The Do's and Don'ts of Relaxing Your Hair

I was on a relaxed hair journey for about 2.5 years before I decided to transition back to natural. 

Throughout those years, I made some mistakes, but was also able to grow my hair from neck length to below my shoulder blades. 

I have learned so much in those 2.5 year and I would like to share that with you. 

Keep reading if you would like to know MY do's and don'ts of relaxing hair. 

DO make sure your hair is thoroughly detangled before relaxing your hair- If not you will end up with knots and a lot of hair loss on relaxer day

DO base your scalp

DO protect your ends with an oil or conditioner

DON'T self- relax if you have not fully educated yourself or feel uncomfortable doing so. Go to a trusted stylist

DON'T relax your hair if it is breaking, shedding excessively or if you have scalp issues

DO make sure your hair is properly neutralized after rinsing off the relaxer

DO a mild-hard protein treatment at least two weeks before relaxer day

DON'T apply the relaxer to previously relaxed hair 

I am SO Ready to Relax

I am 12 weeks post relaxer and I think I have reached my limit. Not only am I dealing with 12 weeks worth of new-growth, but I am also dealing with some under-processed areas. It takes me at least 1.5 hours to fully detangle and the only way I can avoid knots and tangles is by straightening or putting braids/twists in my hair.

Today I did a hot oil treatment, shampoo-ed (with my brand new Shea Moisture Shampoo, love it!), Did a Mild Protein Treatment,  Deep Conditioned with Moisture, Air-dried for a little bit, detangled, blow-dried my hair then dusted my ends. 
The detangling and blow-drying took me 2 hours!!!! That was my breaking point.

Not sure exactly when I will Relax...It will most likely be next weekend which is why I switched up my way day routine. I'll keep you posted though.

My New-growth even after blow-drying using the tension method



How my hair looked after blow-drying since I placed each section in bantu-knots- HOT MESS

3 Tips to Avoid the "Thin Relaxed Hair" Look

I love me some Tyra, but y'all know her hair looks slightly thin. I apologize in advance if this offends anyone

1.) Protect those ends!- I say this time after time, but you MUST protect your previously relaxed ends during the relaxer process. I use a Neutralizer Shampoo then seal it in with Vaseline or Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Not only are you protecting your ends from overlapping during the relaxer application, but you are protecting them from run-off when you actually wash the relaxer out.

2.) Decrease the amount of Relaxers you get yearly- This basically means to "stretch" your relaxers to at least 10 weeks.

Why should you stretch your relaxer when you follow step 1? Well, no matter how much you protect your hair, you previously relaxed hair will still be touched by the relaxer. So stretching your relaxer will minimize the effects.

3.) Dust those ends (Regularly) in Small Sections- I know some people dust their ends when they "feel" like they need to. I dust based on a schedule now, which is every 8 weeks. Your ends are guaranteed to go through wear and tear. So dusting them often, will help you avoid a big trim in the future. When I say dust, I mean a quarter inch. When I say sections, I mean you part your hair in medium sized sections then lightly dust the same amount of hair through-out your head. Dusting should be minimal enough NOT to notice a difference in length

* I know many of my followers have read these tips time after time, but some people reading my blog haven't. I need to cater to EVERYONE!  

Corrective Relaxer When You Have the -----ZZZZZ------

In my last post I stated that upper portion of my hair is straight, middle is underprocessed and the ends are straight.
Now this issue sometimes happens to those who stretch their relaxer for long periods of time because the relaxer is not brought down far enough to cover all of the new-growth.

I had this happen to me before and when I got a "corrective", my hair was fine. Now, just because I was fine before doesn't mean I'm not afraid of breakage. But in the mean time, I am getting my hair as strong as possible, meaning light protein treatments and henna..just in case.

If this happened to you...read on for some tips(this is for you Ra-an ;-).

First you need to take a look at your hair

How bad is the underprocessed area of your hair(the middle portion)? Are you able to comb through with out any issues or breakage? Are you experiencing any breakage? If not, I would proceed as normal and get a touch-up when you normally do. To be safe, I would try not to manipulate that area too much. Maybe try protective styling for a bit.

Words of Advice:
If the middle portion is not severely underprocessed, when you relax as normal..make sure you do NOT put any oil or vaseline on that area when you protect your ends. I'm sure the relaxer run-off will help straighten that area..if not the first time you relax, the next time.

