Self Relaxing Question - PLEASE COME IN!

[Islandgurrl]

Ok ladies, I plan to relax my hair later this afternoon, hense my earlier post for suggestions on a good relaxer. I have not self relaxed in a few years, but the wallet is on the slim side and I am 10 weeks post so I have to do something today!!!! What made me decide to start going to the haidresser was the bumps I got after the relaxer, it felt like new growth it was not smooth at all. During the perming process everything was fine and smooth. It felt smooth and it looked smooth. I washed it out, shampooed, conditioned. But once my hair was dry, my roots felt like new growth. I've tried air drying, wrapping under a dryer, roller setting under a dryer and I get the same results. What am I doing wrong HELP!!!

 

[deltagyrl]

maybe you aren't using enough relaxer or leaving it on long enough.

my first self relax was disappointing because of those reasons. i did a corrective and made sure my new growth had no visible wave pattern before rinsing and my hair was bone straight.

gl!

 

[Jas123]

Ok ladies, I plan to relax my hair later this afternoon, hense my earlier post for suggestions on a good relaxer. I have not self relaxed in a few years, but the wallet is on the slim side and I am 10 weeks post so I have to do something today!!!! What made me decide to start going to the haidresser was the bumps I got after the relaxer, it felt like new growth it was not smooth at all. During the perming process everything was fine and smooth. It felt smooth and it looked smooth. I washed it out, shampooed, conditioned. But once my hair was dry, my roots felt like new growth. I've tried air drying, wrapping under a dryer, roller setting under a dryer and I get the same results. What am I doing wrong HELP!!!

I agree..you may not be leaving it on long enough and not working it thru enough..what I do after relaxer has been applied ( I apply in 4 sections) is then work each section at a time with my finger tips..bascially just working the roots in a massaging motion...you can also try using the back of a comb as if you were straightening the roots..HTH

 

[LondonDiva]

What type of relaxer did you use, lye or no lye. Also it sounds like you texlaxed more than anything. What is your hair type? Some hair types never get that straight with the aid of a relaxer. If you used a no lye you won't be able to do a corrective relaxer on top of that you'd only be able to do a corrective with a lye relaxer.

But Delta is right sounds like it wasn't left on for long enough. You may have had some product on your hair also which hindered the relaxer taking a lil bit too.

 

[deltagyrl]

I agree..you may not be leaving it on long enough and not working it thru enough..what I do after relaxer has been applied ( I apply in 4 sections) is then work each section at a time with my finger tips..bascially just working the roots in a massaging motion...you can also try using the back of a comb as if you were straightening the roots..HTH

i'm still new at self relaxing so i haven't mastered 'working it through' with a comb yet. i use my fingers.

 

[deltagyrl]

What type of relaxer did you use, lye or no lye. Also it sounds like you texlaxed more than anything. What is your hair type? Some hair types never get that straight with the aid of a relaxer. If you used a no lye you won't be able to do a corrective relaxer on top of that you'd only be able to do a corrective with a lye relaxer.

But Delta is right sounds like it wasn't left on for long enough. You may have had some product on your hair also which hindered the relaxer taking a lil bit too.

who uses no lye relaxers and why? i keep reading that they make your hair really dry.

ot- are you still moving to houston?

 

[Islandgurrl]

Thanks ladies - I leave it on for at least 8-10 minutes. I work it in really good and it seems to be all smooth. (Ducking from the blows) What's the difference from Lye and No-Lye - I just posted this question on the board. My hair seems to be very dry...... However when I go to the hairdresser my hair comes out perfect. What am I doing wrong? I am not a hair pro as some of you ladies know, I am trying to get into it over the past year or so - thanks to you ladies on the board.

Delta - hopefully you were talking to me , I plan on moving to Houston in 2 years. If all goes well with the finaces.

 

[RubyWoo]

What are you trying to do? Texlax or relax straight/bone straight? Are you using the same relaxer that your stylist uses? If you're trying to get it straight, then you need to let it process for the full processing time as specified in the instructions. Also, do a strand test(s) to determine the right amount of time that you need to process and that the hair is straightened to your desire.

 

[Missi]

who uses no lye relaxers and why? i keep reading that they make your hair really dry.

ot- are you still moving to houston?

don't know if this will help: but I use no lye relaxer & my hair comes out soft and moisturized: i think the lye & no lye depends on the persons hair type: my hair is fine: i think coarser hair needs lye to give it that soft texture: again I could be very wrong

 

[LondonDiva]

who uses no lye relaxers and why? i keep reading that they make your hair really dry.

ot- are you still moving to houston?

lol, Girl there are some that still use no-lye relaxers I gave up on those years ago and stick with lye.

