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| Blow dried hair - BEFORE cut |
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| Blow dried hair - AFTER cut |
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| Flat ironed hair |
Showing posts with label Relaxer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Relaxer. Show all posts
Relaxer and Hair Cut Pictures
If you follow me on my Facebook Page, then you already know that I cut another 2" when I did my relaxer yesterday. I'm very excited about getting my blunt ends back, and don't plan to trim at all next year. That's the only way I will make my goal of waist length hair by December, 2011. Here are some before and after pictures. My ends were not "terrible" by any means but I wanted to finish the year with blunt ends.
Relaxer Prepping - Two days before
My relaxer is in two days and this is what I did tonight to help prepare: I lightly detangled my hair, sprayed Sta-Sof-Fro to my roots/newgrowth, and heavily moisturize/seal.
Sta-Sof-Fro is an old school product that I remember seeing under the bathroom sink as a little girl. It is very moisturizing, but too much can cause mushy hair (like the time I used it as a leave-in conditioner). It does a great job of softening my newgrowth, so it will be more manageable on relaxer day. I spray my roots two days before to ensure that my roots and scalp have enough time to dry completely before the relaxer application. I buy Sta-Sof-Fro from Walmart.
Sta-Sof-Fro is an old school product that I remember seeing under the bathroom sink as a little girl. It is very moisturizing, but too much can cause mushy hair (like the time I used it as a leave-in conditioner). It does a great job of softening my newgrowth, so it will be more manageable on relaxer day. I spray my roots two days before to ensure that my roots and scalp have enough time to dry completely before the relaxer application. I buy Sta-Sof-Fro from Walmart.
Relaxer Prepping
My relaxer is scheduled for next Saturday and I'm so excited (and a little anxious to see how much I will need to cut). Relaxer day is always so...relaxing LOL (pun intended). Since I only go to a stylist for my relaxer, it is a welcomed break from doing my hair myself. I get to sit back and let someone else have all the fun of doing my hair.
There are some things you can do before your relaxer to help you have a successful relaxer application. Here is my plan for the next week:
Who else is getting a relaxer next Saturday?
There are some things you can do before your relaxer to help you have a successful relaxer application. Here is my plan for the next week:
- Sunday: Chelate/clarify, reconstruct, deep condition, and air dry
- Monday - Wednesday: Moisturize as usual but avoid scalp
- Thursday: Gently finger part and spray StaSoFro on roots
- Friday: Coat length of hair with Chi Silk Infusion
- Saturday: RELAXER and cut!!!
Who else is getting a relaxer next Saturday?
Cut 7" in one year?
Yep, I'm going to go ahead and get another hair cut.
I think I need to cut another 2" to regain my thickness. I have an appointment to see Reniece in October for my next relaxer and haircut. This will make a total of 7" that I've cut this year. I go through different phases with my hair - length obsession, shape obsession (ex. V shape vs. U shape) and now I'm in the blunt ends obsession phase.
After my last relaxer, I went back and reviewed all my progress pictures. There is a stark difference between when my stylist, Reniece, relaxed my hair and when I self-relaxed. I take great care of my hair between relaxers, so when its time to relax, I've always been able to retain all my length and thickness.
Reniece did my relaxers in the pictures above and I retained about 2". Please note that I didn't stretch for 4 months, she also did my relaxer in March 2007. When I look at these pictures and then compare them to my self relaxer results here, its clear that self relaxing caused me to lose thickness.
Relaxer day is critical to your regimen and even stylists can cause damage (see below). My last setback was the main reason I decided to try self relaxing. Why pay someone $130 to leave me with thin ends when I can do that myself for free? (LOL).
I still believe that self relaxing can be done successfully without adverse effects. Although I can probably change my technique to avoid breakage, I decided that it isn't worth the risk of losing progress. Not to mention that it takes me 8-10 hours to self relax, blow dry, and flat iron (that includes taking breaks to eat and watch my shows lol). So after doing the cost-benefit analysis, I decided to stop self relaxing for now (I may try again in the future).
I think I need to cut another 2" to regain my thickness. I have an appointment to see Reniece in October for my next relaxer and haircut. This will make a total of 7" that I've cut this year. I go through different phases with my hair - length obsession, shape obsession (ex. V shape vs. U shape) and now I'm in the blunt ends obsession phase.
