Emergency!!! Calling All Expert Self-Relaxers
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: African American Hair
Forum Name: African American Hair
Forum Description: Devoted to the special needs of African Americans.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=57833
Printed Date: May 02 2025 at 5:35am
Topic: Emergency!!! Calling All Expert Self-Relaxers
Posted By: Aggie
Subject: Emergency!!! Calling All Expert Self-Relaxers
Date Posted: November 18 2007 at 1:15pm
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I do not relax my own hair but want to start now. I am currently 10 and a 1/2 weeks post relaxer and will be relaxing hopefully by week 14 or 16. My stylist had a habit of combing my relaxer through the new growth to stretch the new growth hair. I don't know if this is how it should be done or not. I'm afraid that she got the relaxer on my already relaxed hair quite often while doing this and I believe it's the reason why my hair thinned out so terribly. She was using mizani no-lye relaxer for sensitive scalp on me and I am now switching to mizani lye for my next relaxer, hence the reason for the long stretch - although I will continue the stretches from now on because everyone says it's good for our hair.
I hear lye relaxers are gentler on hair and no-lye relaxers are gentler on the scalp. I can always base my scalp really well to avoid burns but my hair is too fragile to take the no-lye relaxer right now, hence my reason for switching to lye.
My question is, am I supposed to comb the relaxer through my new growth hair or should I simply apply it on the new growth and let sit for the specified time of the relaxer then wash it out?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. ------------- Bahama Mama...Enjoyed my stay, but He'll take me away like a thief in the night!! I'm ready now Lord, so take me by surprise. |
Replies:
Posted By: Angel28
Date Posted: November 21 2007 at 9:11pm
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I recommend smoothing instead of combing. Part your hair into four big sections. Then part these sections into 1.5 inch boxes apply the relaxer to the new growth all over. ( I only do one of the four part sections at a time) wash out and nuetralize and relax another section and so on until I'm done). I secure the unrelaxed hair by covering it with shower caps kept in place by hair pins as I do each section so as not to get unrelaxed hair wet. It's slow and time consuming but it works for me).Use your index and thumb to pinch and run these fingers along the new growth(smoothing). Move from box to box smoothing as you go along. Smooth each box over and over until you can feel it straightening. Make sure you grease your relaxed end properly too, not just your scalp. hope this helps.
------------- Successful haircare is a journey,not a destination |
Posted By: Aggie
Date Posted: November 21 2007 at 9:20pm
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Thank you so much Angel28, I thought nobody knew how to relax their hair and I thought that was why I got no replies before now.
At least I know now that I shouldn't comb, but smooth the relaxer onto the new growth. Thanks agin.
------------- Bahama Mama...Enjoyed my stay, but He'll take me away like a thief in the night!! I'm ready now Lord, so take me by surprise. |
Posted By: Angel28
Date Posted: November 22 2007 at 5:41pm
Glad to help
------------- Successful haircare is a journey,not a destination |
Posted By: ladyflash
Date Posted: November 23 2007 at 9:16am
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Definately smoothing instead of combing is best. Combing while the hair is processing the relaxer can cause damage to the hair. The hair is very fragile at this state. However, It is not necessary to do any smoothing to help relax the hair. You can just leave it alone and it will do its thing. If you want to test the hair to determine if it is fully relaxed, this is when you can smooth to check if there is still a curl in the hair.
I love the box idea Angel 28. Sounds like a technique I will have to try. ------------- CHECK OUT MY PHOTOS! http://public.fotki.com/quietladyflash/ - My Fotki Album |
Posted By: Aggie
Date Posted: November 24 2007 at 12:22pm
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I like the box idea as well Angel28 and thank you both for your help. Ladyflash, I like the idea of checking for curl patterns after application as well. That's a neat way to not break off my hair throughout the relaxer process.
Thanks again. ------------- Bahama Mama...Enjoyed my stay, but He'll take me away like a thief in the night!! I'm ready now Lord, so take me by surprise. |