Hey Honeydoo -

Sounds like your hair is doing well, nice and strong.  That being said, I know from experience (I am relaxed too) that this may be too personal for me to judge.  I think you know best when it's time for a touch up.    

But I can tell you what I normally do: I dont usually go more than 8-10 weeks.  Relaxers being a part of my regimen, I find that if I stick to a schedule as I do with other treatments, my hair does better.  I always have shedding.  When I have a lot of new growth it is not the shedding that worries me, it's the breakage from the stress caused by manipulating the 2 different textures.  Also, it just gets very poufy and looks like I'm wearing a wig .

afrolatina wrote:  When I have a lot of new growth it is not the shedding that worries me, it's the breakage from the stress caused by manipulating the 2 different textures.  Also, it just gets very poufy and looks like I'm wearing a wig .

I know what you mean by that "wiggy" look! I'm only 7 wks post relaxer and trying to wear my hair down now looks like it's just floating on my head.  I struggle trying to work w/ the 2 textures too, but I'm freaking out about wearing buns because I've been doing them for a few months now and I'm worried about my hair thinning/breaking at the point where I secure my hair for buns. I can't do the twist/braidout or braids, so I'm searching for other protective styles.

Honeydoo, it sounds like your still seems strong and healthy which is good. Personally for me, about 10wks is my stretch limit. I tend to get lots of breaking and shedding and a sore scalp if I go longer than that  I think you have to gauge whether you're losing too much hair or not and if stretching any longer will be helpful or harmful.

Honeydoo,

It depends on your intent. If you intend to go natural you will experience breakage. Deep conditioning and keeping your ends moisturized and make sure the line of demarcation is very moisturized will help. Since this is weakest part of your hair this is where breaking is likely to occur. It isn't easy working with two textures and I have been doing it for  months. I do mostly protective styles, braidouts and cornrows.

If you intend to perm again the other ladies I'm sure have better advice for you. I hope this helps. 

Honeydoo, have you tried styling your hair when it was wet. When I was relaxed I would style my hair when it was wet. Usually, pulled it back, after detangling and put on a moisturizer and just a hint of gel  (a small amount of gel mixed with moisturizer gives you hold but leaves your hair soft as well) then either pulled it back in a bun or on rollers and let it air dry. When I did this, I would wear the style for atleast 3 days and then rewet (do not rewash) and style until actual wash day.    Usually, I didn't do the rollers I just did a bun or ponytail.  

edit to add- At this time I only used a comb to get the tangles out, the rest was brushing.