Whats the Longest you have processed

[Arcadian]

I always go 3-6 minutes past the max time. I also start relaxing the thickest part of my hair first (which for me is the crown) I process the nape and edges last.


I just watch and see what happens. One thing I'm finding is that the longer my hair gets the longer it seem to take to process (why that is i don't know especially since I'm only doing new growth!) But I don't notice any more breakage or anything, its actually a lot less?

-A

 

[wadadligyal]

I did my first self relax last week and followed the instructions on the jar and left it one for 15 -18 mins and my hair is not as straight as I expected but my sis (Tallygirl) told me I need to leave it on for longer. Like she said the instrictions on the jar is just an estimate and you have to see how your hair is doing to decide whether you process longer or shorter than what the instructions say. Now I know so the next time I relax I will definitely go over 20 mins

 

[B_Phlyy]

My hair takes some chemicals like water. The most I've ever left it on was like 23 minutes and my hair was bone straight.

 

[Ladylynn]

I relax in 4 sections. For each section, start to finish, I leave the relaxer on for about 20-25 minutes. The time limit is suppose to be 18 minutes. I do find that working in sections makes it easier to get the hair straight. It just takes so long.

 

[KhandiB]

I relax in 4 sections as well..

Silk Elements says 22-25 I think for coarse hair, so Imma do it different next time, feeling like I have new growth a week after applying a relaxer is wack

 

[jasmin]

This last time I left the relaxer on about 35 minutes. Before it was 28 minutes which is 6 minutes past the time on the jar. My hair is thicker now so I need to leave it on longer.

 

[cocowhite]

I can go 15-18 minutes before the tingling kicks in.

 

[sylver2]

The last time was the longest. I had to sit and wait because no one was available to wash the relaxer out my hair.
So it probably took her about 35 minutes to apply, then I was waiting about 20 minutes after that.
sores all over scalp.
It usually gets washed soon as they finish applying.

 

[darkangel25]

Excellent thread.

I leave mine on no longer than the instructions say and then rinse immediately, but my roots are never even close to being straight! Now I am really thinking of letting mine stay on just a couple of minutes more.

 

[sprungonhairboards]

If I don't leave it on for a minimum of 45 minutes, I may as well not even put the relaxer on in the first place

You got that gangsta hair like me

 

[RubyWoo]

20 mins max; including application and smoothing. It gets straight but not bone straight. I relax using the half & half method so it's easier to relax (and get it straight) without feeling rushed.

 

[Brownie518]

When I self-relaxed this past Monday, it took me a total of 50 minutes.

Holy s--t!!! Wasn't your scalp screaming? Daaanng!!!!!

 

[Bellavita6]

20-25 minutes from start to finish. Any longer and my hair turns out waaaay too straight. I use Mizani relaxer.

 

[Ummalhadiqah]

Great Thread. I have a "method to my madness" here it is- my "relaxing time plan" I use every time I self relax. I use Phyto Index 2. I section my hair into four quadrants, if my new growth is really thick (like it is at 14-18 weeks post) I also go through my hair and
pre-part it with my fingers so as to have a little road map and to save time with application then I start the timer.
I start with the right side and apply for 2 minutes then proceed to apply the rest of the sections for 2 minutes, so that is total application time- 8 minutes.
But the first section has already had relaxer on it for 8 minutes,
the second section 6 minutes,
the third section 4 minutes
and the last section 2 minutes. (yes, I am anal like that) .

My goal is to give each section at least 20 minutes. So I let it sit on my hair for about 12 minutes then start smoothing that 1st section which by now has had 24 minutes,
the second 18,
the third 16
and the last only 14.
I am always concerned about the last section I relax because that is usaully the section that comes out underprocessed that is why I am now trying to be more specific about the timing.
So, then I start smoothing my whole head for another 6 minutes so as to ensure that last section gets its fair 20 minutes of relaxer time.
This brings me to having relaxer on the first section now for 26 minutes, the second 24,
the third 22
and the last 20.
The I take like a minute to smooth out the edges all the way around.
This really has been working for me.
Oh, let me mention that I dont apply the relaxer at all to the edges until the last 8-10 minutes this usually only takes a couple of seconds so I dont factor the exact timing into my "relaxing plan".

 

[RainbowCurls]

About 35 mins I think... and it still didn't make my hair straight.

 

[Angelicus]

longest time was 40-45 minutes... and I needed every minute

 

[esoterica]

45 minutes with phyto index 1. i'm 4a/b. i was shocked how mild that stuff is. i love it.

 

[shunta]

The last time was the longest. I had to sit and wait because no one was available to wash the relaxer out my hair.
So it probably took her about 35 minutes to apply, then I was waiting about 20 minutes after that.
sores all over scalp.
It usually gets washed soon as they finish applying.

This is the very reason that I wanna start self-relaxing.

 

[Dandelion]

30 minutes. I am a 4A (coffee stirrer-sized curls) and selected the Index1 Phytorelaxer (max suggested time for my hair is 20 minutes) to give myself extra time for careful touch-up application.

In addition, I just yesterday tried LondonDiva's marvelous multi-step relaxer method and now I can kiss those ooh-I'm-scared-so-I'll-rinse-now under-processed areas good-bye!