July 2012 Relaxer Update

Hello Beautiful People!

I have relaxed my hair at eleven weeks and one day. I know that I said I was going to wait, but that was because I was going to keep my Patra Braids in longer. Since I took them out every thing was pushed up a few weeks.

I used a different technique to relax my hair this time, and I don't think I like it. The technique I used is one that most people use and that is using a comb to apply the relaxer. I ended up applying more relaxer to my hair than I normally do so my hair ended up processing bone straight. Another reason for it becoming so straight could be that I mixed Silk Elements Normal with the Mild relaxer in hopes of getting a straighter texlaxed look.

Next time I will be using less of the Normal relaxer and more of the Mild relaxer and will be applying again with my squeeze bottle. The only reason why I didn't use it this go around is because I left it at my mother's house because I wasn't planning on relaxing my hair until I went back for break.

My hair is still very thick, when air dried, because I have a few inches of texlaxed hair. But after this relaxer parts of my hair follow this pattern: Bone Straight --- Texlax (curly/wavy) --- Bone Straight.

It's a good thing that only a small portion of my roots are bone straight and will be easily grown out in a few years. I just have to be careful with my hair because now I have 2 permanent lines of demarcation and when my hair grows in I'll have 3 lines of demarcation. Breakage now is a great possibility, but I'll keep you all posted on what is working and what isn't. Also I'll tell you about the different techniques that help minimize breakage.

Tomorrow I'll post about the actual relaxing process. The reason why I'm not posting it now is because I've noticed that some of my post, especially the ones dealing with relaxers, can be very lengthy. I know that you all have a busy life so I want to make each post as simple and too the point as possible. The actually relaxing process is a different topic from the relaxer update so I am making it it's own post. Tell me how you feel about that, and I'll try my best to accommodate everyone.

2011 Relaxer Update 1

I had my first relaxer of 2011 yesturday. I think it went well. My hair feels a bit rough but that could just be my natural hair texture.

Keep reading to find out what I did to my hair, changes I plan to implament next relaxer and for the results.

Pre-relaxer Regimen
→ Removes yarn twist, detangle, and put hair up into 5 ponytails
→ Wash hair in the pony tails
 ¤ Steps

1.  Apply V05 Moisture Milks conditioner and detangle with shower comb
2. Clarify with Softsheen Carson Bantu Neutralizing and Conditioning Shampoo
3. Wash with Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo
4. Condition with V05 Moisture Milks
5. Protein Treatment: Silicon Mix Proteina de Perla
6. Moisturizing Treatment: Suave Professionals Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner
7. Cold/Cool Final Rinse
8. Air Dry in ponytails with ends twisted
9. Apply Sta-Sof-Fro moisturizing spray to new growth and Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner to relaxed ends when almost dry

→ Moisturize: Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion
→ Seal: Hair Plus Natural Product Oil
→ Everyday until the relaxer spray new growth with Sta-Sof-Fro and them moisturize and seal
→ Hair remained in the ponytails and if I had to leave the house then I just put on a wig that I made for my mom

Relaxer Regimen
→ Relaxer: Dr. Miracle's Normal No-Lye Relaxer
→ Apply Castor Oil to relaxed ends
→ Relaxed hair for no longer than 25 minutes
→ Neutralize (with both the shampoo that came in the box and Bantu Neutralizing and Conditioning Shampoo)
→ Shampoo, Condition, Protein Treatment, Moisturizing Treatment
→ Apply dime size of V05 Moisture Milks Conditioner then twice as much Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner
→ Apply Hair Potion that came along with the relaxer
→ Blow Dry
→ Use straightener to straighten hair
→ Use curling iron to bump hair
→ Apply Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner to any flyaway hair

Clarity
→ I am using V05 as my conditioner because when I went to walmart I couldn't find the corresponding Cantu Shea Butter Conditioner
→ I am using all this heat because I was home at the time and I don't have my hood dryer because I am visiting my family for 2 weeks because of summer break

Changes

1. Do a Protein Treatment either before or after the relaxer because I feel like I have a protein overload. My hair is just snapping -- it's always done that but I hate it.
2. Finding more conditioning agents to apply to my hair so it won't have the dry feeling
3. Possibly buy a serum or polisher to close my cuticles so my hair won't soak up all the water vapor in he air and frizz up

Comparison Photos