Now if the underprocessed area is causing breakage...then it may be pretty bad and a corrective is needed.
As said above, keep up with your protein treatments to strengthen your hair before doing any type of relaxer/chemical treatment.


Corrective Relaxer

* Wait at least 6 weeks after the intial relaxer

1.) Protect your straight areas of your hair. Meaning, put vaseline, oil, conditioner or whatever on your relaxed ends and on the straighter portion towards your roots. BUT try your best not to get any on your roots or the underprocessed areas.

2.) When you or your stylists relaxes your hair,  relax the roots as normal.  During the last 5-6 minutes of the relaxer process smooth down the relaxer on the underprocessed areas
****Proceed as normal(meaning neutralizing..and all of that good stuff) ****

OR YOU CAN DO THE BELOW (this will better work for those who have smaller portions of hair underprocessed and for those who can stretch up to 13 weeks)

*Wait at least 4-5 weeks*

*Put your hair in medium to large size braids/twists and STOP right above the underprocessed areas

*Now the braid/twists will be your new-growth and the previously relaxed hair (basically the straight area)

*Protect your relaxed ends or place a plastic duck billed clip on the demarcation line(where the underprocessed hair and relaxed ends meet)

* Apply the relaxer to the underprocessed areas ONLY, smooth and keep on for about 7 minutes max. This all depends on how bad it's underprocessed. If it's only texlaxed, keep on for 5 minutes.

****Proceed as normal(meaning neutralizing..and all of that good stuff) ****

Relax as normal 8 weeks later and make sure to protect everything but your new-growth this time.



Hope this helps!!! If anyone else experienced this before..please leave some suggestions/tips or words of wisdom in the comment section!

I Need a Relaxer, My Hair is Shedding?

What is Shed Hair?

Shed hair is hair that has reached the end of its growing cycle and naturally falls from the scalp along with its tiny, white "root or bulb" attached. 

I never understood what people meant by, "I can tell I need a relaxer because my hair is shedding more".
How does not putting a chemical on your hair and sometimes scalp make you shed more?

My theory is this:

• Their hair is  breaking from the line of demarcation. They see long strands of hair and assume that it could be shed hair
• They are experiencing Seasonal Shedding- There is a time of the year where people shed more then normal
• Their shed hair is not falling out like normal because it is getting stuck in their curly new-growth so when combing, more hair comes out
• In some cases they could have an allergic reaction to a new product they tried..which resulted in hair loss (which could sometimes look like shed hair)

My point: Getting a relaxer because you are experience breakage at the line of demarcation, is valid.
I always suggest to do a protein treatment a week before then relax(be at least 8 weeks post). But to get a relaxer because of shedding, isn't the solution. Shedding and a Relaxer has no correlation.

*I did a blog post on ways to slow down excessive shedding in the past, but I will do another post shortly
*You can search for the older post using the search bar

Self- Relaxer Tips

So...I completely forgot to do a follow-up relaxer post and decided instead of doing that, I will offer some helpful tips. Most of these I followed during my relaxer process.
I used ORS Lye Relaxer in Normal

First thing you should always do if you're self relaxing is CHECK THE WATER IN YOUR HOUSE TO MAKE SURE IT"S WORKING PROPERLY! hahaha.
Okay, after watching Malcolm X, I have the biggest fear that my water will not work and I would have to stick my head in a toilet to get the relaxer out. Sounds crazy, right? Well I still check the water to make sure its working as it should.

1.) Base Scalp- Sounds like a duh kind of thing, right? But some people still don't do it. No matter if the relaxer says "No Base" or not, a base is needed. This is a VERY harsh chemical that should not be directly touching your scalp and if it does, that's what a base is for.  I used plain ol' Vaseline.

2.) Do Perimeter LAST- I always relax my edges and nape last because those are the most sensitive areas of my head. That goes for most people. If you have issues with your edges and nape area..it could be due to over processing. So...relax those areas last if at all.

3.) Oil Already Relaxed Ends- To prevent Over processing, it's best to oil your already relaxed ends. I used Castor Oil which is one of the thickest oils I know

4.) Always do a Mid-Step Protein Treatment- After Rinsing out the relaxer, you should do a 2 minute Protein Treatment to replenish lost protein during the relaxer process. You will notice your hair becomes immediately stronger and you may not even get that "thin relaxed look" right after your relaxer

5.) Be sure to PROPERLY Neutralize- Neutralizing is the most important step because you are able to get ALL the relaxer out of your hair.  After my mid step protein treatment, I rinsed with Neutralizer twice, then I covered my hair with Neutralizer and kept that in for about 6 minutes, rinsed again.
Getting a color activated neutralizer may be best for those who aren't sure.