After my last relaxer, I went back and reviewed all my progress pictures. There is a stark difference between when my stylist, Reniece, relaxed my hair and when I self-relaxed. I take great care of my hair between relaxers, so when its time to relax, I've always been able to retain all my length and thickness.
January 2007 (Relaxer and cut); finger at top of bra strap
May 2007 (Relaxer)
Reniece did my relaxers in the pictures above and I retained about 2". Please note that I didn't stretch for 4 months, she also did my relaxer in March 2007. When I look at these pictures and then compare them to my self relaxer results here, its clear that self relaxing caused me to lose thickness.
Relaxer day is critical to your regimen and even stylists can cause damage (see below). My last setback was the main reason I decided to try self relaxing. Why pay someone $130 to leave me with thin ends when I can do that myself for free? (LOL).
December 2008 (Relaxer hair loss caused by a new stylist)
Relaxer Day Pictures
Hi friends!
Sorry for the delay. My internet has been malfunctioning all week; it is reminiscent of dial-up service circa 1998. Anyway, without further adieu...
Here are the pictures of my blow dried and flat ironed hair.
Sorry for the delay. My internet has been malfunctioning all week; it is reminiscent of dial-up service circa 1998. Anyway, without further adieu...
Here are the pictures of my blow dried and flat ironed hair.
July 2010
May 2010
I'm inclined to say that in the July picture, my hair was more spread across my back, thus making my ends appear thinner. But I'm not sure if that is me trying to rationalize in order to feel better (lol). What do you think?
On a positive note, I'm excited that my July flat ironed hair, has the same sheen as the May flat ironed hair, when my stylist did it. I'm getting better at flat ironing my own hair.
I already told my stylist that if my next relaxer causes thinning, then I'll be making the trip to DC every 3 months so she can do it. She agreed that if I'm losing progress, then I should go back to her. Isn't she awesome? Few people comprehend my hair journey. But, I've been going to her since 2004, so she has witnessed my progress and setbacks.
Q&A: Why the shedding on relaxer day?
Reader S.B. asked a great question on my Facebook Page that I thought would be helpful to everyone.
Q: Why do you think your hair sheds so much more when you do your relaxers?
A: It wasn't shedding. It was breakage from the manipulation of making small horizontal parts to apply the relaxer. The relaxer sort of makes the strands stick together, so when I go through and make diagonal parts, it caused breakage.
I hope this clarifies what I meant in my last post about losing hair while relaxing. The relaxer itself didn't cause me to shed. I suspect that's what happened the last time I relaxed also. Lesson learned.
Q: Why do you think your hair sheds so much more when you do your relaxers?
A: It wasn't shedding. It was breakage from the manipulation of making small horizontal parts to apply the relaxer. The relaxer sort of makes the strands stick together, so when I go through and make diagonal parts, it caused breakage.
~
Relaxer Day!!!
Hi friends,
I did my relaxer today, and I blow dried and flat ironed to check my length and thickness. I'm not very pleased with the outcome :( I do notice length increase but I lost some thickness. On a positive note, the relaxer application was successful - no over processing and no scalp burns.
I learned a new relaxer technique: By making bigger parts and apply more relaxer to each section, I drastically reduced tangling (and thus broken hairs) and saved 6 minutes during application. Fortunately, I figured this out in time to apply this new technique to the front of my hair. Unfortunately for the back of my hair, I didn't make the realization until after I relaxed the back. Here's a picture of the amount of hair lost from the back vs the front. So I lost some thickness in the back and on my "weight/hem" line.
Hair lost from the back (left) vs front (right)
I wouldn't call this a setback per se. But if I have the same problem the next time I self relax, then I will go back to my stylist in DC to do my relaxers. I might need to hide the scissors for a while too, I'm very tempted to cut another 2". I will probably wear curly styles until my next relaxer. Curls give the illusion of thickness, so I'll be less tempted to cut.
It's after midnight and I'm beyond exhausted. I will post pictures of my hair tomorrow.
I did my relaxer today, and I blow dried and flat ironed to check my length and thickness. I'm not very pleased with the outcome :( I do notice length increase but I lost some thickness. On a positive note, the relaxer application was successful - no over processing and no scalp burns.
I learned a new relaxer technique: By making bigger parts and apply more relaxer to each section, I drastically reduced tangling (and thus broken hairs) and saved 6 minutes during application. Fortunately, I figured this out in time to apply this new technique to the front of my hair. Unfortunately for the back of my hair, I didn't make the realization until after I relaxed the back. Here's a picture of the amount of hair lost from the back vs the front. So I lost some thickness in the back and on my "weight/hem" line.
