Relaxed Hair Thread

[Wenbev]

@FadingDelilah


Such good advice!!!
And most of my relaxer day good practices I've gotten from you @MzSwift wish I would have found you ten years ago when I didn't know what do do with my hair back then!

do an ACV rinse and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. That will help restore your hair's pH and help get that relaxer out without 50-11 washes.

Instead, I add the products that I would dilute with directly to my hair right before relaxing. So I slather oil and conditioner on my virgin hair and then relax it.

 

[FadingDelilah]

@FadingDelilah

OMG!! Yay!!

Getting over the inital fear is hard and you did it!! And you still have hair on your head!! LOL

And
Sorry to hear that your hair is hard. Yes, PLEASE, do an ACV rinse and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. That will help restore your hair's pH and help get that relaxer out without 50-11 washes. LOL. You can still do one now.

Also, always deep condition after relaxing. You've gotta add protein back into your strands. Some ladies do a mid-step protein before neutralizing or a protein after neutralizing. Typically, slathering on a protein/moisture mix is good even if you have it leave it on overnight. Then you can just rinse it out in the shower the next day, apply your leave in and bun until you're ready to deal with your hair.

Sounds like you may have overdiluted the relaxer. Do you remember how much oil you added? It's one of the reasons I stopped diluting bc I didn't like the results as much. Instead, I add the products that I would dilute with directly to my hair right before relaxing. So I slather oil and conditioner on my virgin hair and then relax it. I hope that makes sense.

I know exactly how tempting it is to do a corrective. But I think you should condition the heck out of your hair for a while first to see exactly what you're dealing with. Doing a corrective (redoing the relaxer) is such a gamble that really hasn't been to my hair's benefit the 2 times I've done it. Both times, I ended up w/straighter hair that I later had to cut off. I would say that maybe instead, you operate like SistawithRealHair. ACV rinse, DC with heat, apply your heat protectant and straighten your hair. Rock straightened hair for at least two weeks, no touchup heat. KISS. The benefit to having texlaxed your hair is that it should take to heat better and reversion shouldn't be as bad.

I deep conditioned and it feels even drier. My hair STILL doesn't respond to conditioner, smh. Even though I just relaxed it!!! And I am heeding your warning about the corrective and pondering it carefully, but I decided a while back I'm done with tangling/shrinkage/running from water. So if that means I end up bone straight by accident, so be it. I just need it to be MANAGEABLE!!

I could have been a straightened natural with or without the texturizer, but that means actually dealing with straightening this bush from hell every other week (shivers intensely), and at this texture the time savings would be zero. It would be like trying to straighten my hair before. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Plus I can't tell at all where my new growth would be in the future because its so underprocessed and I think that is likely to cause me to overlap in the future which is just begging for my hair to break right off.

The main issue is that at the texture I am now, I'm not experiencing any more ease with detangling/knots than before. My hair loves to act like I be in the shower rockstar swooshing my hair all around and back combing it. I literally barely touch it while rinsing. Actually, maybe I'll go straight on purpose after all....

I only put a quarter cup of oil in the relaxer and it was a 20 oz jar. It barely changed the thickness. I didn't want it to get too watery and risk it running on my scalp and burning me. I just rinsed it out too fast. I hope my hair can still be healthy, even if it accidentally gets too straight but if it doesn't, I decided I'll just wear wigs. So this is all really just a last attempt at not wearing wigs all the time.

 

[11228]

@FadingDelilah consider keeping a diluted ACV to rinse out the relaxer after the 2nd neutralizing wash.

I do a mid-step protein treatment after the 3rd neutralizing wash but before the ACV. I then do a regular shampoo wash and proceed with a moisturizing conditioner.

If you are afraid of over processing, you can do the ACV rinse before the protein treatment. The ACV will neutralize your hair better than the shampoo but I will leave it in my hair for about 2 minutes. Same with the neutralizing shampoo.

 

[MzSwift]

I deep conditioned and it feels even drier. My hair STILL doesn't respond to conditioner, smh. Even though I just relaxed it!!! And I am heeding your warning about the corrective and pondering it carefully, but I decided a while back I'm done with tangling/shrinkage/running from water. So if that means I end up bone straight by accident, so be it. I just need it to be MANAGEABLE!!

