-Silkener-Texlax-Texturizer

[MsBttrfly23]

Okay, before you guys call me out for reposting (if indeed this question has been asked)...I DID go back and search previous posts but still have questions that were not answered. I just took my braids out and I think I am now fully transitioned natural...I am panicking because I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO with my hair. It is very pretty when moisturized, but it soaks up moisture like a sponge, and shrinkage is CRAZY though I expected this. I can't seem to keep it hydrated. I have spray bottles (in the purse, in the car, at my desk), I use coconut oil, I'm trying Curly Buttercream, I am frustrated at the frizz and the edges that will NOT lay down...I have tried the Fantasia IC gels, the Let's Jam superhold...I don't want to go back to perm but I do want to be able to manage my hair better.I work in a very professional environment and want to maintain a "polished" look.

Sooooooooooo... for anyone that has had a silkner (sp) would you go so far as to say this is similar to texlaxing or texturizing or neither? Any advice on how to manage my hair a little better and/or keep me from going back...just joking, I have no intentions on going back...but I really need some help!!!

Thanks in advance to anyone who offers input!

 

[glamazon386]

They're all pretty much the same thing. A mild relaxer.

 

[myco]

They're all pretty much the same thing. A mild relaxer.

I agree. They just leave varying degrees of curl/kink/wave in the hair depending on hair type and preference.

Your hair might look "highly textured" but technically, you're not natural anymore.

 

[MsBttrfly23]

Oh goodness..so to get a silkner or texlax, it's all chemical and therefore is just undoing all of my hardwork to become natural???? That's frustrating...guess I'll sleep on it and decide over the weekend...I am supposed to get it pressed tonite (though straight is not the look I am really wanting) I just want to be able to manage it better especially for a concert that is coming up (Beyonce, July 14th)...I'm so confused now. My goal is optimal hair health that I was not able to acheive with perming. Thanks ladies...

Any experiece with texlaxing or silkners and what method would you recommend? If any...

Thanks again!

 

[MsBttrfly23]

They're all pretty much the same thing. A mild relaxer.

Bmore...you hair is very pretty...what's YOUR routine?

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

Hi MsBttrfly...

I dont have much to offer in terms of the chemical processes but...I did want to say just give it time. When I first went fully natural...I was kind of at a loss to get my hair to act "right" After a couple of months of product and technique trial and error...my hair finally starting cooperating. I would NEVER be able to get my hair to slick down...using gel, creams, water, and a scarf and it would still be frizzy. However, after a couple months....I could do it with water and a brush only . Just give it time...your hair will adapt to the natural styling and you will be able to achieve a more polished - chemical free. HTH

 

[glamazon386]

Bmore...you hair is very pretty...what's YOUR routine?

Thanks! For the most part I just leave my hair alone. I usually wear weaves (that I do myself), phony ponys/buns, or wigs since I'm doing the Hide your hair/Bootcamp challenges. I wash and DC once a week. And let my hair air dry. When my hair is out I usually wear wash and gos. That's really it. I've had 1 trim so far and have been to the salon twice to get my hair flat ironed. That's really the only time I use heat.

I've never had a silkener or texturizer so I don't really know what to tell you in that regard. I just know that it's a chemical. My hair is fine so the relaxer was really not a good look for me. I'd be afraid of putting another chemical back in my hair only to experience breakage. Not to mention the fact that I didn't chop all my hair off for nothing. I just chopped my relaxed hair last september so I'm a newbie as far as natural hair goes. I agree with what brownsugarflyygirl said about just giving it time. If you still feel the same way, then do some some research about silkeners/texturizers and then make an informed decision. I know theres some threads about it on this board. One I remember is about Miss Jessie's silkener. What is your routine right now?

 

[MsBttrfly23]

Hi MsBttrfly...

I dont have much to offer in terms of the chemical processes but...I did want to say just give it time. When I first went fully natural...I was kind of at a loss to get my hair to act "right" After a couple of months of product and technique trial and error...my hair finally starting cooperating. I would NEVER be able to get my hair to slick down...using gel, creams, water, and a scarf and it would still be frizzy. However, after a couple months....I could do it with water and a brush only . Just give it time...your hair will adapt to the natural styling and you will be able to achieve a more polished - chemical free. HTH

Thanks so much Brownsugar! That helps! I kept putting braids in every 2 months to ease the burden of transitioning and now that I am finally there, I want to run right back to the braids, which I probably will after I let my hair rest for about a month. I am sooo "no maintanence" when it comes to hair but I do want it healthy so I am not going to very well undo all of my hard work...though I know the hard work is just beginning. I feel good about it though...I think...Just joking...sort of! erplexed Let me go visit a couple of albums to keep me on track...

Thanks again!!!

 

[MsBttrfly23]

Thanks! For the most part I just leave my hair alone. I usually wear weaves (that I do myself), phony ponys/buns, or wigs since I'm doing the Hide your hair/Bootcamp challenges. I wash and DC once a week. And let my hair air dry. When my hair is out I usually wear wash and gos. That's really it. I've had 1 trim so far and have been to the salon twice to get my hair flat ironed. That's really the only time I use heat.