6.) Lye or No Lye?- Check out this post to see the pros and cons of each relaxer. I use Lye. My hair is a lot less dry afterwards and I do not need a chelating shampoo to remove the calcium buildup a No-Lye Relaxer leaves behind.


Few other tips

Stay on time!- The recommended processing times are there for a reason. Set a timer and work as fast and efficiently as possible

Enlist Help- If you don't think you can do it yourself, either go to a trusted beautician or have someone close to you(that can follow directions) help you out

Add Oils or Protein to Relaxer- This helps slow down processing time and  somewhat prevents overprocessing. I had the relaxer in my hair for 25 minutes and it still did not get bone straight, which is great. I used Silk Amino Acids and added a little bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil


**** Please note I am NOT a licensed beautician, just offering advice based on my own personal experience.
Relaxers are harsh chemicals so if you ARE NOT comfortable doing your own relaxer, please visit a licensed beautician to do so!! ***

Have any other tips??? List them in the comments section

I Walked Out

I got a touch-up at 16.5 weeks post relaxer. (Sorry no pics yet, this post is really so I can document my hair and I need someone to take a pic of the back of my hair so I can see the length.)

I went to a professional because of my bad experiences self-relaxing and everyone and their momma(even my momma) said I shouldn't do it myself.
 I went to the same lady I went to in April, but for some reason..things did not go as smoothly as I wanted them to.

The night before relaxing, I based my scalp really well and I applyed castor oil to my relaxed ends. I had to base my scalp myself because last time I went to her, she said because we are using a mild relaxer..no basing is necessary. What kind of ish is that? But whatever..she did an okay job last time so I was confident to see her again..
When I went to the salon, she said the relaxer might not take because my hair was too greasy...I didn't care too much for the statement and asked her to relax anyway.

To make a long story short, after applying the relaxer, she kept combing the relaxer through my new-growth. I asked her not to do that and smooth the relaxer with her hands instead. She didn't listen to me. I saw a lot  of relaxer on my already relaxed ends(thank goodness I put oil on it) and I told her to only do the new-growth.  I timed the whole process myself and she had the relaxer on my head for 25 minutes, in my opinion..thats 3 minutes too long. I told her my scalp was burning(which it wasn't) and asked her to wash it out. She said, no..that's too short of a time and sprayed some oil sheen on parts I said were burning. 6 minutes later I can tell my hair was straight and ask her to wash it out...she asked me to wait. I said, NO WASH MY HAIR OUT NOW.
She neutralized it like 3 times..then put some more neutralizer in my hair...then I got up, paid her half the price and left.

*I'm a client/customer...you listen to the customer needs and wants because this is a PAID service.  This is MY hair..I have to walk around with it..NOT HER! I was not going to let her continue doing my hair. Not at all! I don't care how over dramatic I may seem, but when using a chemical in my hair..I'm real serious about it

When I got home:
*I rinsed out the neutralizer
*did a 2 minute protein reconstructer
*then I neutralized one more time
* did a moisturizing Deep Conditioner then an Apple Cider and Vinegar rinse
*Applied Aphogee Keratin Leave-in then a creamy leav-in
*Detangled( I lost a whole lot of hair-some shed, some broken)
*then did a Pony Tail Roller set- 6 ponytails in my hair and added 2 rollers to each section)
*When I took the rollers out, ( clipped an inch off each section)
*Wrapped my hair then went back under the dryer
*didn't like how it looked so I did 4 bantu-knots on dry hair



*I used Silk Elements Mild Lye Relaxer and I added a teaspoon of castor oil to it to help with the burning.
The relaxer took pretty well. I do have some underprocessed areas in the back(which is ironic because she started from the back) but I'm okay with it.

I will now only self-relax with the assistance of my mother.  Next relaxer is in 4-5 months.
This experience really had me wanting to cut off all my hair and just go natural..but it's not my time yet.