I could have been a straightened natural with or without the texturizer, but that means actually dealing with straightening this bush from hell every other week (shivers intensely), and at this texture the time savings would be zero. It would be like trying to straighten my hair before. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Plus I can't tell at all where my new growth would be in the future because its so underprocessed and I think that is likely to cause me to overlap in the future which is just begging for my hair to break right off.

The main issue is that at the texture I am now, I'm not experiencing any more ease with detangling/knots than before. My hair loves to act like I be in the shower rockstar swooshing my hair all around and back combing it. I literally barely touch it while rinsing. Actually, maybe I'll go straight on purpose after all....

I only put a quarter cup of oil in the relaxer and it was a 20 oz jar. It barely changed the thickness. I didn't want it to get too watery and risk it running on my scalp and burning me. I just rinsed it out too fast. I hope my hair can still be healthy, even if it accidentally gets too straight but if it doesn't, I decided I'll just wear wigs. So this is all really just a last attempt at not wearing wigs all the time.

Hmm, now I'm wondering what it is that you use to DC. Is it protein, moisture or a mix? I know you DC'd already but if you decide to try again, maybe add something to it. But what to add will depend on what kind of DC it is. And I forgot if you ended up using Lye or no-Lye. THAT will definitely help us troubleshoot.

Oh, I didn't know you rinsed it out too fast. I did that too w/my virgin texlax. Lol. Did you do any smoothing with your hands or a comb? I was suggesting to DC and rock the straightened hair for a while because it's best practice to wait at least a few weeks before doing a corrective. And it's so funny because everything you said about if it comes out too straight oh well, is exactly what I said each time before I did my correctives! LOL

So maybe instead of straightening it, try plaiting it and doing a braidout. It'll be easier compare any differences between your hair now and your natural hair. The reason, I'm interested in how your hair may differ is because it may help us understand what, if anything you'll need to help your hair from being tangly and hard. For instance, my newly texlaxed hair was sooo tangly and I was still dealing with SSKs which is why I wanted to do a corrective. But it wasn't until I mixed baking soda and amino acid into my DC that my tangles melted and my hair felt soft again. In fact, thinking back, I do remember there being a period right after my texlax that my hair felt more rough than I expected. I wonder if it's some sort of shock to the hair or something, Lol. (kinda like scab hair when you first go natural) But I just kept cowashing and doing a braided ponytail to help increase moisture. I think as time goes by you may see some of the beneficial aspects of your new hair.

 

[11228]

Interesting about baking soda and amino acid. Where do you get the amino acid and how do you incorporate them into the DC?

 

[demlew]

Interesting about baking soda and amino acid. Where do you get the amino acid and how do you incorporate them into the DC?

I buy my amino acid from here:
https://lotioncrafter.com/products/silk-amino-acids-pf?_pos=1&_sid=aeee58ab1&_ss=r

I think several of us do.

 

[MzSwift]

Interesting about baking soda and amino acid. Where do you get the amino acid and how do you incorporate them into the DC?

I use food grade Braggs amino acid. When I learned about the tx years ago, that's what the ladies were using/suggesting.



It's like $4-5 at Walmart or you can get it on Amazon, like I did. I'm pretty sure other grocery stores sell it as well. Smells like soy sauce so I add sweet orange oil to my mixes for scent, you can add anything you like. BTW, I've been on that same bottle of Braggs since 2013... Lol

ETA: Oops, I forgot to answer the "how." I'm terrible about not measuring as it will depend on how much conditioner I'm mixing it into. I believe I squirt in at least about 2 Tbsp of Braggs into my condish and then my EO for scent. I mix it fully before adding the baking soda. Once the baking soda is stirred in the mix expands and turns frothy. I believe I use at least 1 Tbsp of baking soda. If I don't use enough, the mix doesn't really expand or froth so I keep adding a few shakes at a time until it does. I hope that makes sense.

I lean over the sink as I apply it as the froth can be a bit messy sometimes. And I concentrate on applying it to my roots and ends first and then use the remainder on the rest of my hair. Let me tell you, when I'm trying to stretch my relaxer, this stuff is amazing! I like to use it before I flat iron because it gives me straight press even on my 4b/a roots! I get silky flat irons on 12+ weeks post new growth.

