Seriously considering NO MORE RELAXERS..EVER!

[aileendq]

I hesitate to use the term "going natural" because I still intend to rollerset 2x weekly and flat iron every so often. But I just can't justify continuing to fry my hair with harsh chemicals and then getting upset that it won't grow. (I can't do a BC, though, because I will look like a drag queen.)

AND, at my age (36) I'm starting to get gray hair, which requires haircolor...and I KNOW my hair can't handle triple abuse (relaxer, color, and heat).

Another reason is that my hair has started to thin. I think this is due to hormones (my Mom has thinning hair, too). But it may be from relaxers, too. Either way, I will be saving myself the experience of being one of those middle-aged women that has hair you can see through all he way to the scalp.

I've tried (Oh, how I have tried!!) to find a way to style my hair without heat (for example, rollersetting and airdrying) but these methods usually require me to sleep in rollers (which puts tension on the hair) or in a wrap, which NEVER dries straight for me, or even Sylver2's famous method, which just didn't work, either.

I an at 5 weeks post now, and I hope to either go completely relaxer-free for 2006, or just do one or two touchups...

Wish me luck!

A

 

[Phoenix]

I feel your pain. It's been over a year since my last relaxer and the natural hair feels so much thicker and healthier than the relaxed part. But my natural hair is soooo thick and coarse and hard to deal with...so I'm kind of torn about what to do. Have you tried or considered Phyto? That may allow you to relax and maintain healthy hair.

 

[aileendq]

...Have you tried or considered Phyto?

P:

I have actually used Phyto in the past, and it has dried the heck out of my hair. It's no-lye, and that's what they generally do for my hair.

The only thing I haven't tried is mixing a conditioner with my mild lye-based relaxer and seeing if that helps, or if it would even be worth it.

I am taking MSM daily, and it seems to make the new growth softer and looser. I had thought my hair wasn't growing because I couldn't see the new growth!

What are you doing to tame the new growth? Did you BC? And how the H*ll did you get past the temptation to relax?

TIA!

 

[harden718]

I hesitate to use the term "going natural" because I still intend to rollerset 2x weekly and flat iron every so often. But I just can't justify continuing to fry my hair with harsh chemicals and then getting upset that it won't grow. (I can't do a BC, though, because I will look like a drag queen.)

AND, at my age (36) I'm starting to get gray hair, which requires haircolor...and I KNOW my hair can't handle triple abuse (relaxer, color, and heat).

Another reason is that my hair has started to thin. I think this is due to hormones (my Mom has thinning hair, too). But it may be from relaxers, too. Either way, I will be saving myself the experience of being one of those middle-aged women that has hair you can see through all he way to the scalp.

I've tried (Oh, how I have tried!!) to find a way to style my hair without heat (for example, rollersetting and airdrying) but these methods usually require me to sleep in rollers (which puts tension on the hair) or in a wrap, which NEVER dries straight for me, or even Sylver2's famous method, which just didn't work, either.

I an at 5 weeks post now, and I hope to either go completely relaxer-free for 2006, or just do one or two touchups...

Wish me luck!

A

My hair is also thinning I might have to stop relaxing.

 

[Nanyanika]

P:

I have actually used Phyto in the past, and it has dried the heck out of my hair. It's no-lye, and that's what they generally do for my hair.

The only thing I haven't tried is mixing a conditioner with my mild lye-based relaxer and seeing if that helps, or if it would even be worth it.

I am taking MSM daily, and it seems to make the new growth softer and looser. I had thought my hair wasn't growing because I couldn't see the new growth!

What are you doing to tame the new growth? Did you BC? And how the H*ll did you get past the temptation to relax?

TIA!

How long did you take msm for before you started noticing the softer looser texture? thanks. good luck with transitioning.

 

[Super_Hero_Girl]

Good luck with your transition.

 

[Phoenix]

P:

I have actually used Phyto in the past, and it has dried the heck out of my hair. It's no-lye, and that's what they generally do for my hair.

The only thing I haven't tried is mixing a conditioner with my mild lye-based relaxer and seeing if that helps, or if it would even be worth it.

I am taking MSM daily, and it seems to make the new growth softer and looser. I had thought my hair wasn't growing because I couldn't see the new growth!

What are you doing to tame the new growth? Did you BC? And how the H*ll did you get past the temptation to relax?

TIA!

I did the BC in March '03. I kept a TWA for a while which was cool. But then I started to grow my hair out and it was just too much to deal with. I broke down and got a relaxer in Oct. '04. After being natural for so long, I really didn't like the way my relaxed hair felt. It was just so thin and weak in comparision. Since then I've been wearing braids. Now I'm not sure what I want to do. I was thinking about trying Phyto but I'm scared.