Hair lost from the back (left) vs front (right)
I wouldn't call this a setback per se. But if I have the same problem the next time I self relax, then I will go back to my stylist in DC to do my relaxers. I might need to hide the scissors for a while too, I'm very tempted to cut another 2". I will probably wear curly styles until my next relaxer. Curls give the illusion of thickness, so I'll be less tempted to cut.
It's after midnight and I'm beyond exhausted. I will post pictures of my hair tomorrow.
10 Weeks Post Relaxer Update
I'm currently 10 weeks post and my newgrowth is actually manageable right now. I planned to do my relaxer this weekend but my scalp started itching, and I'm sure I scratched it while I was asleep. So in the interest of not having scalp burns, I'm going to wash my hair today and then apply my relaxer next weekend. That will put me at 11 weeks post, which is well within my goal range of relaxing every 10-12 weeks.
I also bought a new length check t-shirt, so I can better track my growth progress. I'll take lots of pictures and will try to record some video as well.
I also bought a new length check t-shirt, so I can better track my growth progress. I'll take lots of pictures and will try to record some video as well.
Hair S.O.S. - "I did my relaxer and now my hair is breaking!"
I got a call from my best friend this morning about her hair and thought it would be helpful to share her experience and my advice to her (with her permission). Here's a brief recap of our conversation:
T.J.: "My hair is falling out!"
Me: "What happened?"
T.J.: "I did my relaxer on Sunday with my usual relaxer, and now whenever I touch my hair it is breaking and falling out."
Me: "How many times did you neutralize and how long did you let the neutralizer sit on your hair?"
T.J.: "What's that?"
Me: "Uh oh"
The shampoo that comes with your relaxer is not a regular shampoo. It is a low ph shampoo that stops the chemical process and restores your hair to its proper ph level. A regular shampoo may not have a low enough ph to stop the chemical process. Without neutralizing the relaxer, the chemical process continues until your hair reaches its breaking point and thus starts to break.
My suggestion to her was as follows:
If you realize that you do not have neutralizing shampoo or you run out before you can properly neutralize your hair, then vinegar can be used to neutralize. However, I strongly suggest that you get neutralizing shampoo immediately, and thoroughly neutralize your hair.
It has been two days since she relaxed her hair without neutralizing it. Hopefully, she does not suffer a major setback. I will keep you posted on the progress of her hair. I hope this is helpful.
T.J.: "My hair is falling out!"
Me: "What happened?"
T.J.: "I did my relaxer on Sunday with my usual relaxer, and now whenever I touch my hair it is breaking and falling out."
Me: "How many times did you neutralize and how long did you let the neutralizer sit on your hair?"
T.J.: "What's that?"
Me: "Uh oh"
The shampoo that comes with your relaxer is not a regular shampoo. It is a low ph shampoo that stops the chemical process and restores your hair to its proper ph level. A regular shampoo may not have a low enough ph to stop the chemical process. Without neutralizing the relaxer, the chemical process continues until your hair reaches its breaking point and thus starts to break.
My suggestion to her was as follows:
- Buy a neutralizing shampoo, a light reconstructor, and a moisturizing deep conditioner,
- Wet the hair and apply the reconstructor for 5-10 minutes; rinse,
- Apply the neutralizing shampoo and shampoo 2-3 times, making sure the shampoo is on the hair for atleast 5 minutes,
- Deep condition with heat for 30 minutes,
- Air dry and do low manipulation styles for the rest of the week.
If you realize that you do not have neutralizing shampoo or you run out before you can properly neutralize your hair, then vinegar can be used to neutralize. However, I strongly suggest that you get neutralizing shampoo immediately, and thoroughly neutralize your hair.
It has been two days since she relaxed her hair without neutralizing it. Hopefully, she does not suffer a major setback. I will keep you posted on the progress of her hair. I hope this is helpful.
How I Relax My Hair
Hi friends!
The decision to relax my hair myself was quite daunting. But after I had two bad experiences with new stylists, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Before I took the plunge, I practiced the application process with conditioner, and used a timer to ensure I got even results. I do not relax my hair bone straight, so my hair is wavy when wet and highly textured. To get my desired results, the application process is between 18-20 minutes from start until I rinse.