I buy my amino acid from here:
https://lotioncrafter.com/products/silk-amino-acids-pf?_pos=1&_sid=aeee58ab1&_ss=r

I think several of us do.

Thanks for the link! Does it have a scent too?
And how do you like their service? I've been thinking about ordering stuff from lotioncrafters because my baby boy has very sensitive skin and I've been needing bases to mix up his skin/hair products.

 

[FadingDelilah]

Hmm, now I'm wondering what it is that you use to DC. Is it protein, moisture or a mix? I know you DC'd already but if you decide to try again, maybe add something to it. But what to add will depend on what kind of DC it is. And I forgot if you ended up using Lye or no-Lye. THAT will definitely help us troubleshoot.

Oh, I didn't know you rinsed it out too fast. I did that too w/my virgin texlax. Lol. Did you do any smoothing with your hands or a comb? I was suggesting to DC and rock the straightened hair for a while because it's best practice to wait at least a few weeks before doing a corrective. And it's so funny because everything you said about if it comes out too straight oh well, is exactly what I said each time before I did my correctives! LOL

So maybe instead of straightening it, try plaiting it and doing a braidout. It'll be easier compare any differences between your hair now and your natural hair. The reason, I'm interested in how your hair may differ is because it may help us understand what, if anything you'll need to help your hair from being tangly and hard. For instance, my newly texlaxed hair was sooo tangly and I was still dealing with SSKs which is why I wanted to do a corrective. But it wasn't until I mixed baking soda and amino acid into my DC that my tangles melted and my hair felt soft again. In fact, thinking back, I do remember there being a period right after my texlax that my hair felt more rough than I expected. I wonder if it's some sort of shock to the hair or something, Lol. (kinda like scab hair when you first go natural) But I just kept cowashing and doing a braided ponytail to help increase moisture. I think as time goes by you may see some of the beneficial aspects of your new hair.

You are so helpful and kind. I laughed when you said you said the same thing! Lol. I'm pondering everything you said carefully. But I feel like even if it gets softer and all that, it will still shrink more than I want once dry and there will never be enough conditioner to stop knots from plaguing me to a degree that I can just run the comb through after a wash and wa-la! Or wear my hair down curly, or dangit I can't even do a bun! And I'm apl. My hair is so bushy, its like its tooooo dense. Like no, I did this mess for 6 years and now here comes more open ended questions trying to absorb me into another long bout of failure, failure, failure and more failure. Again.

You are right about going slow and considering it all, I know that. I might, or should I say, will probably, end up big chopping from damage. But... my relaxer is coming on Monday and I'm diving in sis. If I turn out bald I'm getting a baddddd 24 inch unit and slaying. Thanks for trying to help.

Edit: I smoothed enough to get it thoroughly through my hair, and I used a moisture-based deep conditioner. I used a lye relaxer too. And I just read about the aminos, sounds yummyyyyy. I will try that after my relaxer on Monday. Is it strengthening?

 

[Wenbev]

I buy my amino acid from here:
https://lotioncrafter.com/products/silk-amino-acids-pf?_pos=1&_sid=aeee58ab1&_ss=r

I think several of us do.

I do! and the container lasts a long time.

@FadingDelilah what kind of conditioners are you using? Your results sound similar to what I have experienced in the past. And I hear you on the density, but density is good!

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

Got
I’m never stretching this long again unless I have a weave or some braids in. This is bananas.

 

[demlew]

I use food grade Braggs amino acid. When I learned about the tx years ago, that's what the ladies were using/suggesting.

View attachment 454409

It's like $4-5 at Walmart or you can get it on Amazon, like I did. I'm pretty sure other grocery stores sell it as well. Smells like soy sauce so I add sweet orange oil to my mixes for scent, you can add anything you like. BTW, I've been on that same bottle of Braggs since 2013... Lol

ETA: Oops, I forgot to answer the "how." I'm terrible about not measuring as it will depend on how much conditioner I'm mixing it into. I believe I squirt in at least about 2 Tbsp of Braggs into my condish and then my EO for scent. I mix it fully before adding the baking soda. Once the baking soda is stirred in the mix expands and turns frothy. I believe I use at least 1 Tbsp of baking soda. If I don't use enough, the mix doesn't really expand or froth so I keep adding a few shakes at a time until it does. I hope that makes sense.