I've never had a silkener or texturizer so I don't really know what to tell you in that regard. I just know that it's a chemical. My hair is fine so the relaxer was really not a good look for me. I'd be afraid of putting another chemical back in my hair only to experience breakage. Not to mention the fact that I didn't chop all my hair off for nothing. I just chopped my relaxed hair last september so I'm a newbie as far as natural hair goes. I agree with what brownsugarflyygirl said about just giving it time. If you still feel the same way, then do some some research about silkeners/texturizers and then make an informed decision. I know theres some threads about it on this board. One I remember is about Miss Jessie's silkener. What is your routine right now?

I currently wash once a week with mane and tail or NTM and use the conditioners as well. I leave some conditioner in and then I add moisturizer (either coconut oil with WGO, or Buttercream) then I slick it back into my phony bun for day or do twists to sleep in and keep hair from tangling/matting until the next morning when I slick it back into my bun and try to wet with oil and water and my gel of choice...fantasia or let's jam...I also make sure to hydrate my ends with mango butter or one of Carol's Daughter's HHB or MM...) That's about it for daily and weekly. I don't style or add heat...I use my Jilbere comb in the shower as well as with day to day combing or I use my denman brush. When I try to slick my hair back, I will use my 100% boar bristle brush which helps for a little while and I put my scarf on to help try to lay it down while I do my makeup and get dressed, but by the time I get to work or wherever, my hair is frizzed and my sides are flying! Not ready to wear it "out" I would like to let it get considerably longer.

 

[glamazon386]

I currently wash once a week with mane and tail or NTM and use the conditioners as well. I leave some conditioner in and then I add moisturizer (either coconut oil with WGO, or Buttercream) then I slick it back into my phony bun for day or do twists to sleep in and keep hair from tangling/matting until the next morning when I slick it back into my bun and try to wet with oil and water and my gel of choice...fantasia or let's jam...I also make sure to hydrate my ends with mango butter or one of Carol's Daughter's HHB or MM...) That's about it for daily and weekly. I don't style or add heat...I use my Jilbere comb in the shower as well as with day to day combing or I use my denman brush. When I try to slick my hair back, I will use my 100% boar bristle brush which helps for a little while and I put my scarf on to help try to lay it down while I do my makeup and get dressed, but by the time I get to work or wherever, my hair is frizzed and my sides are flying! Not ready to wear it "out" I would like to let it get considerably longer.

Your routine sounds fine. Do you use the Jam to slick it back? I had to stop using that when I was relaxed bc it would dry up and my hair would look fuzzy greasy and dry. I switched to EQP Glaze which worked a lot better but now that I'm natural that doesn't even work. I use the fantasia gel to slick my hair back. Usually on wet hair. And then brush it. It'll stay like that for a day or two or until I take it down. About how long is your hair now?

 

[chica_canella]

Basically, they are all the same thing except some beauticians put fancy names on them but they are all using some type of chemical.

I will say that it won't make your hair anything it is not which is what was stated on the Silkener's website. If you have a curl pattern it will losen it depending on how long you leave the relaxer on your hair. If you don't then it will not be in the form of a curl just loosen the wave up.

But it is nothing special except that you prob. like most people have different patterns. Meaning you would have to assess how long to leave on certain parts of your scalp because if you leave it too long on a 3c section it may turn out straight and not long enough on a 4a.

 

[MsBttrfly23]

Basically, they are all the same thing except some beauticians put fancy names on them but they are all using some type of chemical.

I will say that it won't make your hair anything it is not which is what was stated on the Silkener's website. If you have a curl pattern it will losen it depending on how long you leave the relaxer on your hair. If you don't then it will not be in the form of a curl just loosen the wave up.

But it is nothing special except that you prob. like most people have different patterns. Meaning you would have to assess how long to leave on certain parts of your scalp because if you leave it too long on a 3c section it may turn out straight and not long enough on a 4a.

For the most part it is very tight waves up top and very coily curls in the back and sides...Throughout the rest is very pretty deep wavies mixed with spiraly coils...sounds confusing but I guess it is...Like I said when it's moisturized it is very pretty but when it is dry, Good Lawd!!! It is a puffy, spongy mess! Don't think I want to attempt to try to figure it all out (how long to leave on each part)...Just my luck I will make a good mess out it and end up hating myself for messing up my progress. I may go to this place called Root of You Salon here in Houston and get a consult. Wish me well ladies! I think I will give myself a week or so to play with it and adjust.

 

[MsBttrfly23]

Your routine sounds fine. Do you use the Jam to slick it back? I had to stop using that when I was relaxed bc it would dry up and my hair would look fuzzy greasy and dry. I switched to EQP Glaze which worked a lot better but now that I'm natural that doesn't even work. I use the fantasia gel to slick my hair back. Usually on wet hair. And then brush it. It'll stay like that for a day or two or until I take it down. About how long is your hair now?

Yes, I use the Jam to slick it back. I also tried the EQP feels like silk...no happenings there either. All tried on both wet and dry hair. No luck. Looking at your hair, I would say my hair is about maybe an inch or two longer than yours. I have pics posted in my album...no password...these are from earlier this year. I have the new ones that I need to upload. I am waiting to take pics this weekend (and before I get the press tonite) so maybe you can see what I am talking about.

 

[KnottyGurl]

They're all pretty much the same thing. A mild relaxer.

It looks like you guys answered her question. However...

OT: BMore, your puff is gorgeous. I've been watching your pics change everyday, but this one is my fav!