Short/Medium Relaxed Hair Routines

Belle Du Jour

Belle Du Jour

Well-Known Member
For those of us not quite at brastrap :grin: or for those who started out at a shorter length (say 6-8" or shorter) was is/was your routine?

I'm really mostly interested in styling since our hair is not long enough to do protective styles like buns. The only thing I can think of is rollersets and wraps. What else is there? I'm trying to avoid direct heat as much as possible. Also, how do you airdry your hair and get it straight?

I should add that I'm going back to relaxed hair in 2006, and am trying to be armed with as much info as possible before I make that committment.

TIA
 
Well I am one. Even more so because I did a very aggressive trim last weekend. My hair is about an inch from my shoulder's now except for the shorter parts in the mid-back part left over after a tangled weave incident :look: .

I feel good about cutting my hair. It feels and looks much healthier.

-I had been wearing weave, but decided to stop to save some $$.
-I am washing every 2 or 3 days with CON Ultra Moisturizing. I pretreat before the wash with Alopecil "Apretadora" Hair Fortifying Treatment.
-After the wash, I use CON Reconstructor.
-I apply Keracare Silken Seal and sit under the dryer (I used to blowfry, but stopped).
-Then I flat iron (with no additional product) with my FHI
-I have been wearing a set of WONDERFUL clip-in extensions (http://stores.ebay.com/Hair-Art_W0QQssPageNameZviQ3asibQ3astoreviewQQtZkm) I bought from ebay seller HairArt. I got a fullset of the Yaki Texture in 12" for $80. GREAT QUALITY AND EASY TO USE!

-I made my own scalp moisturizer mixture with Emu oil, JoJoba oil, Flowers of Sulfur, Surge, and Carrot Cream. I am only using the carrot cream because I have such a big jar of it. I think I am going to try Shea Butter next.
-I moisturize the length of my hair with Culture Wrap and Smooth cream or Profectiv Break Free. I love my LIV cream, but it is just too thick sometimes. WGO is another fav.

My hair is growing so well. I have 3.5 weeks post and I am not going to be able to stretch as far as I would like too.

-I also take a daily vitamin and 1 Biosil tablet.
 
You hair is looking great! When you say you sit under the dryer with the silken seal, is your hair wrapped or brushed back? Back when I was relaxed, I used to swoop wrap my hair using brown gel to get it smooth. Is that the same technique?
 
I have not updated with pics w/o my weave. But I will try to now since I don't have my clip-ins in. brb...
 
Well I went from neck length to bra strap and then now a few inches form bra strap... I wrapped every night and every other night I would change directions of the wrap. I also used silken seal (Keracare) or nourish and shine (Jane Carter solutions) as a bedtime balm for my hair. My hair grew so fast and thick I had bra strap in a year... Then I dyed it UGH! Ladies dye and relaxers dont mix! If my scanner was working yall would throw rocks at me for the damage Ive done but alas its growing back slowly but surely :) Anyways back to the subject at hand. The only thing i did to my hair was braids and wraps in between relaxers (before I decided to transition) rollersets and braid outs also made the time pass very quickly when I was nearing the last few weeks before the next touch up. I used the whoel Keracare line from. One other staple was hot six oil. Thats it. I hope this helps
 
BeyondCute - How long did it take you to to get there from neck length. I get so discouraged sometimes. Now after the cut, I even more to go. :(
 
You probably should not take advice from me bc I use heat, but my hair grows and I have no issues with breakage. Once a week
1. pre treat with salerm 21
2. rinse and cw with 10 en 1
3. use keracare foam wrap set lotion + elucence mb as a leave in
4. blow dry on warm
5. apply recovery and bb
6. flat iron new growth
7. roller set
8. * drc 28 protein treatment 1x a month*

thiis works for my hair: no shampoo except every 8 weeks; lots of conditioner, good leave ins.

to keep it shiny on day 4, i spray some sheen on a comb and comb through.
 