I lean over the sink as I apply it as the froth can be a bit messy sometimes. And I concentrate on applying it to my roots and ends first and then use the remainder on the rest of my hair. Let me tell you, when I'm trying to stretch my relaxer, this stuff is amazing! I like to use it before I flat iron because it gives me straight press even on my 4b/a roots! I get silky flat irons on 12+ weeks post new growth.



Thanks for the link! Does it have a scent too?
And how do you like their service? I've been thinking about ordering stuff from lotioncrafters because my baby boy has very sensitive skin and I've been needing bases to mix up his skin/hair products.

I really like ordering from Lotioncrafter. They ship fast and I’ve never had an issue. I had to run to the fridge for a sniff of my amino acid - it had a slight cherry scent. It lasts a long time and that’s even with adding it to all my leave-ins and the deep conditioners I use post-henna.

 

[LonDone]

I second the Braggs Liquid Aminos - pure ingredient (no extras added), only a couple of £/$. I add a couple of teaspoons to other protein treatments to make them stronger.

Funnily enough @halee_J last time I did a protein treatment about 4 weeks ago I checked the bottle for an expiration date lol... there is none. Bought mine about 4 years ago, still 75% of the bottle left. Bargin!

 

[MzSwift]

You are so helpful and kind. I laughed when you said you said the same thing! Lol. I'm pondering everything you said carefully. But I feel like even if it gets softer and all that, it will still shrink more than I want once dry and there will never be enough conditioner to stop knots from plaguing me to a degree that I can just run the comb through after a wash and wa-la! Or wear my hair down curly, or dangit I can't even do a bun! And I'm apl. My hair is so bushy, its like its tooooo dense. Like no, I did this mess for 6 years and now here comes more open ended questions trying to absorb me into another long bout of failure, failure, failure and more failure. Again.

You are right about going slow and considering it all, I know that. I might, or should I say, will probably, end up big chopping from damage. But... my relaxer is coming on Monday and I'm diving in sis. If I turn out bald I'm getting a baddddd 24 inch unit and slaying. Thanks for trying to help.

Edit: I smoothed enough to get it thoroughly through my hair, and I used a moisture-based deep conditioner. I used a lye relaxer too. And I just read about the aminos, sounds yummyyyyy. I will try that after my relaxer on Monday. Is it strengthening?

For my hair, the amino acids are strengthening. I think my hair favors that type of protein.

And LOL, look at you!! I love it! Well, dive in, sis! I'm watching with one eye open. I really hope everything goes well with your corrective. Please:

-Be sure to do a protein tx a day or two before you do it.
-Please do an ACV rinse to help rebalance your pH and to get rid of the relaxer.
-And please do a protein-moisture DC after all of that washing

I think you're gonna be fine though. And I hope that easier hair you're hoping for is just a day away!!

And if you're still not happy with your results, please come back for hugs and post pix of that awesome 24"!!

 

[FadingDelilah]

I do! and the container lasts a long time.

@FadingDelilah what kind of conditioners are you using? Your results sound similar to what I have experienced in the past. And I hear you on the density, but density is good!

True, but it has to be tamed for me to enjoy it. I'm hoping one day I will be able to, it's only been a pain up until now. I used loreal Paris elvive rapid reviver. Mind you I've never used a deep conditioner that worked for me. Im assuming it's a moisture based one after looking over the ingredients.

 

[FadingDelilah]

For my hair, the amino acids are strengthening. I think my hair favors that type of protein.

And LOL, look at you!! I love it! Well, dive in, sis! I'm watching with one eye open. I really hope everything goes well with your corrective. Please:

-Be sure to do a protein tx a day or two before you do it.
-Please do an ACV rinse to help rebalance your pH and to get rid of the relaxer.
-And please do a protein-moisture DC after all of that washing

I think you're gonna be fine though. And I hope that easier hair you're hoping for is just a day away!!

And if you're still not happy with your results, please come back for hugs and post pix of that awesome 24"!!

Lol will do, will do! I'm preparing my acv rinse right now.

 

[Wenbev]

True, but it has to be tamed for me to enjoy it. I'm hoping one day I will be able to, it's only been a pain up until now. I used loreal Paris elvive rapid reviver. Mind you I've never used a deep conditioner that worked for me. Im assuming it's a moisture based one after looking over the ingredients.

