Which type hair is easier to relax?

[carolb21]

I went to a new stylist yesterday, (in my quest for someone locally who can style my hair) and she was very upset with my questions about hair care. I am a type 4B, which she had never heard of and advised me to be leary of non-professionals who think they know about hair care. She stated that the easiest hair to relax is very coarse hair and that the hardest is wavy, soft fine hair because it will revert a lot faster.

She also went on to say that all relaxers are a like and that damage occurs because the person applying it doesn't have the skill to get it in and out the right way, especially women who do their own. I was so frustrated talking with her and wanted to just leave. I was trying out a straw set and needless to say it was a mess. I took one look in the mirror and told her that I did not like my hair. It was so tight and i warned her that my hair really holds curls when set and that I wanted them to be big and loose. She advised me to use a lot of oil on my hair because it was dry and that would help to hold the straw set. I went to her because my girlfriend's hair looked great, but she's been going to her for years. Needless to say I will never go back.

But it did make me wonder if you guys think 4a/b hair is easier to relax. I have a really hard time with mine, but I am going to self relax from now on and go to Morena for a blowout. Thanks guys, I know that the best source for knowledge on hair is right here on this board.

 

[nomoweavesfome]

I'm sorry she sound very third grade. lol I would think the less coils the hair has the easier to relax visibly at the least. Hair with more coils and with more thickness will take more time to break down which is why they have mild, regular, and super relaxers.

Sounds like you challenged he and she just wanted you out by just telling you to put oil in your hair. The answer to evey hairdresser is oil because it is a cover up.

We CLEARLY know all relaxers are not alike. It doesn't take an 8 year old to figure that out just by walking down the relaxer aisle let alone experiencing it.

Most hairdresser will discourage self - relaxing because it is their bread and butter. That is a 50, 60 70+ dollar pay for them as opposed to a wash and set average pay out $30.

I would have been mad too but don't be surprised at that mess.

 

[glamazon386]

Yeah she was just trying to get your money. Stylists think they know everything. The straw set will loosen up in a few days though.

 

[ThickHair]

She also went on to say that all relaxers are a like and that damage occurs because the person applying it doesn't have the skill to get it in and out the right way, especially women who do their own.

I believe this part is true and that is what causes the most damage.

It was so tight and i warned her that my hair really holds curls when set and that I wanted them to be big and loose.

You had a straw set what did you expect? You do not get big loose curls from a straw set unless you found some huge straws.

I guess I am in the minority, you got what you ask for, you just didn't LIKE it. Nothing wrong with that, just be careful what you ask for.

 

[dicapr]

I think how coarse a person's hair is depends on how quickly it relaxes. Stylists are always suprised about how quickly my hair breaks down and I am a 4a/4b if you like that typing system but my new growth looks different everyday-sometimes curly and coily others a big frizzy mess without any defined curl. I find that the curlier areas of my head tend to still be wavy afer being relaxed while my frizz straighens out as soon as it sees the relaxer coming at it. 4b hair is not necessarily coarse just like straight hair can be super coarse. To me coarsness determines resistance not curl pattern

 

[goldensensation]

I think that whether or not the hair is course is what determines how quickly it processes. I also, perhaps incorrectly, believe that a lot of 4b hair can be fine and a lot of 4a, 3c, and 3b can be course. Of course, these are all generalizations, but if this were so, it would then follow (logically) that in many instances, 4b processes faster than the others. Just because the curl is tight, doesnt mean that the hair is chemically resistant. This is why so many people unnecessarily use super to get their hair straight when all they need is regular. I know people that are 3a or 2b who get relaxers and they have THE HARDEST time getting rid of their wave or curl.

 

[myco]

I think that whether or not the hair is course is what determines how quickly it processes. I also, perhaps incorrectly, believe that a lot of 4b hair can be fine and a lot of 4a, 3c, and 3b can be course. Of course, these are all generalizations, but if this were so, it would then follow (logically) that in many instances, 4b processes faster than the others. Just because the curl is tight, doesnt mean that the hair is chemically resistant. This is why so many people unnecessarily use super to get their hair straight when all they need is regular. I know people that are 3a or 2b who get relaxers and they have THE HARDEST time getting rid of their wave or curl.

I agree with this. Coarse refers to diameter of the strand and not the texture of the hair. I have a coworker from Thailand. She blowdries and flatirons her hair every day to get rid of the waves. If you pull a strand of her hair it looks like fabric because the strands are so thick and heavy. It would probably take a relaxer longer to process through her strands than it would my finer 4a hair which actually has a curlier/kinkier texture.