Oh yeah when I roller set I used VERY diluted lotta body (like 10 -20%) For real the thing that saved my hair was the oils. My hair really loves oil. And I knwo atlot of peopel are gonna cringe but before I used Roberts beeswax once a week and I think that helped too. (No my hair didnt lock, Robert's beeswax is very creamy and I only used it to 'grease' my scalp) Kept my hair shiny and moisturized. When I get this problem with ym scanner figure out Ill PM you a link to my fotki so you can see my starting photos.
 
i'm about shoulder length... I do a lot of braidouts, i clip my hair up (preferably the "bear claw" clip, i have a picture of it if you're interested), i also rock out the pig tails... that is what i do without heat
 
I either wash or cowash every other day, I moisturize with Braid spray mixed with distilled water and coconut oil. I rollset my hair every other night. I use MTG with Mango butter and roll it up. I have no breakage - none whatsoever. I might see three hairs a day if that. I moisturize like crazy. I stop using Surge 14 because my shampoo has Keratin in it, plus I deep moisturize with the protein conditioner so I think I get enough protein. I take multi vit, biotin, EPO. I haven't taken the Biotin for over a week because I was taking to much and cut back by not taking it for a while then I will add it back in but at a lower dose. my hair is extremely moisturized. I spray it to death while rolling it up. On days I don't want to wash or don't have time I spray it good with the moisturize mixture and add MTG . I also keep my hair in the scarf. Like if I am home for the day its stays tied up. or if I have to make run it stays in the scarf. all cooking and cleaning is done with the scarf on. I have a satin scarf and a silk scarf and satin pillow cases. I have great progress with my hair it is very short, but I get a lot of compliments now how healthy and thick its getting and I am not doing as much as I thought I needed to do. I also do a leave in when I remember to, Headdress by Nexxus. But the EPO really keeps my scalp in good condition I don't need to add oils but I add a little coconut oil for shine. The mango butter made the difference for my hair. It really helped I have two different textures and it was looking rough really rough until I start roller setting and using the Mango butter, now is shiny and curlly and presentable.
 
Kristenxdollface said:
i'm about shoulder length... I do a lot of braidouts, i clip my hair up (preferably the "bear claw" clip, i have a picture of it if you're interested), i also rock out the pig tails... that is what i do without heat
Click to expand...



Kristenxdollface, when you say you wear your hair in pig tails are you talking about the baggie method (phony pony) or just your hair out? Were you always around shoulder length or did you hair grow that length using these methods? Thanks in advance.
 
beyondcute said:
Well I went from neck length to bra strap and then now a few inches form bra strap... I wrapped every night and every other night I would change directions of the wrap. I also used silken seal (Keracare) or nourish and shine (Jane Carter solutions) as a bedtime balm for my hair. My hair grew so fast and thick I had bra strap in a year... Then I dyed it UGH! Ladies dye and relaxers dont mix! If my scanner was working yall would throw rocks at me for the damage Ive done but alas its growing back slowly but surely :) Anyways back to the subject at hand. The only thing i did to my hair was braids and wraps in between relaxers (before I decided to transition) rollersets and braid outs also made the time pass very quickly when I was nearing the last few weeks before the next touch up. I used the whoel Keracare line from. One other staple was hot six oil. Thats it. I hope this helps
Click to expand...


Beyondcute, I see you mentioned that it took you a year to get to bra strap (congrats by the way). My question is did you have short hair most of your life and grew your hair that length? Was it ever shoulder length? I am going to PM you now ;) thanks girl,
 
My hair is just an inch below my ear and I had cut it in the summer up to the nape of my neck and shorter in my attempt to go natural, but now that I have decided to relax again, I too am waiting until 2006, don't know why, to get a relaxer. I am a year without a relaxer so my styling needs may differ.

Co-wash daily (because I work out) using MNT or JASON's Biotin Conditioner
Oil and braid my hair nightly, using WGO, coconut oil and Doo Gro's Stimulating Growth Oil. And when it's airdrying I apply ORS Olive Oil/Carrot Oil Creme's. Wrap it braided. In the morning I just clip it going into a bun and bobby pin whatever can't reach. This is a short hair version of a protective bun (without pulling)---this helps a lot with growth and time.

MTG applied 2-3x's weekly, vitamins as listed in sig.

If I am tempted with heat, which is usually every month, I blow it out using Keracare's Silken Seal and do a once over with the Maxiglide. I KNOW!!!, THE HEAT!

