Stretching Out Relaxer Challenge ...

[lthomas1]

I had my last relaxer Oct 22 and I will take the challenge and wait until Feb 29th to do my next touch up. After my february touch up I will wait 5 months. Then six months. I would like to reduce my touch ups to 2 - 3 per year.

 

[shinyblackhair]

I think I'll be dropping out of this challenge...stretching out relaxers and buns don't mix for me. My hair is so puffy in the front. I'm so tempted to slick back my bun waaaay tighter than I should.

This is not good for my already bad edges.

The only other thing I can think of is to get cornrows, but I just don't know if it'll suite me. I already look like an 18 year old as it is. I'm 26!!!!

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

shinyblackhair,

Have you thought about doing a braid out and then a loose bun. I do those (because I can't really do a real bun) and they turn out fine.

 

[shinyblackhair]

Braidouts and then loose buns are something I will definitely have to try. One thing about my healthy hair regime is that my hair is still pretty managable, although the new growth is getting harder to comb. Once it gets to the point where I start totally avoiding combing the new growth, I'll probably relax. In the meantime I'll stick to the puffy buns and braidouts. I might revise my relaxer date if thing get out of hand and I start seeing any breakage. I wouldn't do it before Jan. 1 though.

Thanks GMMP

 

[Spagirl]

I'm 6 wks as of yesterday. I'm just beginning to feel a little wave developing in the 6wk sections. Tonight I'm going to try Nutrine Garlic line. Shampoo going only on the scalp area conditioner on the rest. I'll bun it (after reg routine) and heat dry for 30-50 mins.

 

[Tracy]

Okay - I'm not dropping out really...but I have a function for New Years and my hair needs to be tight. December 15 will make my usual 8 weeks. I'm planning to retouch on the 20th. I really wanted to go longer. Esp. since I re-discovered what Humecto does to new growth....

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Well ladies, I am on week 6. So far it has been a breeze. It is even easier now I am in braids. I will see if I can last until the end of Feb!

 

[jellynote]

I'm on week 4 and my new growth is growing like

but I'm hanging in there. Protective styles all the way

 

[Armyqt]

Well I 'm right at 4 months tomorrow and will be getting relaxed. I have to say this is the longest I've ever went without a relaxer. Don't know the consequences yet, but will report back.

On another note, I accidently discovered a great mixture to soften new growth. Well, my S-Curl bottle had a little bit left in it and 3 of us use it. So I mixed the Pantene R&N leave-in spray with it and added a generous amount of hot six oil. I love this combo. It really softens the new growth fantastically. Sorry I can't give measurements. I did this on the fly.

 

[karezone]

I am trying to make it to twelve weeks. I am currently three weeks post relaxer and I think that the MSM and curl activator are really helping. I believe that I will be able but I will have to use a little more heat when I have a lot of new growth or use cornrows to get me in between styles.

 

[Spagirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Armyqt said:
Well I 'm right at 4 months tomorrow and will be getting relaxed. I have to say this is the longest I've ever went without a relaxer. Don't know the consequences yet, but will report back.

On another note, I accidently discovered a great mixture to soften new growth. Well, my S-Curl bottle had a little bit left in it and 3 of us use it. So I mixed the Pantene R&N leave-in spray with it and added a generous amount of hot six oil. I love this combo. It really softens the new growth fantastically. Sorry I can't give measurements. I did this on the fly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Congratulations on meeting your goal!

Thanks for sharing your concoction as well.

 

[pooh123]

This week marks week 12 for me. I'm hoping to get my hair retouched next week at week 13 if I can find the time! I'm really tired of these buns!

pooh123

 

[Rachel]

I just had my hair relaxed on Wednesday which made 16 weeks and 2 days. It was a learning experience as I normally relax every 10-12 weeks.

The hair around my front, sides, and nape thrived and is soft and wavy enough to let thoughts of going natural seduce me in my dreams. However, there's a section of hair below my crown that I swear is a flipping jungle. When my stylist was parting my hair to apply the relaxer, I could actually hear the hair crackling and tearing. I knew it was dry back there, but this was ridiculous! Anyway she chastised me for leaving my relaxer for so long, and warned me that my hair was breaking and would continue to do so if I continued with my bad relaxer ways.
She told me that I need to relax every 8 weeks! I won't even start with what she had to say about trimming. Don't get me wrong, my stylist is great, and my hair always looks amazing after I leave. But I just don't believe that I need to relax that often.

I admit I did have some noticeable breakage in the back, but I think I can rectify that by moisturizing more intensely. Does anyone have any helpful techniques or products that would help soften the new growth and stop the breakage?

Currently I use Keraphix every other week, and Nexxus Emergence every 4-6 weeks. I use a mixture of Humectress and Headress as a leave in, and moisturize daily w/ Dudley's PCA and a limited amount of shea/jojoba/coconut oil. BTW any suggestions that don't involve large amounts of oil greatly appreciated. (Boyfriend's pet peeve.)

Thanks
- R

 

[rosebud]

Mizzani Botanifying Shampoo along with Mizzani Moisturefuse conditioner ( 15 mins under dryer with plastic cap) help me alot. I also set hair on small pink rollers and finger comb into a ponytail using a scrunchie after drying. I am at week 13 right now and can barely tell where the new growth is, and whenever I comb, it slides right through my hair..