Relaxer Stretching Tips

This is my 3rd long stretch and luckily, I was able to avoid excessive breakage while doing so.
1st stretch- 16 weeks
2nd stretch- 22 weeks
Currently Stretching @ 15 weeks post.
My first 2 stretches, I put in some box braids(with extentions) after about week 6 or 7. This time around I did not put any braids in my hair until now @ a little over 14 weeks. So, I have a few tips to offer.

What is Relaxer Stretching?
On the back of a relaxer "they" suggest to relax every 6-8 weeks. This may work for some, but some people do not have enough new-growth to avoid overlapping on to already relaxed ends. Although you can coat relaxed ends with an oil or vaselene, stretching is the sure fire way to prevent overlapping from happening.
So stretching is to extend the amount of time from each relaxer. If you usually relax every 7 weeks and would like to relax at 8, you are stretching your relaxer.


1.) Moisture, Moisture, Protein, Moisture
M-Keep your New Growth Moisturized At All Times- You also need to keep relaxed ends moisturized, but pay close attention to new-growth
M-If your not into Co-Washes, Make sure to use a sulfate free or moisturizing shampoo on wash day and always follow up with a very moisturizing conditioner
P- When your further in your stretch, starting at about week 8, you need to up your protein to keep the demarcation(point where relaxed ends meet the newgrowth) strong. So, do a mild-strong protein treatment after washing. An egg mixed with a moisturizing conditioner and an oil works great
M- Always follow up with a moisturizing Deep Conditioning Treatment after using Protein

2.) Try out some MSM- Not only is MSM great for bones and joints, but it is a good vitamin for hair. Some say they saw some increased hair growth, but when I took MSM..I noticed my curl pattern loosened up a bit. Mostly because I was deficient in that vitamin and by taking it, my hair became healthier and softer growing in. I was taking 1000 MG daily and made sure to take Opti MSM. Feel free to do a search on Google (MSM for Hair Growth). Because I had a looser curl pattern, I was able to manage my new-growth better.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER too!

3.) Low Manipulation or Protective Styles- Try out some styles where you don't have to focus or deal with your newgrowth on a constant basis or deal with heat.
*Bantu-Knot Outs
*Braid-Outs
*Roller Sets
* Buns
* Half Wigs
*Phony Ponys
* Wigs
* Braids

4.) Save all of the Combing for when you actually Detangle- Hair should really be combed when it is moisturized to the fullest. Excessive combing just means more manipulation and more breakage your may see. If you wear your hair down all the time and your roots aren't completely straight(from a blow-out or flat-iron), make sure your roots are extremely moisturized before combing or else YOU WILL SEE BREAKAGE. I also suggest finger combing.

5.) Blow-Out the roots- I don't suggest using a lot of heat, but you shouldn't always have to compromise what you usually like for the sake of healthy hair. If you like to wear your hair straight all the time, do a normal roller set and asked to have roots only blow-dried. Make sure to use heat protectant though!! This will help in dealing with the two textures.
To Keep it moisturized with-out the probability of reversion, try using oils that penetrate the shaft(Coconut Oil, Olive Oil or Avocado Oil) OR use an oil based moisturizer(water is still first ingredient, but an Oil follows water. So it's basically something much thicker then a moisturizer with a watery consistency)

6.) If breakage occurs at the line of Demarcation, fix the Breakage then just Relax-What I mean is stretching a relaxer is not for everyone. If you normally relax at week 8 and are trying to stretch 12 weeks and see breakage at 9. Follow tip 1.), make sure your breakage is under control, then relax. You don't want to cause more harm then good.

Hair Update- Stretching my Relaxer Until....

I decided to stretch my relaxer longer then 16 weeks. So far, I am 13 weeks post relaxer and I may go another 13 weeks. Yeah, I think I'm going for another 6 month stretch. To be honest with you all, I have been thinking about going natural for the last few weeks, but I still don't think I'm ready for that. For some reason, I think the only way I will go completely natural ,with no hesitation, is if I suffer a lot of breakage(knock on wood). So for now, I am going to stretch my relaxer out as long as possible and see what the future holds.

                                              This is my new growth at 13 weeks post. (Don't mind the bad part)

And this is how I have been wearing my hair for the last week. A Bantu-Knot Out

5 Reasons Why I Stretch my Relaxer

1.) It's healthier for my scalp - No matter how mild the
relaxer is and how much I base my scalp, my scalp always ends up burning. It may not be a serious burn where my scalp is peeling or what-not, but it's enough to make me want to wait a little while until my next touch-up.

