Struggling already and only 11 weeks post

[DigitalRain]

My new growth is super coarse, coily and when I wash, it shrinks and packs close to my scalp( which I know is normal). But Im having issues trying to keep the two textures manageable. Did a twist out last night and undid it this am and it looks like a freaking bird's nest. Im beginning to think I might need to scrap the braidout/twistout option and start warm pressing my roots to get through this. The textures are just two different animals that don't get along. At all.

 

[LaToya28]

Do you think that maybe your products are not effective enough to manage your new growth? I know that at a certain point in my stretch, certain products will not work as well so I have to switch it up. Is this the longest you've ever stretched?

 

[LiberianGirl]

My new growth is super coarse, coily and when I wash, it shrinks and packs close to my scalp( which I know is normal). But Im having issues trying to keep the two textures manageable. Did a twist out last night and undid it this am and it looks like a freaking bird's nest. Im beginning to think I might need to scrap the braidout/twistout option and start warm pressing my roots to get through this. The textures are just two different animals that don't get along. At all.

Awww, I know the feeling. I transitioned for awhile and definitely dealt with some obstacles here and there. I mostly wore my hair straight too throughout my transition so I understand your reasoning. What type of products are you using to moisturize your hair?

 

[DigitalRain]

I use Cantu Shea Butter leave in and Castor Oil. I picked up a bottle of Taliah Waajid Bodifying mist hoping it will help.

 

[LaToya28]

I'm not sure how moisturizing Cantu leave-in is, but perhaps you need a heavier/more moisturizing leave-in. But your moisture starts even before you add your leave-in. What are you DCing with? Does it give your hair a lot of slip? If not, I'd suggest changing it up or adding some oil to it.

 

[DigitalRain]

I alternate Miss Keys 10 en 1 and Ion reconstructing treatment. Both give my hair good slip when its wet. But when it dries, my newgrowth feels like.....Rice Krispies. Could this be scab hair?

 

[DarkHair]

^Its not scab hair. I deal with the same issue. I'm nearly APL, but when I have lots of ng it is above SL. I think its shrinkage. Have you considered using Elasta QP Mango Butter to lay down the ng?

 

[LaToya28]

I don't know what scab hair is...LOL @ rice krispies! How are you drying your hair? If you're airdrying try the scarf method to help the new growth lay flat. Another good tip is to only comb on wash days. I've been doing this for a while and it really helps minimize breakage. I just braid my hair after washing and allow them to airdry. Most of the time I wear a half wig over the braids or I'll wear a braidout. Combing the new growth when it's dry is a disaster waiting to happen...that's why a lot of naturals only comb their hair when it's wet.

 

[DigitalRain]

^Its not scab hair. I deal with the same issue. I'm nearly APL, but when I have lots of ng it is above SL. I think its shrinkage. Have you considered using Elasta QP Mango Butter to lay down the ng?

I have this somewhere...I'll dig it out and try it tonight.

 

[melissa-bee]

I had been heat free for about 7 months and then decided to transition. At around 10 weeks post i started to use the blow dryer then i upgraded to the flat iron which helped loads for my roots so they don't tangle and break buy my ends, they are very very unhappy.
The thing is my natural hair can take the heat well and it looks smooth and silky, but the very ends were feeling rough, so rough i had to use conditioner to moisturise the ends, so be careful.

 

[Optimus_Prime]

Have you tried coconut oil? You can oil your scalp and ng by taking a rat tail comb and using the tail to gently make rows in your hair where you can apply the oil. This method, used nightly, helps me to stay on top of detangling and the coconut oil will soften your hair, but it may take 3 days or so till the improvement becomes obvious. Other than that, just cowash every week or as needed, try not to manipulate the hair much when you do.
I wish you all the best.

 

[LiberianGirl]

Have you tried Sylver2's method of tying the hair down to keep the new growth as flat as possible? This worked well for me during the middle of my transition.

 

[Damaged but not out]

When i first joined i stretched beyond my regular 8weeks and got a texlax at week 11 and that was seriously hard, I thought my hair just cant do this my ng is too thick my chemical ends are too fragile. But i think, no i kno it was a combination of damaged hair and more error than trial.

Today im at week 14/15 and its going real easy i comb maybe twice a week( not recommended im just addicted), co wash every 3 days, DC twice a week. My moisture/protein balance is finally perfected and i think that was the key.
After i wash i use Giovanni leave in
Let it air dry (optional)
Spray with either burdock tea and honey( u could add some infusium for stregth / Aloe, distilled water and cheap cond
On my scalp i rub a mix of rosemary, peppermint ant tea tree oil diluted in castor oil & olive oil (i saw a thread on putting lacio lacio on Ng and thought y not so now i add that too and put it on my ng, I have also tried using plain shea butter with this and it works as well but im tyring to use up the bottle of lacio )
Then i seal with coconut oil
Sounds like alot but it takes 10 minutes 15 if im distracted by the tv


Im sure there members that have way better routines,even simpler ones but for now this is working nicely

During the co wash days i just spray and seal. I do this at night. With the oils i need to only mosturise nightly.