 

[Spagirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Spagirl said:
Good ideal Ballet Bun..count me in. My last relaxer was 10/29/03. I just notice my lower crown area is underprocessed post my last relaxer but I will try to hang in as long as I can. My goal is 16 wks or more. I'm also a participant of the "Bun Challenge". Happy SORC everyone!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the challenge BB. I had my hair relaxed 3/ll/04 stretching out my relaxer to a little over 19 weeks. Thoughout most of this challenge I used my regular leave-in mix (giovanni's leave-in mixed w/aloe vera gel) and sealed w/WGO.

My present plans are to stretch my next relaxer out to around the week of July 11 (my B-day) and then every 4 months from then on.

Thanks for your suppport everyone and to those who continue the challenge "Happy SOR!".

Spagirl

 

[greenidlady1]

I made it 14 weeks! My previous best was 13...I'm at 4 weeks now and I noticed some waves already...
Take care, God Bless,
G

 

[sugawooga]

I just started on my relaxer challenge. I usually relax every 5-6weeks but this time I'm going for 16 weeks. My last relaxer was in Jan. 2004 and so far I have about an inch of new growth. I don't know my hair type because I've had my hair relaxed since I was little. Right now my hair is shoulder length. I'll work on photos of progress in near future.

 

[ballet_bun]

Spagirl ... 19 weeks ...that's great. Did you have any breakage?

 

[slwe415]

I will be 14 weeks on this Friday! I am planning to relax on Saturday. This is excellent for me because before my last relaxer, I relaxed every four to six weeks religiously!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

 

[Armyqt]

Saturday I'll be 14 weeks post relaxer and my newgrowth has declared war on my head. And it's winning. My last two washes I lost way more hair than I'm accustomed to and me no likey

It's time for me to relax ladies. I don't think I'll be making it to 16 weeks this time. I have more new growth this time around than the last time. So Saturday I'll do a protein treatment and the following week I'm relaxing. I'll post an update.

 

[ballet_bun]

I am going to try 16 weeks one more time, but in the back of my mind, I'm thinking of going back to every 12 weeks.

Also, I am thinking about switching back to No-Lye, I'm not sure yet. It is worse switching from No-Lye to Lye or is Lye to No-Lye worse ... I'll have to do a search and see if there's any information on this. I think there may be a thread about it.

 

[shygurl]

see as for me i have noticed that my hair grows more when i don't relax it as often. i used to think that i needed a touch up every six to eight weeks but that is not the case. my hair is actually in better condition when i relax it every twelve weeks and now towards the end of those weeks my hair doesn't even look that nappy. i think a lot of people are unable to achieve a certain length due to relaxing the hair too often. my hair isn't exactly the length i want it to be but it does grow better now

 

[LABETT]

I am hanging in there ladies I am 13 weeks I have two more weeks to go April 1st I will relax.

 

[flyjump00]

I am feeling REAL nappy right now. I want to give in soooo bad. My last relaxer was Jan 17th. I am trying to wait until April 2nd. The day before my birthday and the downtown Jazz Fest. HELP! I can't even comb the stuff. I am just wearing it up.

 

[lala]

I don't deliberately stretch out my relaxer, I have a sensitive scalp, and could not relax every 4-6 weeks even if I wanted to. I'm at week 13 and my hair is really poofy but manageable. The only thing is -- when I wear my hair down I get tons of comments like "when was the last time you relaxed your hair, your natural texture is showing, I know someone who could lay your hair out".

 

[diamondlady]

Monday, March 22, will be 15 weeks, trying for that 4-month mark. I went to a doctor that spealizes in skin, hair, and nails. He praised me for relaxing 3 to 4 times a year.

 

[shoelover1972]

I had a touch up after 13wks & 2days. My last touch-up in Dec 2003 was after nearly 14wks & 5days but during that period I was wearing cornrow extensions for 1 month out of this. I am amazed by the length I have retained

. I think my touch-ups from now on will be from 13-15wks and then perhaps try to gradually extend it. I used to have touch-ups every 8 wks so for me this is quite an achievement.

 

[brandy]

I first relaxed my hair on the 17 of October 2003 and got another relaxer on the 15 of March 2004 (6 months later). I am 4a/4b and planned on stretching out my relaxer for up to a year but unfortunately could not do it because my hair began to break badly after 5 and half months. Basically I had to cut off all the old relaxed hair due to split ends and uneven hair due to breakage

. So I started all over again with 6 months worth of hair growth. I think I over did it this time. I usually stretch out relaxers up to 16 weeks.

 

[Spagirl]

[ QUOTE ]
ballet_bun said:
Spagirl ... 19 weeks ...that's great. Did you have any breakage?

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't notice much breakage at all. Now that I'm presently at 3wks post relaxer I'm noticing more shedding though.

 

[sugawooga]

I was going to go natural but I changed my mind. I am now going to texturize. I still have alot of relaxed hair and I have about an inch-inch and a half of new growth. Is it possible to texturize the new growth?