2.) I am able to manage my two textures - Many people relax at 6 or 8 weeks because either they are conditioned to or they see tons of breakage and shedding if they wait any longer. For me, I am able to keep my newgrowth moisturized to avoid breakage, my relaxed ends strong because of protein and shedding is to a minimum because of my Aloe Vera Spritz. I also used to use braids as a way to assist me in stretching for a month on and off, but this stretch I wont be doing so.

3.) I Love the Surprise Ending- When you stretch for longer than 8 weeks, you will most likely accumulate more than an inch of growth. During the stretch if your not straightening your hair, you will not know the true length until you relax. My shrinkage from my new growth is crazy and I rarely straighten my hair, so when I relax I see the length I gained which is a pleasant surprise.

4.) My Hair Gains a Little Thickness- When I used to relax 8 weeks or sooner, my hair was thin because of overlapping. Now that I wait a while, I have enough new-growth to avoid overlapping. I am able to only relax my new-growth and not previously relaxed hair.

5.) Saves me Money- I'm trying to be a complete do-it-yourselfer, but I was going to a salon for my touch-ups. Ya'll know those are one of the most expensive services. By stretching a relaxer, instead of paying $70-$1**? Every 8 weeks, I would spend that amount every 12-16 weeks.

I am not ready to take the natural hair plunge, so for the time being I'm more comfortable stretching my relaxers and receiving less chemical treatments yearly.
I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

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8 Weeks Down...8 to Go

I decided to stretch my relaxer to 16 weeks. Currently, I am 8 weeks post relaxer and my new-growth is very manageable, so I'm like heeey..I can go another 8 weeks. This leaves me relaxing my hair around January 18th.
I told myself that I would not relax my hair no more then 4 times a year, so if I were to relax in December which I originally decided, I would be relaxing 5 times this year. Which is the number one reason I plan on stretching to 16 weeks. Also, I realize my hair is the most healthiest when I stretch to at least 16 weeks.

My Hair Yesterday to show some of my newgrowth

Last night I did a mild protein treatment, followed by a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment..let my hair airdry for an hour..sectioned my hair..applied heat protectant to each section..then Blow Dryed my hair with Medium heat.

I used this Andis Ionic Blow Dryer which I purchased from Target for $20.00 and used the wide tooth comb attachment.

This was my first time in 7.5 months blowdrying my hair. I mainly blow dryed because halfway through parts of my hair are texlaxed areas...so I wanted to get those areas straight so I can dust my hair evenly, which I dusted about a quarter of an inch. My hair felt a little dry after blow-drying, so I'll make sure if I continue to do so..I will keep it at a once a month maximum kind of thing just to dust my ends evenly.

Hair Update

If you remember, about 2 weeks ago I relaxed my hair with Silk Elements Mild Lye Relaxer. It was so underprocessed that it didn't even feel or look like I relaxed my hair. I did two things wrong. I didn't leave the relaxer in long enough and I didn't apply enough relaxer to my hair. I was 5 months post so the new-growth I was dealing with was ridiculous.
I got to the point where I couldn't wait 6-8 weeks for another touch-up and for the simple fact that the relaxer didn't take at all...I decided to relax my hair again yesterday. I did a mild protein treatment last week and my hair was in good condition to do so. I do not suggest this to anyone else...but its something I felt I needed to do.
When I did my relaxer, I followed the same steps as before, but this time I kept it on/smoothed it out for 15-20 minutes.
Although it processed a lot better then before, I was still a little underprocessed. I ended up texlaxing my hair(think of a texturizer, its just relaxing but for a shorter time to leave texture in your hair). I believe I came out texlaxed because I used a mild relaxer opposed to regular and I had 5 months of newgrowth.
My hair/newgrowth may not be completely straight, but its so much easier to manage now.
My next relaxer will be in December, by then I hope to be full arm pit length.
I will not be using any direct or indirect heat in my hair as well, so sorry ya'll...no straight hair pics until then..unless I change my mind which I do a lot. The above pic is of my hair damp and airdrying(of course)

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Just so you can see the difference from last week to this week. Here are pics..the first one is 8-17 and the second is 8-24.  Both pics are airdryed hair.

What is a Corrective Relaxer?

I had a few questions on corrective relaxers, so I decided to do a quick post on it.
Have you ever had a relaxer and some or most parts of your hair is underprocessed?
If so, then a corrective relaxer is in need.