I have seen about an 1 1.2 of growth since using MTG this past month. Somehow when I stretch my hair out it makes into a mid-high bun. But if your hair is short it's best to braid it (out), air dry it (scrunching) or air dryed rollersets (who has time for that). It's co cold here now, I used to just wash it and go. Consider braids to get you through the month. I am thinking about it, as dangerous as it is to my hairline.HTH
 
Thanks for the replies! I'm taking notes. . .

@ Trudy, when you say you rollerset every other night, are you doing a damp set and sitting under the dryer?

@ Kristen, I forgot about braid/twist outs! That would definitely be an easy style solution to give that texturized look. I'm off to check out your album.
 
classimami713 said:
Thanks for the replies! I'm taking notes. . .

@ Trudy, when you say you rollerset every other night, are you doing a damp set and sitting under the dryer?

@ Kristen, I forgot about braid/twist outs! That would definitely be an easy style solution to give that texturized look. I'm off to check out your album.
Click to expand...



Thanks for starting this thread Classimami713 ;)
 
classimami713 said:
You hair is looking great! When you say you sit under the dryer with the silken seal, is your hair wrapped or brushed back? Back when I was relaxed, I used to swoop wrap my hair using brown gel to get it smooth. Is that the same technique?
Click to expand...

Actually I just sit there w/o wrapping. I am able to finger comb it after using Silken Seal then I just sit there until it is 90-95% dry. I think that is why I have more volume after I flat iron.

The Silken Seal says to use a dime size amount. NOT! I use a lot more!!
 
My routine is really simple. I'm about 1 inch from shoulder length, being the longest its ever been in my life. I put my hair up in scrunchies. I happen to really love scrunchies a lot. to me, its not really about length but about health. Now thats not to say I wouldn't mind having longer hair but I keep it in perspective to what I have and what I know my hair does.

1. I generally do not use heat. I may use heat twice a year but as a rule for everyday stuff I don't bother.

2. I don't use a lot of styling products:

I wash my hair, conditioner, and on damp hair I use a quarter size of care free curl gold, nickle size of Elasta QP mango butter. Thats what I use as my detangler.

After I detangle I use 1/8 teaspoon of shea butter melted in my hand down the shaft for hold, special concentration on the edges, and right before I put my hair up, use dime sized amount of jojoba oil for the ends, then put my hair in velvet or satin scrunchies (no phony pony, but I roll the ends under to keep them protected)

I started following this method in June, I've not had any serious breakage issues since then and my hair remains moisturized this way. I think also because I've been following a less is more method I've been retaining my length as well.

Even though I wash my hair every other day I still have a big wash day on saturday when I do protien treatment (if I feel I need it) and deep condition (which i do every saturday period). I also make sure I clarify with ACV before doing a protien treament. Keraphix works much better that way IMO.

Deep condition can vary. I have the ORS Paks which really are quite nice, which I found I liked using those (especially overnight)after I reached the 8 week mark. Prior to that they seemed to be too heavy for my hair. I've now learned how to use them if I wanted to incorporate them as a deep conditioner.

So nowadays I can either use use 1/4 of the ORS pak, and a silver dollar size of the Ensure acidifier OR, giovanni and Ensure. Either way seems to work nicely.

Oh, and I also massage my scalp. I *heart* scalp massages. And this is now the biggest staple of my regimine. I also don't use oil on my scalp. I'm sure though that some gets there regardless but I don't purposly apply any. i've found that massaging my scalp really helps to move my natural oils around so much better. I think this has also allowed me to use lots less products as well.


-A
 
Arcadian, how often do you relax?

Ladies that's where I have problems. I am not sure how often. I try to stretch, but I hate how my roots feel all rough. (like right now.)

I grow the normal 1/2 a month and had been just relaxing my nappy edges and stretching the rest.

What do you guys do?
 
HoneyDew said:
Ladies that's where I have problems. I am not sure how often. I try to stretch, but I hate how my roots feel all rough. (like right now.)

I grow the normal 1/2 a month and had been just relaxing my nappy edges and stretching the rest.

What do you guys do?
Click to expand...


