Stretch- Gummy hair- stretchers come in here- relaxer saturday!!

[mahogany_horizons]

Hey ladies,

I'm coming off of a twelve week stretch and am supposed to be relaxed this saturday. I have been pouring over threads on the board and I am aware that I made some mistakes in this stretch! First of all I washed twice a week as usual, but I only lathered once. It saved my scalp. But I think it may have caused some product build-up, and slight matting. I say this because when I detangle my hair after each wash, I am hardly able to remove any shed hairs. I have been finger detanglign only (which I realize is a big no no).

I was not planning on washing my hair again prior to relaxing. Should I leave it alone until wash day. Will I see any ill effects? I am still able to get through it with a comb, fingers, but I'm wondering if there is just too much shed hair going on. I also have been using a ton of conditioner b/c my hair is so dry in this 12 week stretch. I am wondering if my hair is wonky, and if I should try to fix it before the relaxer saturday, or just go ahead and relax?

I don't think my hair is really that matted, but if it were, and I relaxed it, how much damage would occur. I have learned my lesson!! I will be detangling with more than just a wide toothed comb in sections for my next stretch! Other than that, I think the stretch went well and I could be just obsessing since I obssess about everything, BUT HELP, advice!!!

 

[Eisani]

You still have time between now and saturday to slap some conditioner in that stuff and thoroughly detangle. I would do it in 4-6 sections to make your life a lil easier, but I would not recommend relaxing when you know your hair is matted or tangled, even if you only have a mild case. I'd suggest doing it as soon as possible just so your scalp can rest, but please don't skip detangling!

 

[Geminigirl]

^^^ Cosign

 

[mahogany_horizons]

OK. Even though I have to stay out late tonight, I will go ahead and do what I think my hair needs, hopefully there will be enough time for air dry between my relaxer on saturday.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

Should I shampoo first and then condition? Shouldn't I clarify? HELP!!

 

[Caramela]

Detangle before you relax so you don't wind up with massive hair loss. I made the mistake of finger combing only during a stretch and it was hell trying to detangle with a comb finally. Now I detangle everytime I shower with conditioner and a Jilbere shower comb.

 

[Caramela]

Should I shampoo first and then condition? Shouldn't I clarify? HELP!!

Shampoo with some green CON shampoo (if you can find it) and that should help you detangle nicely. Do you have a shower comb? If you don't, get one, they are so cheap. Use that and the stream/flow of the shower head... I would not clarify as you don't want to over strip your hair and the relaxer will be drying in and of itself and the neutralizing shampoo should remove any buildup. You can try clarifying a week or so after your relaxer to remove any calcium deposits from the relaxer itself.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

what is green con shampoo? can I get a shower comb from sally's? Can someone post a picture of a shower comb?

 

[Caramela]

Cream Of Nature shampoo.. it's in a cream colored bottled with green letters. You can find it at the BSS ... Yes you can get a shower comb from Sally's. They're under $2. Start at the bottom and gently detangle from bottom to top.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

OK! Thank you ladies so much for your replies. I don't think the problem is as big as I make it sound, but I still would like to get rid of any excessive matting before my relaxer!

i SHOULD detangle in the shower first correct. Should I then try to condition again and detangle?

 

[mahogany_horizons]

If I don't remove the shed hairs, will it cause a problem with relaxing? I kept trying to finger detangle, detangle with the wide tooth comb, and I could NOT get hardly any shed hairs. But yet my hair feels gummy. And so I wonder if this is the dreaded "dreads". Will it cause a problem with relaxing. How will I get massive hair loss? From seperating the hair when relaxing?

 

[**SaSSy**]

I'm speaking from experience by saying that you should detangle everyday. I try the low to no comb method the last 3 weeks b4 by relaxer which caused more harm than good. Some ladies on this board can go days and even a weeks without combing, but I'm not that one unfortunately. You should really take a comb and a very slippery conditioner to your hair and get to work, and if you have to postponed your touch-up it's not a big deal because it will save your hair.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

I normally can do a no comb method. but I should have changed tactics because of only lathering once with my shampoo. I undid my braid in the bathroom, and I was able to run my fingers through it, no problem. I was able to even comb through it. It's only when it's wet that it feels a little gummy and weird. I think I may be making a big deal out of nothing, and perhaps I am shedding less than I used to. I'm going to comb my hair in the shower just to make sure. I used to have a fairly decent amount of shedding this far into the relaxer, and i haven't seen that come into fruition this time. That, and plus the fact that I've only been lathering once when I poo twice a week makes me think that my hair may have some small matting. I'm not entirely sure though.