Important: A corrective relaxer should be done 6 weeks (or more if you would like) after the last relaxer application. No sooner than 6 weeks because that can cause damage to your hair and you will need new-growth to do a corrective relaxer.

During the 6 weeks that you have to deal with under-processed areas, you HAVE to up your moisture level and keep your hair very moisturized, if not, you will deal with excessive breakage.

How it's done: First, you would do your normal pre-relaxer and relaxer routine. At the time of the relaxer, you would apply the relaxer to your new-growth/roots only. Then during the smoothing process, you will pull/smooth the relaxer through the under-processed parts of your hair. By doing it that way, you will avoid over-processed hair.

*The key to a corrective relaxer is to relax your new-growth as usual and relax the underprocessed area towards the end of the relaxing process. You are basically picking up where you left off.  If you choose to do all at once you will need to apply oil and conditioner to the underprocessed area as well.

I Relaxed My Hair!

I was so anxious to finally get a relaxer, that I did my touch-up last night.
I washed and did a protein treatment last Thursday night, so my hair was in the right condition to do so.. But, after I washed the relaxer out my hair....I realized I was extremely underprocessed. My new-growth felt/feels the same way it did last week! Sux big time. I was so scared that my hair would fall out..haha..that I washed the relaxer out too soon.






Here's what I did.

Pre-Relaxer
Parted my hair in 4 sections
Then I parted each section the same way I would do when relaxing and put those parts in 2 strand twists while gently finger detangling
Based my Scalp
Added Conditioner and a little oil to my relaxed ends(which were in twists)
Total time spent- 1 hour!

Relaxer Application
I started with the back sections but worked my way from the crown to the nape.
Untwisted each twist and applied relaxer to new-growth with applicator brush
Then I did the front the same way
Total time spent- 13 minutes

Smoothed the relaxer and let sit for 10 minutes- This was too short of a time...I definitely should have smoothed it in a little longer, but my scalp began to burn and I panicked and washed it out.

After rinsing the relaxer out I:
Did a Mild Protein Treatment- Joico K Pack Reconstructer- Kept in Hair for 5 minutes then washed out
Neutralized for about 10 minutes(I have a color indicator Neutralizer(Elasta QP) so that made it easy)
Deep Conditioned for 5 minutes with Lekair Cholesterol
Then one last Rinse with Roux Porosity Control

I didn't even bother to do a roller set, because I was so upset that my hair was underprocessed! I just airdryed. But....one thing I was happy about is the amount of growth I had! I am like centermeters from Arm Pit Length!
I will be doing a corrective relaxer in about 6-8weeks, most likely at the Salon...I could do it sooner, but like I always say..the less Chemical Treatments the better! I will try and do a roller set Thursday Night and post Pics then.

Next Relaxer- October 15th

Prep For a Relaxer

I found this great article by Sistalick about how to prep hair before getting a relaxer and I wanted to pass this on.
A relaxer touch-up is a very critical step in hair care...one wrong move and all of your progress can go down the drain. I'm still a little nervous about doing my own touch-up...but I'm also nervous about going to the salon. No-one is more gentle with my hair then myself. So...I'm still pretty sure I will self-relax.

At first, I was going to wash, do a protein treatment, detangle and so forth a week before my relaxer. But now, I will be doing that 3 days before. This is probably better for me, because my newgrowth is getting tangled very easily, so I could just imagine the tangles I would get on relaxer day if I waited a week before the touch-up to detangle my hair. Also, I want to work out and not mess up my whole fitness routine :-)
Getting Ready to Relax_How to prepare

Brief Summary

Prepping the Hair:
First and foremost, only begin the relaxer process with hair that is in tip top shape. Many of us say: Oh my hair is breaking...or shedding let me go ahead relax it! But, you must understand that you are taking a huge gamble with your hair health by proceeding with a chemical relaxer application on compromised hair.
Never relax your hair to "solve" a hair problem. You should always correct the problem first with the proper treatment.

Your 4 Step Pre-Relaxer Game Plan
Preparing your hair for a relaxer is one of the best things you can do for your hair heath.You can follow these pre and post relaxer strategies whether you self relax or see a stylist for your chemical treatments. Ensuring your hair is in top physical condition prior to the relaxer service will give you better results with the finished product.

