive trimming by stylists and thinning due to frequent relaxing), and I have less split ends (I don't find any at all).
I am WAY more thorough and gentle with my hair than the stylists were, so it is a win-win for me. No scalp tingling or burning, no hair loss. I love self relaxing. I will never let anybody else do it because I've mastered it over the years.

ETA I just read the OP. I use lye and have always used lye except once or twice someone used no-lye and I didn't realize it until after (unusual dryness and breakage). I have used Softsheen Carson Optimum Multimineral Reduced pH Lye Relaxer System the last 15 years (except when I went natural, of course). I use steps 1-4. I hope they never change the formula, because I love it. I only use a mild.

I never use a regular, even if it has been 7 months without a touch-up only MILD touches my NG. I only mildly relax or texlax it. I love to have texture, body, and thickness left. The reason I use mild is also because my inherent purpose in relaxing is to make my NG more manageable and a bit smoother. NOT to get rid of the NG altogether by eliminating all curl/wave by going bone straight. I used to relax bone straight about 10 yrs ago but I stopped liking it. (Texlaxing is purposefully underprocessing the ng so there is texture left).

 

[Beamodel]

I self relax using Affirm Fiberguard Mild (lye)
I've never gone to a salon to get my hair relaxed. I don't trust most stylist to be honest.

Practice applying conditioner to your roots in lieu of relaxer until you get the hang of it.

 

[Evolving78]

never had a problem with a relaxer at the salon when i went faithfully. my hair was very healthy. i have hit or miss results at home. i keep saying that i will just get touch ups at the salon, but either i don't have time or my money is funny. i'm sort of due for one now and would rather go to the salon, but school season is going to eat the change in my pockets up.

 

[MileHighDiva]

My scalp can't handle lye... I haven't tried a chela ting shampoo....

If you're going to stick with sensitive scalp (no lye) relaxers, please use a chelating poo one week later to make sure the calcium deposits are removed. That should eliminate some of the breakage.

Have you considered self relaxing using the half and half method? Or going for touch ups only and doing your maintenance at home, so you can splurge on quality conditioners.

Sent from my Speak & Spell using LHCF

 

[emada]

The last few years I went to a salon to relax my hair was a thin, dry, and EL. No amount of DC with a steamer helped either. This was mainly because my stylist relaxed root to tip every time, and I didn't stretch nearly as long as I do now.

When I moved I started doing my hair and went from EL to almost BSL before I cut last year, I'm sure because I stopped doing all that. I will say it really does depend on the stylist. My stylist during high school did a great job with my relaxers and my hair was thick and healthy. Since it so hard finding a good one I figured I may as well learn myself instead of pay someone to mess up my hair. Sistaslick's guide and lots of YT videos really helped and I haven't had any problems with it.

 

[levette]

I plan to be ready to self relax in September... I am trying to decide whether to stick with affirm sensitive scalp or to try a box perm such as ors stimulator.. I kinda want to try creme of nature Eden relaxer

 

[Beamodel]

I plan to be ready to self relax in September... I am trying to decide whether to stick with affirm sensitive scalp or to try a box perm such as ors stimulator.. I kinda want to try creme of nature Eden relaxer

I just switched from ORS to Affirm Fiberguard. I prefer Affirm. Don't think I will ever switch back.

 

[IMFOCSD]

I self texlax with no issues but i problems are finding the right products for my hair...i struggle with tangles after i wash and condition or when my hair is wet.

 

[Fotchygirl]

I plan to be ready to self relax in September... I am trying to decide whether to stick with affirm sensitive scalp or to try a box perm such as ors stimulator.. I kinda want to try creme of nature Eden relaxer

Watch the happy hair show on YT, she also used that relaxer and her hair is just wow.

 

[Lilmama1011]

Yes it's thicker and healthier. It Also breaks less

 

[JaneBond007]

This is why I am afraid to self relax on one hand

Can you find another salon based upon good results someone in your circle has had? I wouldn't stay because it seems they are either damaging your hair or are cutting off all your growth.

 

[PureSilver]

Planning on self relaxing too next month. Problem is i don't know which relaxer i want to use yet.

 

[PureSilver]

levette Check this video out. I hope you find it helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAman42iJiU

I plan to use this method when i relax in a few weeks. I actually had a dream 2 nights ago that i was relaxing and the method i was using caused me to be over processed because i could not move fast enough to get to all the areas using a rat tail comb or a brush so i'll definitely use this method as it seems easiest and most suitable for me.

 

[tenderheaded]

I self relax with SE regular. In 2005 I really wanted to start regularly going to a stylist, but 1) I was her first appointment of the day and she was LATE (9:30) 2) She needed to eat 3) She was ticked she could not cut and let me know it. I'd been that route before where the stylist cut TWICE in 3 weeks saying that she needed to cut so my hair would take a curl.

Yes, my hair is longer and thicker!

 

[levette]

levette Check this video out. I hope you find it helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAman42iJiU

I plan to use this method when i relax in a few weeks. I actually had a dream 2 nights ago that i was relaxing and the method i was using caused me to be over processed because i could not move fast enough to get to all the areas using a rat tail comb or a brush so i'll definitely use this method as it seems easiest and most suitable for me.

thanks for the link PureSilver. I am going to try this method real soon

 

[PureSilver]

levette me too. I find that it looks simple, but seems to get the job done effectively and efficiently

 

[Rozlewis]

I don't self-relax yet. I am still working on learning to do it myself. However, other than the relaxer I do everything else myself and the health of my hair has improved 1000%. My hair is longer, stronger, and healthier. One of the things that helps is that I do prepare my hair prior to going to the salon for my relaxer. I do a protein treatment the week before. The night before and the morning of the relaxer I protect my previously relaxed hair with oil.

I am hoping that I will have the courage to begin self-relaxing next year. For now, I'll continue practicing my relaxer application with conditioner.

 

[TLC1020]

I prefer to do my on relaxers, I have been doing them since I was 13yrs old. When Salons do my relaxers, I feel I could have done better..