Glycerin is really high on the list of ingredients and there's wheat protein in that conditioner which your hair may not like. Have you tried shea moisture Manuka line? I'm not sure where you're located, but its avail in lots of US drug stores and also on amazon. Usually under US$10 for the mask, especially when on sale. I mention this as it has a lot of different oils as the first set of ingredients and maybe the oils can help to soothe your hair and help it to lay down to get it into that APL ponytail
and ACV rinses are life. I have followed @MzSwift advice on it and have had much better relaxer washout sessions in part to rinsing with it. I also use it on the first wash after a relaxer and every third wash thereafter as I use no-lye and want to be certain all traces of buildup have been removed.
Good luck on your corrective

 

[FadingDelilah]

Glycerin is really high on the list of ingredients and there's wheat protein in that conditioner which your hair may not like. Have you tried shea moisture Manuka line? I'm not sure where you're located, but its avail in lots of US drug stores and also on amazon. Usually under US$10 for the mask, especially when on sale. I mention this as it has a lot of different oils as the first set of ingredients and maybe the oils can help to soothe your hair and help it to lay down to get it into that APL ponytail
and ACV rinses are life. I have followed @MzSwift advice on it and have had much better relaxer washout sessions in part to rinsing with it. I also use it on the first wash after a relaxer and every third wash thereafter as I use no-lye and want to be certain all traces of buildup have been removed.
Good luck on your corrective

Oh noooo, my hair hates protein, I didn't even see it!! That could very well be it. I was going to try a deep conditioner with protein after my next relaxer, based on MzSwift's advice, since I'll be doing a corrective. So I just thought of an idea. I think once I relax my hair even more, my hair might need some protein (finally), so it gives me a good excuse to use the rest of the bottle. Glad that's figured out.

If however I feel like that conditioner is just trash, than I will definitely check out that manuka line because I saw it at the drugstore. And I DEFINITELY will be doing an ACV rinse because I need to be done neutralizing in under 30 mins or the water will get freezing. Thanks for all the tips !!! You and MzSwift must have beautiful hair

 

[MzSwift]

@Wenbev is on it! You rock, sis!

True, but it has to be tamed for me to enjoy it. I'm hoping one day I will be able to, it's only been a pain up until now. I used loreal Paris elvive rapid reviver. Mind you I've never used a deep conditioner that worked for me. Im assuming it's a moisture based one after looking over the ingredients.

@FadingDelilah
Thanks for listing the actual product that way we can help look at the ingredients to help troubleshoot. What you were describing sounded very much like too much protein. And even without looking at the ingredients, catch words on the bottle can tell you a lot about what type of condish it is. Words like "Repair," "damaged hair," "breakage" and "strengthening" typically mean that it's a protein condish. When I'm looking for a moisturizing condish, I look for anything geared toward "curls" and words like "hydrate" or they just make a point to say "moisturizing" throughout the description. I usually stick to that if I'm visiting friends/family/hotel and have to use their products. Maintaining good moisture-protein balance is important to me.

That Reviver DC said "repair", "damaged hair" and "breakage." Yes, normally that would be a good post relaxer DC but your hair did not seem to respond well to it. Now we've got to find you something super moisturizing. I would hate to see you do another relaxer while your hair is dry and tangly from possible protein overload.

So one of my favorite quick little moisturizing txs is to take a cheapie moisturizing DC and add in a TBsp or two of salt and then slather that onto my head. I start off conditioning with heat for at least 20 min and then I either rinse or cover with a wool hat and do some house work, or nothing. My favorite DC base is Queen Helene cholesterol. I love that it's thick and easy to use alone or by adding stuff. I like to add salt (and sometimes EVOO and hibiscus) to that and let it soothe my hair. I've also used Aussie 3 min miracle moisturizing DC, which isn't as effective but works well with salt.

Anyway, I promise I never start off my replies wanting to type a novel. SMH. Lol

I can't wait to hear how your hair turns out! I'm really not sure how beautiful my hair is, Lol, but I'm just so grateful for all of the info I've learned from the ladies in this hair community that I love to share what I've learned if I feel it can help someone. Even moreso, I'm always happy to see *us* looking good and feeling good! Black women are untouchable when we are happy, carefree and confident. <3

 

[FadingDelilah]

@Wenbev is on it! You rock, sis!