 

[janeemat]

You could definitely do a wash and deep conditioner today. Wed is my regular wash day, and even if I'm relaxing on Sat, I still do my Wed wash. I make sure I add extra protein and the works. My hair is always detangled and I stretch 12-14 wks. I make sure of this because I always rollerset each wash. I detangle first with a large tooth comb and then comb through with my rat tail comb. That way, I'm removing shedded hairs each wash. In between my washes, I finger comb.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

Jane, this is a good idea. I probably should try combing through in really tiny sections with a fine tooth comb just to make sure I'm getting rid of all the sheds!

 

[janeemat]

Jane, this is a good idea. I probably should try combing through in really tiny sections with a fine tooth comb just to make sure I'm getting rid of all the sheds!

Try it. I don't know how ladies stretch with just finger combing their hair into a bun. My hair would be a dissaster. Rollersetting is the way for me and my hair looks good right up until relaxer day.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

I FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT DREADING. I thought this would be a little strange for my hair. I have always successfully finger detangled my hair. I know it's 3c, so it would be wild and bushy, but it would work.

MY PROBLEM IS...

product build up!!!

GROSS.

and I know this because it bothered me so bad that I finally had to take down my bun and start pickign it it at work.

From my mostly dry hair I could remove nary a shed!!

nary a shed!!

the hair is not dreaded at all, I can run my fingers through it, and a comb WHEN DRY!

BUT MY HAIR WAS SO GUMMY AND COATED.

I now know what is wrong.

My hair is coated with a thin film of conditioner! This is the result of only pooing once when I d/c'd with a great amount of conditoner twice a week. I loved the way it left my hair feeling soft.

But as I pick apart hair that feels rough like glue and feels all snarly I know know that the extra amount of moisture that comes from only pooing once wasn't worth it, or I need to cut back on my use of d/cing.

I am clarifying tonight.

I really don't want to, but I have to convince myself that my hair is not a gummy mess before the relaxer!!

 

[TexturedTresses]

i always clarify before a relaxer.

 

[mahogany_horizons]

I COULDN'T GET ANY SHEDS OUT. I DETANGLED BENEATH RUNNING WATER, I DETANGLED WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB. nothing. I think it was gumminess from gooey conditoner and gel. MY HAIR FEELS sooo much better!!

 

[mahogany_horizons]

HAHAHAHAHHA I know ya'll ALL WANT to know how this came out!! I know why my hair was so gummy. Too much conditioner build-up, and finger detangling/ wide tooth comb was NOT ENOUGH lol.

So Basically I had a nest of shed hair tied up with my healthy, living hair.

It didn't hurt to bad when my mother parted each section to relax me, b/c my hair is naturally fine, and curly even though it had also gotten wild, voluminous and bushy.

She relaxed me, I crossed my fingers.

AFter relaxing me, she took about maybe 10 minutes to detangle me. I lost about 4 giant balls of hair LOL.

Not much breakage in the balls.

Yes I examined them.

Yes mom called me a freak LOL.

And scarily enough, those 4 giant balls of hair were no less voluminous than the giant hair balls that used to occur weekly when I would have my hair blowdried with a pick attachment, then curl it within an inch of it's life EVERY WEEK lol.

Overall I am pleased and relieved.

However, I will try to do a better job detangling next relaxer...

To that end, I won't use those heavy thick mayo conditoners past week 9...

I also bought 3 different size combs, the jibere shower comb, a smaller afro comb, and a fine tooth comb that I can use to detangle my hair more thoroughly once I get past week 8 and things start to get a little difficult.

BUT EVEN if this were to occur again, I now know that, it would not be the end of the world, or overly detrimental to my hair. For some people, low mani works, and I think I am one of those people.

I think though if I went longer than 12 weeks, there would have been MUCH, MUCH TROUBLE!!