Yep, still moving to H-Town in 08, visiting there in August for a couple weeks, cannot wait!!!!

 

[deltagyrl]

Thanks ladies - I leave it on for at least 8-10 minutes. I work it in really good and it seems to be all smooth. (Ducking from the blows) What's the difference from Lye and No-Lye - I just posted this question on the board. My hair seems to be very dry...... However when I go to the hairdresser my hair comes out perfect. What am I doing wrong? I am not a hair pro as some of you ladies know, I am trying to get into it over the past year or so - thanks to you ladies on the board.

Delta - hopefully you were talking to me , I plan on moving to Houston in 2 years. If all goes well with the finaces.

Unless you have 2 strands of fine hair up there you miiiight wanna leave it in a little longer.

Make sure you're using the the same relaxer type (lye vs no-lye) as you did in the salon.

As far as the diff between the two...i still don't quite know. I'd suggest you do a search to clarify.

I was directing the Houston question to London but, hey, what a co-inky dink.

Good luck to you!

 

[deltagyrl]

don't know if this will help: but I use no lye relaxer & my hair comes out soft and moisturized: i think the lye & no lye depends on the persons hair type: my hair is fine: i think coarser hair needs lye to give it that soft texture: again I could be very wrong

Ahhhh, thank you grasshopper.

 

[deltagyrl]

lol, Girl there are some that still use no-lye relaxers I gave up on those years ago and stick with lye.

Yep, still moving to H-Town in 08, visiting there in August for a couple weeks, cannot wait!!!!

lye = new growth "lie" down

'08 is right around corner. GL to you!

 

[PanamasOwn]

i have a question.. what is the method those who self-lax use when putting a relaxer to new growth? And how do you prevent the relaxer from flowing over to the already processed hair (therefore preventing overprocessing)? I thought about going natural for a while, but in this Houston humidity, impossible. Any help will be great....

 

[Cleve_gryl]

Panama,

I know a lot of ladies coat the length of their hair with things like vaseline or PC before touching up the roots to protect the strands. I bought an application brush from Sally's and it did a good job for me. I still get a bit of relaxer on the length, but not that much. My trick has been to stretch for a long time, so I can definately tell the difference between the two textures.

i have a question.. what is the method those who self-lax use when putting a relaxer to new growth? And how do you prevent the relaxer from flowing over to the already processed hair (therefore preventing overprocessing)? I thought about going natural for a while, but in this Houston humidity, impossible. Any help will be great....

 

[PanamasOwn]

I will have to try that next time.. Thanks.

 

[LovelyZ]

could have been a number of things:

relaxer strength, application technique, amount of time...

application needs to be quick but thorough. if your technique is good (properly applying, smoothing, rinsing) then you know to adjust one of the other two factors.

 

[LovelyZ]

Panama,

I know a lot of ladies coat the length of their hair with things like vaseline or PC before touching up the roots to protect the strands. I bought an application brush from Sally's and it did a good job for me. I still get a bit of relaxer on the length, but not that much. My trick has been to stretch for a long time, so I can definately tell the difference between the two textures.

this is what i do, too. i coat my ends with conditioner and stretch to avoid overlapping.

 

[Islandgurrl]

What do you ladies do when you are all finished with the rinsing and conditioning process - from the time you get out the shower until you hair is dried? Do you roller, set do you air dry, do you wrap your hair and sit under the dryer, do you blow dry?

 

[deltagyrl]

Panama,

I know a lot of ladies coat the length of their hair with things like vaseline or PC before touching up the roots to protect the strands. I bought an application brush from Sally's and it did a good job for me. I still get a bit of relaxer on the length, but not that much. My trick has been to stretch for a long time, so I can definately tell the difference between the two textures.

I didn't know this. I will most definitely try it next time.

Boy, I tell ya' lhcf knows e'erthang!

 

[AKA-Tude]

I spray SAA on all new growth, base my scalp & coat the ends of hair with something (oil, condis, etc.).

I wait about 30 min for the SAA to dry.

I part hair into 5 sections-

*from ear to ear section (this is the hardest area to relax cuz thick as heck!)
*Back 2 sections (second to relax incl. kitchen area)
*Front 2 sections (last to relax- fine hair)

I appy w/ a basting brush (can't find a perm brush over here)
then smooth w/ fingers (so I can feel the waves smooth out)

Relaxer sits on hair total 10-15 min (my hair is semi-resistant)

Then rinse starting from front of hair to back

before poo'ing, DC, neut. poo 2X, acv rinse, then poo 2X

condish, Leave-in, air dry