For the past year or so, I have been getting  relaxers approximately every 8 weeks from my stylist. Before I began seeing this stylist, I would only get a relaxer  2 or 3 times a year. I'd had the relaxer for more than 10 yrs and experienced no problems. Lately, I've noticed a lot of breakage. I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that I may be getting relaxers too regular. I try to refrain from getting relaxers so often, but when I wait for more than 6 or 7 weeks my hair really starts to break significantly. So I am at a lost, do I continue to get the relaxers so often and risk breakage or extend the period between touch-ups and risk breakage? I really don't know what else to do.

   Also, I have really been considering growing my relaxer out. I have wanted to go natural for along time, but have been afraid to do so. My concern is my hair long (about 15 inches) and I don't want to cut it all off to start over. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.