Self Relaxing

I was researching ways to Self Relax and came across this thread on the Longhaircareforum posted by a member named Nixx. I think this method is perfect to a T and I decided that I will definitely be using this method and doing my own relaxer the next time around. The only difference is that I will be doing the front part of my hair first until I can figure out how I can wash the back without getting the front wet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is what I to ensure an efficient relaxer application and prevent overprocessing. I also relax straight and process for 15 min.


-I do Half/Half Method where the back will always be done first. I apply relaxer to the back only and then, rinse, condition and then neutralize. After the back is complete, I do the same for the front. I put a shower cap with clips attached to section that is not being worked on.

-Apply conditioner(I usually Profectiv Breakfree) to areas of hair already relaxed.

-Part hair in four sections; two in front and two in the back.

-Part 1/4 inch sections within sections and loosely twist each section. I got the twist technique from Softresses and it works like a charm. I didn't get any relaxer on my already relaxed hair and I was able to navigate quickly. I took about 2-3 min to apply relaxer to each quarter.

Relaxer Date

I finally set a date at which I will relax my hair. August 14th!
That will make me exactly 20 weeks(5 months) post relaxer!












A week before I relax...

•  I will shampoo and do a protein treatment in my hair to make sure it is extra strong to endure all those chemicals. I will use ORS Hair Mayo mixed with an egg.
• I will not be working out as often to avoid co-washing/manipulating my hair.
• I will not be oiling my scalp a week before the relaxer. For anyone using sulfur based products for hair growth you should discontinue use a week before the relaxer as well.
• I will basically be leaving my hair alone!

Now I need to figure out if I should self relax or go to the salon! There are pro's and con's in both....but I have a little time to think about this.

Relaxer Burn?

A quick remedy to heal your scalp from a relaxer burn is 99.9-100% pure Aloe Vera Gel. Just rub a little on your scalp every day and you will heal very quickly! I use this all the time.

Aloe-vera plants have been used for centuries to treat burns holistically. While the science to verify the long-held beliefs about the efficacy of aloe vera as an herbal remedy is conflicting, anecdotal evidence is strong. The clear sap inside the leaves of the plant has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe and heal burn injuries.
*Aloe Vera Gel is obviously produced from the sap in the plants*
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You can find Aloe Vera Gel at your local drug store, Walmart, Target...the list goes on. Just make sure it's 99.9% or 100%. This gel has absolutely NO alcohol in it either.

No Lye vs Lye Relaxer

I never really knew the difference between a Lye and No-Lye Relaxer. So, I decided to do a little research to figure out which one would be best for my hair. During my research, I found this below article that really broke down the difference Lye and No Lye.*Sorry this is LONG*
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/352470/is_lye_or_nolye_chemical_relaxing_better.html

Here's a brief Summary
 

The Forgotten Step

I was asked when and why Porosity control should be used. The reason why I use it, is to ensure my hair retains moisture when (deep) conditioning. Sometimes I would rinse my hair out with ACV/water(see below) or Roux Porosity Control Conditioner after deep conditioning. Either way works fine for me. I always make sure to use it a week before I get a touch-up and a week after.(I should be using it after the chemical process, but I always forgot to bring it to the salon). I probably use it once a week.
Here's a little info I got on Hair Porosity from associatedcontent.com. Sorry this is long, but I wanted to get all the information available.

What is Hair Porosity?Low or "poor porosity" refers to hair that does not readily absorb moisture and resists chemical treatments. Poor porosity is not exactly a problem that should cause you great concern. It is, however, ideal to have hair that falls somewhere in the middle of the two porosity extremes: hair with good porosity that retains moisture well and accepts chemical treatments.


The following questions will help you determine whether or not your hair is overly porous:Does your hair continuously soak in moisture without ever actually feeling moisturized?
Is your hair chronically dry despite your best conditioning efforts?
Does your hair appear/feel puffy, frizzy, swollen, or tough to the touch?
Does your hair have a natural, reddish toned cast to it that is usually more pronounced in spring and summer time?
Does your hair hold styles and curl well?
If you've answered yes to any of the above hair characteristics, and these characteristics appear more pronounced toward the ends of your hair, you may have a problem with your hair's porosity level.Porosity refers to the hair's ability, or inability, to absorb water or chemicals deep into the cuticle layers and cortex. All hair is naturally porous and somewhat permeable to water.