Please note - I do not add any oils or conditioner to my relaxer. To get the texlaxed results, I simply omit the "smoothing" and I do not let the relaxer "sit" on my hair.
I relax my hair in two sections - the back half and the front half (instead of applying the relaxer to my entire head). The half/half method allows me to get even results, without over processing one part of my hair. I start by applying the relaxer to the back half only, then I rinse, reconstruct, neutralize, and condition. I leave in the conditioner, cover the back half, and then repeat the process to the front half of my hair.
In these two videos*, I demonstrate how I prep my hair to be relaxed and how I apply the relaxer. For safety reasons, I used conditioner to demonstrate how I apply my relaxer.
I hope this is helpful.
(*The videos were recorded two weeks before I did my relaxer.)
Hair Update - May
Here is a quick video update on my relaxer, hair cut, and upcoming videos. I will post pictures of my hair cut by the end of today.
Relaxer Stretching - Pros and Cons
Hi friends,
Most of us probably believe that we must relax our hair every 6-8 weeks. Some women can relax that often without any problems. But for the most of us, relaxing that frequently causes damage to our hair, because of the chance of overlapping the relaxer to previously relaxed hair.
When I decided to stop relaxing my hair bone straight, I chose to extend the time between my relaxers as well. I gradually increased the numbers of weeks between my relaxers, until I figured out my limit. It was a trial and error process, and I found that the longest I can stretch my relaxer without adverse effects is 10 weeks.
Here are some pros and cons to stretching your relaxer:
I stretched my most recent relaxer to 13 1/2 weeks because frankly, life got in the way. As a result, I suffered more hair loss than usual. So I will have to cut more hair than expected when I trim next week.
Most of us probably believe that we must relax our hair every 6-8 weeks. Some women can relax that often without any problems. But for the most of us, relaxing that frequently causes damage to our hair, because of the chance of overlapping the relaxer to previously relaxed hair.
When I decided to stop relaxing my hair bone straight, I chose to extend the time between my relaxers as well. I gradually increased the numbers of weeks between my relaxers, until I figured out my limit. It was a trial and error process, and I found that the longest I can stretch my relaxer without adverse effects is 10 weeks.
Here are some pros and cons to stretching your relaxer:
Pros
- Reduces the chance of applying relaxer to previously relaxed hair,
- Thicker, fuller hair, and
- Saves money in salon visits or relaxer purchase.
Cons
- Hair is more likely to tangle and break if not properly moisturized,
- In extreme cases, hair can knot excessively at the roots when you wash, and
- Line of demarcation (where the new growth meets the relaxed hair) is more prone to breakage.
I stretched my most recent relaxer to 13 1/2 weeks because frankly, life got in the way. As a result, I suffered more hair loss than usual. So I will have to cut more hair than expected when I trim next week.
April Relaxer Results
I did my relaxer at 13 1/2 weeks and here are some pictures of the results.
Back half relaxed, front half not relaxed
Nape relaxed
I did my relaxer while in Florida for my sister's college graduation. (Congrats sis!) Since I was in the humid capital of America, I decided against blow drying and flat ironing because I knew my hair would not stay straight. Instead, I let my hair air dry and then lightly flat ironed in big sections. To style my hair for graduation, I used steam rollers to get the wavy style, like I did here.
12 Weeks Post Relaxer
Hi friends!
For the ladies who relax their hair - have you ever noticed that when it is one week away from doing a touch up your scalp decides to rebel? Well that was my scalp this past weekend. I had every intention of relaxing my hair at 12 weeks post, but my scalp rebelled. So I decided to wait another week before I apply my relaxer.
Here are some things I do to make sure I have a good relaxer experience:
Here are some pictures of my air-dried new growth.
For the ladies who relax their hair - have you ever noticed that when it is one week away from doing a touch up your scalp decides to rebel? Well that was my scalp this past weekend. I had every intention of relaxing my hair at 12 weeks post, but my scalp rebelled. So I decided to wait another week before I apply my relaxer.
Here are some things I do to make sure I have a good relaxer experience:
- Avoid irritating my scalp,
- Limit combing to every 2-3 days,
- Moisturize with more product than usual,
- Two days before relaxer application, thoroughly detangle hair especially at the roots, and
- One day before application, lightly spray a liquid moisturizer on my roots to soften them. This makes parting my hair during application easier. My roots dry completely before I apply the relaxer.
Here are some pictures of my air-dried new growth.
Front
Back
New growth un-stretched
New growth stretched
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