 

[carolb21]

Thanks guys, I know that my hair is very resistant and stylist always wanted to use a super relaxer strength on my hair but it would always break. I know that straw sets are tight, but this was ridiculously tight, nothing at all like my girlfriends. I have come to the realization that I have two types of hair and that it also grows in differently. I'm not sure if it's the vitamins and supplements but sometimes my texture is kinky and wiry, then sometimes curly and dry. I noticed that most of the people with healthier hair and good growth self relax, so that's another reason I'm going to go back to doing my own.

She was really pissed at me and my knowledge of hair. She stated that most black women are genetically incapable of growing long hair, unless they have more caucasian genes. I told her to check out the forum, but I'm sure she won't. She looked like she had a weave but she said that it was all her hair and it was natural, which she had been wearing that way for years. She said that if we could grow our hair to our butts, hers would be there. I don't think she really likes me.

 

[Ariana4000]

Hmm, I know people with soft baby fine hair that claim it won't relax (I guess the curls won't go away). erplexed But I also know people with very kinky, coarse hair whose hair won't get bone straight either. So I'm not sure, she might be right in a way.

 

[FlowerHair]

My hair was relaxed once, but it looked exactly like it normally does - it didn't get straight or anything. In fact, I had to blow dry for 45 minutes after washing to get it straight, and I can do that now as a natural too.
So I don't think relaxers take well on my hair. My hair is a 3b-c and the individual strands are really coarse and super thick. (think Asian hair)

 

[B_Phlyy]

I think that whether or not the hair is course is what determines how quickly it processes. I also, perhaps incorrectly, believe that a lot of 4b hair can be fine and a lot of 4a, 3c, and 3b can be course. Of course, these are all generalizations, but if this were so, it would then follow (logically) that in many instances, 4b processes faster than the others. Just because the curl is tight, doesnt mean that the hair is chemically resistant. This is why so many people unnecessarily use super to get their hair straight when all they need is regular. I know people that are 3a or 2b who get relaxers and they have THE HARDEST time getting rid of their wave or curl.

I think this is true because I'm a 4b, but my hair is fine, so I can get bone straight in like 15-18 minutes. I have a gf who is a 3c/4a, but her hair is very coarse and thick and she can process for 30 minutes and it still be kinda fuzzy and seem underprocessed.

 

[Sharpened]

This is what I hate about Andre's system...it does not go far enough! It took a long-haired, white European (Fia) to take his idea to the next level: hair strand thickness and natural hair volume. The drama I went through with stylists and my hair cause me to ditch the relaxer after two years of use. Society be damned, I went back to the curl for a few more years, because they were less likely to screw up my hair with that process.

 

[Ariana4000]

incapable of growing long hair, unless they have more caucasian genes. I told her to check out the forum, but I'm sure she won't. She looked like she had a weave but she said that it was all her hair and it was natural, which she had been wearing that way for years. She said that if we could grow our hair to our butts, hers would be there. I don't think she really likes me.[/quote]

Sorry didn't see this part, do your own hair from now on. It sounds like she won't take care of it anyway if you don't have enough caucasion genes.

 

[Mestiza]

I agree with this. Coarse refers to diameter of the strand and not the texture of the hair. I have a coworker from Thailand. She blowdries and flatirons her hair every day to get rid of the waves. If you pull a strand of her hair it looks like fabric because the strands are so thick and heavy. It would probably take a relaxer longer to process through her strands than it would my finer 4a hair which actually has a curlier/kinkier texture.

Precisely! My hair is Type 2 w/ some Type 1 and it's coarse, consisting of very thick and heavy strands of hair.

 

[Mestiza]

Thanks guys, I know that my hair is very resistant and stylist always wanted to use a super relaxer strength on my hair but it would always break. I know that straw sets are tight, but this was ridiculously tight, nothing at all like my girlfriends. I have come to the realization that I have two types of hair and that it also grows in differently. I'm not sure if it's the vitamins and supplements but sometimes my texture is kinky and wiry, then sometimes curly and dry. I noticed that most of the people with healthier hair and good growth self relax, so that's another reason I'm going to go back to doing my own.

She was really pissed at me and my knowledge of hair. She stated that most black women are genetically incapable of growing long hair, unless they have more caucasian genes. I told her to check out the forum, but I'm sure she won't. She looked like she had a weave but she said that it was all her hair and it was natural, which she had been wearing that way for years. She said that if we could grow our hair to our butts, hers would be there. I don't think she really likes me.