My last touch up was Aug. 28. I try to relax every 4 months (16 weeks). Deep Conditioning without shampoo, and flatironing the new growth works for me.
 
classimami713 said:
For those of us not quite at brastrap :grin: or for those who started out at a shorter length (say 6-8" or shorter) was is/was your routine?

I'm really mostly interested in styling since our hair is not long enough to do protective styles like buns. The only thing I can think of is rollersets and wraps. What else is there? I'm trying to avoid direct heat as much as possible. Also, how do you airdry your hair and get it straight?

TIA
Click to expand...

I'm at collarbone. I wash once week and CW twice a week. I apply MTG to wet hair and either rollerset/airdry or comb back into a ponytail. My ends frizz easily so I drench the end of the pony tail in Castor Oil. Then apply a roller or two. Then I wrap a scarf around my head to keep my edges flat. I usually put Castor Oil around my edges and kitchen, too.

Between washes, I rollerset my whole head or maybe just my bangs in the front. Then I'll bun or frenchbraid the back and tuck the ends in.

HTH
 
HoneyDew said:
Arcadian, how often do you relax?

Ladies that's where I have problems. I am not sure how often. I try to stretch, but I hate how my roots feel all rough. (like right now.)

I grow the normal 1/2 a month and had been just relaxing my nappy edges and stretching the rest.

What do you guys do?
Click to expand...

I had to learn to stretch my relaxers. Its not really easy at all, I also had to learn to be objective about my hair and of course, start massaging my scalp. (that really made my new growth soooo much softer!) This last time was a LOONG stetch, early july to last week Toward the end though I had to wash my hair every day because my scalp was REALLY oily though I never put oil on it. This worked in my favor because it helped keep my hair from looking dry and frizzed out.

I also used a denman D4 brush. My natural hair just laughed at the D3. :lol:

You may want to try the little by little stretch, its what I had to do. (though it takes a little time) but you learn more along the way by how your hair behaves at certain stages. I just started extending my relaxers by 1-2 weeks and it just sort of took off from there. It more or less became a personal challenge. but, I also learned some really important things about my hair especially what it likes or dosen't like. So, I think its worth stretching because of those things.

-A
 
Arcadian said:
I had to learn to stretch my relaxers. Its not really easy at all, I also had to learn to be objective about my hair and of course, start massaging my scalp. (that really made my new growth soooo much softer!) This last time was a LOONG stetch, early july to last week Toward the end though I had to wash my hair every day because my scalp was REALLY oily though I never put oil on it. This worked in my favor because it helped keep my hair from looking dry and frizzed out.

I also used a denman D4 brush. My natural hair just laughed at the D3. :lol:

You may want to try the little by little stretch, its what I had to do. (though it takes a little time) but you learn more along the way by how your hair behaves at certain stages. I just started extending my relaxers by 1-2 weeks and it just sort of took off from there. It more or less became a personal challenge. but, I also learned some really important things about my hair especially what it likes or dosen't like. So, I think its worth stretching because of those things.

-A
Click to expand...

great post! thanks so much.
 
Woooow, this is such a good thread.... I'm 7" of hair all over except at the back and sides where it was blunted off to like 4" for my blunt bob. So my hair is right at my ear lobes. My regimen is shampooing twice a week, and one wash I'll deep condition with Motions CPR, and the other wash I deep condition with Nexxus humectress. I only do roller wraps, except when I'm like 7 weeks post relaxer and I have to flat-iron the roots. I used to relax every 4 to 6 weeks before the hair-boards. Now I'm learning to stretch. Last time I made it to 7 weeks; this time I plan to make it to 9.
 
The more that I think about it, I think I should texturize instead of relax. That way, my hair will always be "styled" and I won't have to spend too much time doing it. I'm afraid that I won't be able to style bone straight relaxed hair without a stylist. With a texturizer, it's pretty much wash and go.
 
I have thought about texturizing instead of relaxing as well. Sometimes I don't want to give up the curly texture by natural hair has but I want to be closer than a 1 1.5 hours from straight hair. I understand too that having short hair can be a pain without a stylist, but there are possibilities without one. Have you ever been texturized? I wonder if you have to go through blowdrying to straighten it?
 
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