Type 4 not wavy straight nappy

[atlien]

Calling all my type 4 sisters with the nappy hair that needs a touch up ever 4-6 weeks not the so called type 4 that extends a relaxer for 18 wks

Holla at ya girl...... I need to know what are we doing to extend our relaxers for the type 4k (k is for kinky). What helps maintain the hair? What styles to wear? Please any 4k's that have long hair respond I'm trying to tuff it out but the no lye is calling

Holla at a sista

 

[ThickNBeautiful]

I'm at 6 weeks and I'm dying right now!!! I've been in a bun for about a week and a half. My edges are starting to get a little tired. Actually, I'm not trying to stretch out my relaxer - I'm debating if I'm going to do the touch up myself, get a friend, go to the salon, or say 'F' it and just get kinky twists w/extentions. If you wear a bun/ponytail, using a gel like Let's Jam or Elasta QP Glaze will help. I'm going to try a braid out tonight, and if that doesn't work, I'm going to a Dominican shop to get my roots blown out. HTH

 

[katie]

I'm struggling at 5 weeks.I am trying to go 8 weeks.I usually go 6.Wildgrowth Oil helps,and Profectiv Root Health.But generally my hair is super duper puffy and there is a ton of new growth.A girl today asked me if I was natural,lol.I am considering buying a Chi but I can't see anything straightening out my roots.Other flat irons make my relaxed hair straight and the roots remain exactly the same.

 

[ThickNBeautiful]

[ QUOTE ]
katie said:
I'm struggling at 5 weeks.I am trying to go 8 weeks.I usually go 6.Wildgrowth Oil helps,and Profectiv Root Health.But generally my hair is super duper puffy and there is a ton of new growth.A girl today asked me if I was natural,lol.I am considering buying a Chi but I can't see anything straightening out my roots.Other flat irons make my relaxed hair straight and the roots remain exactly the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well Katie, I am a PJ, and I can't control myself. I am also considering purchasing a CHI or another expensive iron. This actually means that probably I will be ordering one by tonight. I will definitely let you know if it works on new growth.

 

[Isis]

Welcome Atlien!

I think when the naps start to rule and shedding starts, that's when it's time for a retouch. That's how I've learned to stretch out my relaxers. I used to relax exactly every 8 weeks and now I can extend it safely to 12 or 13 before shedding or breakage starts. I have more 4b than 4a and my hair really looks like

by the time week 12 comes along. Braid outs help a LOT to blend in with the naps. The only reason I go through this is because I self-relax and it's a lot easier for me to see my new growth so I won't overlap when retouching, if a wait a little longer. BTW, like Katie said, someone recently thought my hair was natural too!

 

[chanou]

I'm at the week6 and you can tell. I've been wearing a ponytail all week long. I'm getting cornrows on Monday-

 

[atlien]

Hey..cornrows sounds good I might get those too...have you had them before.

 

[nita4]

In the past I went 8 weeks, then 10, this last time I went 13 weeks, but experienced some breakage in the crown. I'm sure that was because (like and idiot) I was trying to keep my hair straight (pressed or blow dried) at the roots - very bad idea. If I shampoo, instant condition in the shower, detangle in the shower and put in a bun then I'm cool. Moisturize daily and don't comb to the roots, that worked pretty well for me. I want to try extending again, but I have tight coils at the scalp and breakage could be a big problem without a good conditioner. Pantene relaxed and natural worked pretty good for me. That took the naps right out. Right now I'm 5 weeks post and thinking about whether I should try for 13 again, this time without trying to pressing or blow dry my roots.

 

[tiffy]

Well I don't have long hair and have yet to master this stretching out relaxer thing I have 4a/b mostly b hair and I am 15-18 weeks post relaxer I don't work right now so it's been easier and I keep a scarf on my head mosto f the time I am thinking of purchasing some stretchy headbands to cover the new growth I wear my hair in a ponytail

 

[chanou]

nope, I've never had cornrows before, but I figured they were good because I can keep applying castor oil to my scalp in the middle.

 

[atlien]

Girlllll sounds like a plan tell me how it works out fo ya!

 

[atlien]

You went 13 weeks you sure you type 4k....13 weeks and I would be bald. My hair would be so packed to my scalp. You did good to go 13 weeks I have yet to meet that challenge.

 

[nita4]

I am a 4a with tight little coils at my scalp. My hair is nappy!! It's hard to detangle and it breaks easily especially when wet. It's a thin somewhat fine texture. Girl my hair was packed to my scalp, it was kind of funny. I would shampoo or rinse like every other day to keep it under control and moisturize twice daily and put shea butter on my ends. Actually, I still think us 4a's can extend we just have to be extra careful. You can't manipulate the hair. Your style options are limited. I tried to press or blow dry my hair for church - bad idea - breakage. Girl, this time I'm slapping that phoney pony on my head and calling it a day.