Say what!?! I wouldn't want her touching my hair, at all! I wonder what rock she has been living under b/c there are plenty of Black women on LHCF and off who have long hair. I think (and hope) that she will be checking out LHCF. She really needs to do so, pronto!

 

[Vshanell]

My hair was relaxed once, but it looked exactly like it normally does - it didn't get straight or anything. In fact, I had to blow dry for 45 minutes after washing to get it straight, and I can do that now as a natural too.
So I don't think relaxers take well on my hair. My hair is a 3b-c and the individual strands are really coarse and super thick. (think Asian hair)

Same here! I think 4a/b is easier to relax because with my hair being a 3b it never got straight with a relaxer and the stylist I used to go to used a super relaxer through the whole length of my hair even for re-touches. My hair has never been straight with a relaxer, the most I got was a looser curl and a lot of damage so that was my reason for transitioning. I had to do just as much work to straighten my hair when I was relaxed as I do now as natural so I figured what's the point.

 

[chiprecious]

After you got out of the chair did you slap her for indirectly questioning your intelligence. This is plain crap. As a fellow 4b, I too have problem with rollersets because that hair type holds on to curls with dear life with is why I used to shy away from roller sets. Also too many people, stylist included think that oil is moisture!! UGH!!!!

She liek soo many other stylist are the reason I know do EVERYTHING to my own hair. I get so frustrated because I'm a hair stylist, yet when I was in a shop, there was NO ONE I trusted to do my hair since you see the bull they do on an every day basis.

I personally feel 4bs are the hardest to relax, w/o damaging it. It takes so long sometimes for my hair to process and I refuse to use the super since I also know 4bs hair is a bit more fragile and dry naturally. Yes the softer texture have reversion issues, but if the hair is straightened chemically and the right prodcuts are used, that issued seems to be lessened from my experience.

 

[Queenie]

It is the corseness of the hair which makes it more difficult to relax. I have 4a hair but the strands are course, like Asian hair. The hair around the edges is also 4a, but the strands are medium thickness. That edge hair relaxes much more easily. The rest of my hair is a bear to relax (30 min w/super realxer).

 

[Poohbear]

I believe this part is true and that is what causes the most damage.

You had a straw set what did you expect? You do not get big loose curls from a straw set unless you found some huge straws.

I guess I am in the minority, you got what you ask for, you just didn't LIKE it. Nothing wrong with that, just be careful what you ask for.

I agree with you, ThickHair.

Even though relaxers have different strengths, I still think they are alike in that they caused damage to the natural hair texture pattern.

And yeah, strawsets give tight curls. Did you ask for loose big curls before she did the strawset???

ETA: I think fine stranded loosely curled/wavy hair textures would relax easier than thick/coarse stranded tightly coiled hair.

 

[Southernbella.]

This thread is really enlightening. I was also under the impression that the looser the curl pattern, the easier it would be to relax.

My best friend has BSL 3b-c hair. She's relaxed, but in the summer, she wears wash n go's, which are wavy. We both used to go to the same hairdresser, so I know our stylist was using the same relaxer on her that she was on me. I could never figure out why her hair had to be flat ironed after her relaxer to get all the waves out. Now I know!

Even though relaxers have different strengths, I still think they are alike in that they caused damage to the natural hair texture pattern.

She probably meant damage as in breakage and burning. If you're getting relaxed, you're trying to alter the natural texture, so most people don't consider that damage.

 

[balisi]

Also too many people, stylist included think that oil is moisture!! UGH!!!!

She liek soo many other stylist are the reason I know do EVERYTHING to my own hair. I get so frustrated because I'm a hair stylist, yet when I was in a shop, there was NO ONE I trusted to do my hair since you see the bull they do on an every day basis.

Girl, me too! I recently had one of my fellow stylists do my hair for the first time. Believe me, it will be the last time she gets her hands in my hair. She was way too rough with my natural tresses and I had to finish detangling and styling it myself.

And oil is a lubricant, not a moisturizer.

 

[shunta]

Ooh that really pisses me off!! These stylists are really getting to me. So she is supposed to be a professional and she didnt even know your hair type? WTF. And for her to say that most black women cant grow their hair long? Yeah, she really needs to visit this hair board!!

 

[silvergirl]

yes and no . 4 a hair is very curly and yes would be harder to relax.... however... 4 b hair has curls so tight an fine that is looks more like a z rather than an s shape. an when looking at one strand of hair it almost looks straight. this type of hair would "technically" be easier to relax

this hair type (4 b ) can also be tricky to texturize for this reason. that when the hair is stretched it doesnt form a wave but rather gets straight right away.