@FadingDelilah
Thanks for listing the actual product that way we can help look at the ingredients to help troubleshoot. What you were describing sounded very much like too much protein. And even without looking at the ingredients, catch words on the bottle can tell you a lot about what type of condish it is. Words like "Repair," "damaged hair," "breakage" and "strengthening" typically mean that it's a protein condish. When I'm looking for a moisturizing condish, I look for anything geared toward "curls" and words like "hydrate" or they just make a point to say "moisturizing" throughout the description. I usually stick to that if I'm visiting friends/family/hotel and have to use their products. Maintaining good moisture-protein balance is important to me.

That Reviver DC said "repair", "damaged hair" and "breakage." Yes, normally that would be a good post relaxer DC but your hair did not seem to respond well to it. Now we've got to find you something super moisturizing. I would hate to see you do another relaxer while your hair is dry and tangly from possible protein overload.

So one of my favorite quick little moisturizing txs is to take a cheapie moisturizing DC and add in a TBsp or two of salt and then slather that onto my head. I start off conditioning with heat for at least 20 min and then I either rinse or cover with a wool hat and do some house work, or nothing. My favorite DC base is Queen Helene cholesterol. I love that it's thick and easy to use alone or by adding stuff. I like to add salt (and sometimes EVOO and hibiscus) to that and let it soothe my hair. I've also used Aussie 3 min miracle moisturizing DC, which isn't as effective but works well with salt.

Anyway, I promise I never start off my replies wanting to type a novel. SMH. Lol

I can't wait to hear how your hair turns out! I'm really not sure how beautiful my hair is, Lol, but I'm just so grateful for all of the info I've learned from the ladies in this hair community that I love to share what I've learned if I feel it can help someone. Even moreso, I'm always happy to see *us* looking good and feeling good! Black women are untouchable when we are happy, carefree and confident. <3

You stay soooo on point with the tips! This will make choosing deep conditioners way easier. I usually just be looking like okay, this one. LOL. Tbh I was just trying to bring my order to $25 so I could get free shipping. But I remember now about that salt trick! I read about it years ago and thought it sounded super intriguing, but then I forgot and never tried it. Its cool because everybody has salt in their house. I'm so curious what makes that work but I've seen enough responses saying it does to give it a shot. I have this yummy smelling strawberry suave conditioner I'll try it with after I deep condition with the rest of that loreal dc after I relax again in a few days. I hope I'm in hair heaven. I'm never in heaven with conditioners. lol.

My hair feels softer right now after using a simple glycerin spray, so I'm not as scared to relax. I was able to separate my strands to finger detangle without breakage while my hair was DRY, which surprised me tbh. Now I'm not saying its soft soft, but softer. My second battle of relaxer came in today too. I will wait a few days until I get my neutralizer shampoos in the mail and then its part 2 time. I've been thinking of going straight on purpose... esp after watching a couple relaxer routine videos.

I just hope its possible to have permanently long and healthy relaxed hair if I process that much. I always said leaving some texture is the key to making relaxers work, but now here I am, thinking of trying out the forsaken path myself. I'm not going to go straight to the point it looks silky and flat while wet, just till there's no curls, if that makes sense. Like a blow out look. I won't be sure till I'm watching what my hair does in the mirror though. If I feel like my hair looks easy enough to deal with at a point where I still have some curls, I'll rinse. But if not, its straight for me. I'm just hoping it still looks full, I don't like that super flat look. I already decided that I'll try out finger detangling only and making sure my new growth is always moisturized to help a lot with breakage. Oh, and I'll try to keep my new growth stretched too to help with stretching my relaxers as long as possible. I think overlapping is a surefire way to lose all progress, even it take a year or two to happen. But I'll only stretch relaxers until I start seeing breakage hairs starting from the line of demarcation, and no longer. So at least I'm kind of building a regimen with set rules to increase my odds of success *bites nails*.
Oh, and I love that we both write essays. I never met somebody like me before on this forum, or anywhere for that matter. Lol.