 

[Damaged but not out]

^^^^Hope it gives u some ideas

 

[sharifeh]

Do you shampoo? Does your shampoo have sulfates? Maybe that could be drying out your ng? Has it been a while since you clarified?
And how is the cantu leave in working? I'm not sure, but isn't that a protein leave in? Do you have a moisturizing leave in?

 

[IDareT'sHair]

All Good Advice Ladies: For me, weeks 8+ Seems to be a Balancing Act. It turns into a perfect balancing act of products to 'manage the change' I am currently in my 13th Week of a Possible 18 Week Stretch.

Shrinkage, Single Strand Knots, Dryness all start to become an Issue.

And you are constantly finding out from week to week (day to day) what is working for you i.e. conditioners, DC'ing, Co-Washing, Leave-Ins. Everything is all subject to change and the weeks press on and Improvising is always helpful.

So, for me, it has been critical to listen to my hair and make the necessary adjustments to keep NG Managable and Line of Demarcation Strong.

I've also incorporated the use of a Mid/Light Weekly Reconstructor to help with this, always followed up with a Moisturizing Conditioner.

 

[DigitalRain]

I cut off an inch and a half of relaxed hair this evening and my mom pressed my newgrowth for me. Im going to try to make this press last 2 weeks and will be wearing a phony pony. I kind of want to get my hair cornrowed at some point but I got to figure out how to keep my newgrowth supple.

I can't afford to be a PJ right now tho

 

[nymane]

You can try DC'ing on dry hair & following up with co-washing...This helps me a lot (I'll be 17 weeks post Fri)

 

[KBA]

I found that braid outs were causing breakage, so now I roller set (I'm 12wks post), and flat iron my roots. It helps A LOT with shedding vs. air dry styles like braid outs on damp hair. I can do braid outs on dry, stretched roots/hair, but not wet hair. too many tangles.

Hang in there!

 

[Najjheartshair]

have u ever tried bantu knots? or blow drying your hair, using the product to wet it before u twist set, that way ur roots are a little more relaxed?

 

[poookie]

OP i feel your pain! i'm almost 14 weeks post, & my new growth comes in coily too. what's helped me is rollersetting. i use rollers & roll my hair taut so that when the set dries, the roots are stretched out. that way, i don't have to blow dry or use heat to straighten my roots.

try hiding your hair for a bit. i love wearing slouchy hats (i think most people call them snoods), & i have a couple of Lace front wigs i throw on when i go out on the weekends, so i don't have to risk damaging my hair. give your hair a break

 

[DigitalRain]

have u ever tried bantu knots? or blow drying your hair, using the product to wet it before u twist set, that way ur roots are a little more relaxed?

I started blowdrying my roots in the beginning, but now even thats getting impossible. New growth grows out in little individual sets of coils that make it almost impossible to pull a comb attachment thru. I had a ton of breakage trying to blow out my roots the other day.

 

[DigitalRain]

OP i feel your pain! i'm almost 14 weeks post, & my new growth comes in coily too. what's helped me is rollersetting. i use rollers & roll my hair taut so that when the set dries, the roots are stretched out. that way, i don't have to blow dry or use heat to straighten my roots.

try hiding your hair for a bit. i love wearing slouchy hats (i think most people call them snoods), & i have a couple of Lace front wigs i throw on when i go out on the weekends, so i don't have to risk damaging my hair. give your hair a break

I have a few wigs (just bought one from favorite wigs.com) and phony ponies I'll be wearing. I guess Im just a little discouraged. I admit I've had some thoughts of just relaxing and be done with it. But I"ll be pissed when a year goes by and I think about where I could be in the transition if Id just stuck it out.

 

[Honey Bee]

I'm having this same exact problem right now, so I just wanted to thank the OP for asking. I'm co-washing 2x/wk, restructuring, dc'ing... to no avail. I'm so tempted to get a touch-up (I'm transitioning to texlaxed), but I'm trynna be strong. This past Sunday, I roller-set for the first time since, like, 1999.

(and surprise, my soft bonnet dryer still worked!)

 

[brucebettye]

One thing that helps me to stretch my relaxers 6 months(I am texlaxed) is that I apply my moisturizers or deep conditioners like I do my relaxer(directly on the new growth). By doing this it helps all my new growth to be covered and treated properly so that I will have minimal breakage. This also helps to stretch my hair out. Also I do a protein treatment once a week(mixe 2 eggs with Aussie Moist). Also you can bun your help which will cut down on constantly messing with your new growth.