Try extending one week at a time, that makes it easier. Wishing you the best!!!!

 

[ElizaBlue]

Hey there, definitely 4c here, with c for coarse. A strand of my hair could be confused with a piece of wire. At any rate, I don't get good results trying to go past 5 to 6 weeks. One time I did go to 10 but it was by doing braids. The WGO is the only thing that really works past 4 weeks. Good thread.

 

[katie]

[ QUOTE ]
ThickNBeautiful said:
[ QUOTE ]
katie said:
I'm struggling at 5 weeks.I am trying to go 8 weeks.I usually go 6.Wildgrowth Oil helps,and Profectiv Root Health.But generally my hair is super duper puffy and there is a ton of new growth.A girl today asked me if I was natural,lol.I am considering buying a Chi but I can't see anything straightening out my roots.Other flat irons make my relaxed hair straight and the roots remain exactly the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well Katie, I am a PJ, and I can't control myself. I am also considering purchasing a CHI or another expensive iron. This actually means that probably I will be ordering one by tonight. I will definitely let you know if it works on new growth.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks so much!I really hope it works for you.Do you mind PMing me with the results whenever you use it?

 

[aqualung]

[ QUOTE ]
nita4 said:
I am a 4a with tight little coils at my scalp. My hair is nappy!! It's hard to detangle and it breaks easily especially when wet. It's a thin somewhat fine texture.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like mine. My stylist once complained/complimented that my new growth was dense and very tightly coiled. He was slightly out of breath from the race to comb Affirm mild lye through all of it in just 17 minutes.

The longest I've ever gone between touchups is 10 weeks. My new growth gets packed down because I apply Surge to my scalp with an applicator bottle daily, but I wash my hair every 1-2 weeks. So each day the new growth gets wet and dries coiled again. That's why I MUST deep condition with a very moisturizing conditioner before attempting to comb the dense new growth.

I am in the 8th week post touchup. Next wash, I plan to try
1. preconditioning with a liquid spray and detangling before washing
2. washing, acv rinsing, and deep conditioning my hair in 4-6 braided sections before combing.

But there are forum veterans who are "4k" and have identified products and techniques to space out relaxers without damage.

Right?

 

[honeycomb719]

[ QUOTE ]
nita4 said:
I am a 4a with tight little coils at my scalp. My hair is nappy!! It's hard to detangle and it breaks easily especially when wet. It's a thin somewhat fine texture. Actually, I still think us 4a's can extend we just have to be extra careful. You can't manipulate the hair. Your style options are limited. I tried to press or blow dry my hair for church - bad idea - breakage. Girl, this time I'm slapping that phoney pony on my head and calling it a day.

Try extending one week at a time, that makes it easier. Wishing you the best!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]



Sound like my hair twin. But, the only difference is instead of a phony-pony, I slap my wig on and go.
I've been pressing it just about every week around the edges for the past 4weeks or so. I know it's bad, but I have been frustrated w/ my hair lately

.

 

[DahomeyAhosi]

I am mildly relaxed (texturized) and mostly 4B. I extend my relaxers by braiding my hair after the first month (no extensions) and wearing it in loose buns. HTH

 

[atlien]

Girl that was funnnny

A strand of your hair can be confused with a wire girl you got me dying laughing

Your hair sounds identical to mine.
Again good collabo...........

 

[brandy]

I am a 4a/4b and recently stretched out relaxing for 6 months! I achieved this by wearing wigs and cornrows. So don't think 4A/4B hair types cannot extend relaxers! You've got to know how to manipulate your hair.

 

[Donda]

I'm a 4a medium texture in the front, side and back of my hair, I'm thick 3c at the crown. I ususally wait 8 weeks in the summer and can sweak by with 9-10 in the winter. Sometime I don't think it is so much the tightness (4a,3c,4b etc.) but the texture that makes a difference (fine, medium, thick). My 4a medium hair last longer then my thick 3c which is screaming after 7 weeks! Then it again it grows about a 1/4 inch faster then the rest...........

But no I can only go 8 weeks spring summer(my fast growth time) and 9-10 weeks winter tops, and no deep conditioner, oil (I use Wild Growth) or protective style will let it go past there without breakage.

 

[slwe415]

I just relaxed Saturday after 14 weeks. I was absolutely miserable! I took notes from the Combing through thread that will help this time along though!

At any rate, I feel as though I am in hair heaven now! My hair almost to my bra strap, and it is very thick.

 

[Selene]

I am a 4a/b and I have a Chi iron and it indeed does straighten out the naps.