 

[MzSwift]

You stay soooo on point with the tips! This will make choosing deep conditioners way easier. I usually just be looking like okay, this one. LOL. Tbh I was just trying to bring my order to $25 so I could get free shipping. But I remember now about that salt trick! I read about it years ago and thought it sounded super intriguing, but then I forgot and never tried it. Its cool because everybody has salt in their house. I'm so curious what makes that work but I've seen enough responses saying it does to give it a shot. I have this yummy smelling strawberry suave conditioner I'll try it with after I deep condition with the rest of that loreal dc after I relax again in a few days. I hope I'm in hair heaven. I'm never in heaven with conditioners. lol.

My hair feels softer right now after using a simple glycerin spray, so I'm not as scared to relax. I was able to separate my strands to finger detangle without breakage while my hair was DRY, which surprised me tbh. Now I'm not saying its soft soft, but softer. My second battle of relaxer came in today too. I will wait a few days until I get my neutralizer shampoos in the mail and then its part 2 time. I've been thinking of going straight on purpose... esp after watching a couple relaxer routine videos.

I just hope its possible to have permanently long and healthy relaxed hair if I process that much. I always said leaving some texture is the key to making relaxers work, but now here I am, thinking of trying out the forsaken path myself. I'm not going to go straight to the point it looks silky and flat while wet, just till there's no curls, if that makes sense. Like a blow out look. I won't be sure till I'm watching what my hair does in the mirror though. If I feel like my hair looks easy enough to deal with at a point where I still have some curls, I'll rinse. But if not, its straight for me. I'm just hoping it still looks full, I don't like that super flat look. I already decided that I'll try out finger detangling only and making sure my new growth is always moisturized to help a lot with breakage. Oh, and I'll try to keep my new growth stretched too to help with stretching my relaxers as long as possible. I think overlapping is a surefire way to lose all progress, even it take a year or two to happen. But I'll only stretch relaxers until I start seeing breakage hairs starting from the line of demarcation, and no longer. So at least I'm kind of building a regimen with set rules to increase my odds of success *bites nails*.
Oh, and I love that we both write essays. I never met somebody like me before on this forum, or anywhere for that matter. Lol.

That's great, I'm glad your hair feels a bit softer. And that flexible plan is the best approach. You don't know what will be good for your hair until you actually get there so you're smart to keep things general.

This is one of the straight bonelaxed ladies I like to watch. She hasn't updated in a while but I like to watch her old videos, she has a lot of good info if you're interested. She has grown to TBL while bonelaxed. She had a setback a couple of years ago and grew it back to HL again. She gives good tips and she keeps it simple.



So you can totally do it with bonelaxed hair! There are a few others I can't think of right now. Long relaxed hair is possible as long as you stay up on your protein-moisture balance and don't over manipulate your hair.

 

[FadingDelilah]

That's great, I'm glad your hair feels a bit softer. And that flexible plan is the best approach. You don't know what will be good for your hair until you actually get there so you're smart to keep things general.

This is one of the straight bonelaxed ladies I like to watch. She hasn't updated in a while but I like to watch her old videos, she has a lot of good info if you're interested. She has grown to TBL while bonelaxed. She had a setback a couple of years ago and grew it back to HL again. She gives good tips and she keeps it simple.



So you can totally do it with bonelaxed hair! There are a few others I can't think of right now. Long relaxed hair is possible as long as you stay up on your protein-moisture balance and don't over manipulate your hair.

Oh my gosh this is exactly the texture I want!!! That sheen and the thick healthy new growth.... yummmyyyyy. But the seemingly eventual setback is what I fear. I wonder what caused it for her .... but then again, I already decided setback or not its about ease and having fun at this point. There might be seasons/years where all of the hair you see hanging down my back is mine, and others where its the help of clip-ins. And that's okay. Wish me luck.

 

[MzSwift]

Got
I’m never stretching this long again unless I have a weave or some braids in. This is bananas.

Sorry I forgot to ask, what happened??
And IA, PSing is the ONLY way I can stretch my relaxers. Anything else is just too much manipulation.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

Sorry I forgot to ask, what happened??
And IA, PSing is the ONLY way I can stretch my relaxers. Anything else is just too much manipulation.

First I got lazy, then I was sick for a bit. My hair is aggravating my scalp lol. The new growth is so compacted and kinda dry lol.

