Could this be making my relaxer go back?

[Supergirl]

5 days after a relaxer, my regimen is to clarify my hair and to use a creamy protein treatment (usually Joico K-Pak) . BUT, I notice that when I do this, the newly relaxed part of my hair is seemingly not as straight as it was when I left the salon. It's not still kinky, but there are detectable waves. I like to have my hair relaxed "comfortably" straight.

I could understand if maybe the roller-set is making the roots seem straighter than they really are. I get Affirm Lye and have been for a little over 2 years now and I've heard that Lye doesn't get as straight as no-lye. However, I do remember that when I first started getting lye, my hair would get pretty straight.

If you have any knowledge about this, do tell. I'm sorry that I haven't mastered asking a question without writing a small chapter

 

[cutebajangirl]

I think a roller set does help the roots to be completely straight if they are not already. Is the stylist smoothing as much as she normally does? The second time I used Fiberguard mild my hair had lots of waves after I washed. Having used it before without this happening, I eventually came to realize that the she was being even more cautious than usual. I would think that after 5 days, the cuticles wouldn't be in a setting condisive to bringing back the original bonds as opposed to if you chose to use the kpak right after the relaxer is rinsed out.

I guess I can't respond without writing a chapter either

 

[EmeraldSky]

I had a similar problem. Is it only the just relaxed new growth that had the "wave" or all the growth from your previous touchups since you switched to lye? That way you can figure out if perhaps it's the lye relaxer.

 

[prettygirl]

Your hair couuld have reverted after the relaxer

 

[Crysdon]

[ QUOTE ]
Your hair couuld have reverted after the relaxer

[/ QUOTE ]

No such thing.

It's called a permanent because it permanently changes your hair.

 

[prettygirl]

no what I meant by revert is that the hair seems straight after a relaxer but after doing a wash it goes back to being waving which could be because the hair was under processed in the first place

 

[Crysdon]

That sounds better.

 

[Supergirl]

[ QUOTE ]
I had a similar problem. Is it only the just relaxed new growth that had the "wave" or all the growth from your previous touchups since you switched to lye? That way you can figure out if perhaps it's the lye relaxer.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not all of the "lye" hair is like this. When I leave the salon (every retouch for like the past year) it seems straight then after my first at home shampoo and conditioner, it is wavy. I am wondering if the clarifying shampoo is lessening the chemical and making it go back as well...

 

[Supergirl]

By The Way,

I don't think it's being under-processed. Usually when I've had it under-processed, the waves are showing right away(same day as the re-touch) rather than after the first shampoo and conditioner 5 days later.

 

[ballet_bun]

Hi Supergirl...

This used to happen to me years ago , when I had PCJ in my hair. After getting the relaxer, my hair looked beautiful, straight and shiny. After my first wash(not a clarifying wash)it didn't seem as straight. Furthermore, by the end of the month, it almost appeared as though I didn't get a relaxer. It was frustrating, because initially, my hair was beautiful and I loved it.

Wish I could give you an explanation. Too make a long story short, I ended up switching relaxers. That seemed to solve the problem.

Ballet Bun ...

 

[Allandra]

Supergirl,

Are you noticing waves 'here and there' or all over? Maybe a few sections are underprocessed (since the relaxer usually doesn't stay on all of the hair for the same amount of time).

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Maybe by the 5th day your hair has already grown some! Trying to be the eternal optimist!lol

 

[Spagirl]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I had a similar problem. Is it only the just relaxed new growth that had the "wave" or all the growth from your previous touchups since you switched to lye? That way you can figure out if perhaps it's the lye relaxer.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not all of the "lye" hair is like this. When I leave the salon (every retouch for like the past year) it seems straight then after my first at home shampoo and conditioner, it is wavy. I am wondering if the clarifying shampoo is lessening the chemical and making it go back as well...

[/ QUOTE ]

To rule out the clarifier what about trying a different shampoo after your relaxer or after your relaxer go back to the salon and bring your clarifier for your 1st post relaxer shampoo.

 

[EmeraldSky]

Supergirl,
The last time my hair was underprocessed I didn't realize until weeks later. It took several weeks for it to become obvious, my hair was straight for the first 2 weeks and then gradually became kinkier with every wash until my relaxed new growth was impossible to comb, so perhaps it is underprocessed. I don't think a clarifier can cause permanently straightened hair to revert, but then again I could be wrong.
Have you been using any creams or anything on your new growth before your touchup? I think that WGO and certain other oils can buffer a relaxer so I don't apply anything especially scurl moisturizer to my new growth after the last wash before my relaxer. I hope this helps, I know how frustrating this can be.

 

[ms_kenesha]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you been using any creams or anything on your new growth before your touchup? I think that WGO and certain other oils can buffer a relaxer so I don't apply anything especially scurl moisturizer to my new growth after the last wash before my relaxer. I hope this helps, I know how frustrating this can be.


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm dealing with the same thing right now & I think that my application of castor oil before my touch-up is what is causing my underprocessing. I did this before I touched up my own hair last month and was underprocessed, but I thought it was something I had done wrong & this month I went to a professional and I just washed my hair yesterday and my roots (I airdried) are definitely not as straight as they usually are with a professional relaxer. As of now I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

 

[Supergirl]

Nah,

I don't put anything on my new growth really.

Yes,

The waves do seem to be all over and not just some places.

I think maybe I will try waiting longer to shampoo after the next relaxer and I won't use the clarifying.

Maybe my hair is just so strong that it's hard to break down all of the bonds necessary to straighten it.

Also Shamboosie says that a No-Lye relaxer changes the bonds of the hair and "locks" the new structure of the hair in and it cannot be altered ever again--not by another relaxer and conditioners will do very little for it. But with the Lye, even though it is permanent--the new shape is not "locked" in. It is still somewhat subject to alteration by additional chemicals and it can absorb conditioners better than no-lye treated hair. Since protein (cysteine amino acid) is what gives the hair its kink, maybe putting the protein in so soon is giving me back some of the cysteine and restoring some of the kink. Hmmm.

Maybe I just answered my own question...

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

I think you did Supergirl! You are so very wise!