 

[Wenbev]

@FadingDelilah this is another good one. very inspiring

 

[MzSwift]

First I got lazy, then I was sick for a bit. My hair is aggravating my scalp lol. The new growth is so compacted and kinda dry lol.

There was this long haired relaxed lady featured on a blog who used to keep her hair in ponytailed twists. She said she had trouble with retention until she started doing the twists. It made sense to me. The ponytails kept her new growth stretched and the twists kept her manipulation low. I've been wanting to find her name again so that I could search her but I can't find it

Lol, you may be thinking "Ponytails?" but it looked really good. She would wear them in updos, buns, etc. I wish I could find her info to show you.

 

[MzSwift]

@Wenbev

I dunno why I thought she was texlaxed. @FadingDelilah , she has a great blog too: Hairlicious

https://www.hairliciousinc.com/2008/03/har.html

It has good info and some inspirational posts there too.

 

[SpiceUpMyHair]

@MzSwift how do you like the motions relaxer? How long to you keep the relaxer on? Can I see a Pic of your texlax texture. Sorry for all the questions. I am relaxing this weekend and I am not sold on ORS.

 

[MzSwift]

@MzSwift how do you like the motions relaxer? How long to you keep the relaxer on? Can I see a Pic of your texlax texture. Sorry for all the questions. I am relaxing this weekend and I am not sold on ORS.

Sure, no problem! If you want to see more, you should be able to check my albums

****Uh, pic heavy post, ladies. Sorry *****

When I first texlaxed my virgin hair, I diluted the relaxer too much and then rinsed it out too soon. I rinsed as soon as I was finished applying. I was too scared to do a corrective so I rolled with it at first.

Texture after my virgin 4b/a texlax-

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I accidentally left A LOT of texture. The SSKs were still bugging me. So then I did corrective relaxers and ended up with bonelaxed hair which I didn't like and started growing it out by texlaxing my roots. So I don't have a lot of pictures from that timeframe (I was also pregnant). You can totally see the difference between the texlaxed and bonelaxed hair. Texlax gives me the appearance of having more density.

Braided ponytails, bonelaxed ends
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Airdrying, bonelaxed ends
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So then I cut the bonelaxed ends off in 2018.

After finally getting my process down. My current texture looks very different. I no longer dilute the relaxer, instead I apply oil and conditioner directly to my hair before relaxing. I still rinse directly after applying but now I smooth with my fingers before rinsing. I also relax in twists, thanks to @sunnieb , which means I can apply the relaxer faster. It takes me anywhere from 5-10 minutes to apply and only 1-2 minutes to smooth:

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Texture before relaxer:

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Texture after relaxer/texlax:

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Airdrying right after texlax:

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So now my ponytail looks more uniformed compared to when I had bonelaxed ends.

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I only flat iron 1-2 times per year and I typically only do it when I relax. I prefer to blowout and I do it multiple times a year bc I do them now before braiding my hair up for a PS. Here's my blowout and flat irons:
Blowout
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Flat Iron
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HTH!

 

[FadingDelilah]

Got my neutralizers in the mail. If my hair isn't too tangly,I might do my corrective tonight. But if I have to detangle more than expected, I will detangle tonight and relax tmmw. My main worry is burning myself, because I really wanna get my roots good. But I'm scared if I take the time to apply the relaxer proerly to the roots without applying it to my actual scalp, I will take too long applying it and end up with different textures. We shall see. But I'm soooo excited!!! I think I'm going to get a good couple inches cut off after to finally be past dealing with the result of my major hair loss in 2017. For a while I may protective style by wearing my hair in a cute single braid with marley hair added.

 

[MzSwift]

Got my neutralizers in the mail. If my hair isn't too tangly,I might do my corrective tonight. But if I have to detangle more than expected, I will detangle tonight and relax tmmw. My main worry is burning myself, because I really wanna get my roots good. But I'm scared if I take the time to apply the relaxer proerly to the roots without applying it to my actual scalp, I will take too long applying it and end up with different textures. We shall see. But I'm soooo excited!!! I think I'm going to get a good couple inches cut off after to finally be past dealing with the result of my major hair loss in 2017. For a while I may protective style by wearing my hair in a cute single braid with marley hair added.

Yay! GL!! Waiting for the update.