Random Hair Thoughts/Thinking out loud

overtherainbow said:
I spent 2 hours putting in twists and they start to unravel 9 hours later. Whyyyyyyyy???!!! I never had this problem and I've been twisting my hair for years now!
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Hugs! Odd!

Aggie said:
Confessions of a mad black product junkie tryna stop buying stuff but sneaking purchases here and there and telling herself she needs them - hangs head down in shame and utter defeat and embarrassed, walks out the room :nono: :cry2:
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Hugs! It can be really challenging. I'm just thinking aloud . . .

1. What's your favorite product combination, @Aggie?

I wrote mine down and have committed to styling twice in a row with my favorite product combination and then experimenting . . . then again styling twice in a row with my favorite combo, then experimenting . . . and so on. This causes me to create trial combos that I'm really looking forward to . . . and to notice that I already have combos to be excited about . . . and that helps me some with decreasing my felt need to have something new. I still struggle some, because there's so much neat stuff out that it would take me years to get to to trial, and it's fun trialing!

2. What product categories have staples or HGs and which categories lack staples or HGs for you?
Example . . .
Conditioner: DevaCurl Decadence One Condition is HG, HG, HG for me!!! . . . I know this, so I don't purchase conditioners much.
Once you know which categories have HGs or staples already, maybe that can focus and reduce your felt need to spend?

3. If you really want to slow down your purchasing, you might put up a bulletin board where you tack up your receipts and keep a running total of how much you've spent for the month or year, updating it daily.

4. Can you make a t-chart (large "T") with one side for writing the PROS of saving money by not buying hair products for a bit, and one side for writing the CONS of saving money by not buying hair products for a bit? Do you think that would help?
 
YvetteWithJoy said:
Hugs! Odd!



Hugs! It can be really challenging. I'm just thinking aloud . . .

1. What's your favorite product combination, @Aggie?

I wrote mine down and have committed to styling twice in a row with my favorite product combination and then experimenting . . . then again styling twice in a row with my favorite combo, then experimenting . . . and so on. This causes me to create trial combos that I'm really looking forward to . . . and to notice that I already have combos to be excited about . . . and that helps me some with decreasing my felt need to have something new. I still struggle some, because there's so much neat stuff out that it would take me years to get to to trial, and it's fun trialing!

2. What product categories have staples or HGs and which categories lack staples or HGs for you?
Example . . .
Conditioner: DevaCurl Decadence One Condition is HG, HG, HG for me!!! . . . I know this, so I don't purchase conditioners much.
Once you know which categories have HGs or staples already, maybe that can focus and reduce your felt need to spend?

3. If you really want to slow down your purchasing, you might put up a bulletin board where you tack up your receipts and keep a running total of how much you've spent for the month or year, updating it daily.

4. Can you make a t-chart (large "T") with one side for writing the PROS of saving money by not buying hair products for a bit, and one side for writing the CONS of saving money by not buying hair products for a bit? Do you think that would help?
Click to expand...
Thanks love, I'm coming back to answer this after I've gotten some sleep okay? Too sleepy to think this one through :lol:
 
Me: I see one of my twists have scraggly ends, I need to cut off these last two inches of my bang
Hubs: (practically spits out his slushie in in shock) TWO INCHES??????!!! THAT'S TOO MUCH!!
I had to explain to him that length means nothing if most of it is see through. He cracks me up
 
I ordered a new blow dryer yesterday, looking forward to it coming. The weather is cooler now so I will be straightening much more often.
Last night my mom was watching YouTube hair videos as usual and I told her I'm gonna start wearing my hair straight or straightened styles or something, I'm over the preparation involved just to leave the house. She urged me to buy SCurl and that will make my hair easier. I told her my issue isn't the difficulty in doing my hair, it's the preparation involved with styling, the retwisting, the not twisting at night and waking up with a mess. Soooo hmmmm, I'll either do a two strand twist this weekend or blow dry my hair and and do a chunky twist out or flexi rods, something like that.
 
Britt said:
... my issue isn't the difficulty in doing my hair, it's the preparation involved with styling, the retwisting, the not twisting at night and waking up with a mess. Soooo hmmmm, I'll either do a two strand twist this weekend or blow dry my hair and and do a chunky twist out or flexi rods, something like that.
Click to expand...

This right here is what led me to texlax my WL natural hair. I loved my natural hair but the prep was becoming too much and I couldn't just let it be if I was tired at night. I didn't have the type of hair that I could just bun the next day if I didn't braid/twist at night. And that pineapple method was not getting it.

I considered becoming a straight natural but I was more afraid of heat damage from too much straightening. I knew that with all of the healthy relaxed heads online, I could do it. I don't regret it one bit.

Definitely NOT saying you should do it, but I feel your pain.
 

MzSwift said:
This right here is what led me to texlax my WL natural hair. I loved my natural hair but the prep was becoming too much and I couldn't just let it be if I was tired at night. I didn't have the type of hair that I could just bun the next day if I didn't braid/twist at night. And that pineapple method was not getting it.

I considered becoming a straight natural but I was more afraid of heat damage from too much straightening. I knew that with all of the healthy relaxed heads online, I could do it. I don't regret it one bit.

Definitely NOT saying you should do it, but I feel your pain.
Click to expand...

@MzSwift, I wanna texlax but have heard it just doesn't work over the long term.

How long have you worn texlaxed hair? What chemical do you use to texlax? What's your regimen?

TIA!
 
Britt said:
I ordered a new blow dryer yesterday, looking forward to it coming. The weather is cooler now so I will be straightening much more often.
Last night my mom was watching YouTube hair videos as usual and I told her I'm gonna start wearing my hair straight or straightened styles or something, I'm over the preparation involved just to leave the house. She urged me to buy SCurl and that will make my hair easier. I told her my issue isn't the difficulty in doing my hair, it's the preparation involved with styling, the retwisting, the not twisting at night and waking up with a mess. Soooo hmmmm, I'll either do a two strand twist this weekend or blow dry my hair and and do a chunky twist out or flexi rods, something like that.
Click to expand...

How long does a twist out normally last for you?
 
YvetteWithJoy said:


@MzSwift, I wanna texlax but have heard it just doesn't work over the long term.

How long have you worn texlaxed hair? What chemical do you use to texlax? What's your regimen?

TIA!
Click to expand...
@YvetteWithJoy

I've been texlaxed for 2 years, but very mildly so. My hair still looks natural though. I texlax only twice a year and have been threatening to increase it to 3 times a year but haven't done it yet. Right now I'm 7 months post - too lazy to texlax up until now. My roots behave well but right now they're acting crazy so it's time.
 
MzSwift said:
This right here is what led me to texlax my WL natural hair. I loved my natural hair but the prep was becoming too much and I couldn't just let it be if I was tired at night. I didn't have the type of hair that I could just bun the next day if I didn't braid/twist at night. And that pineapple method was not getting it.

I considered becoming a straight natural but I was more afraid of heat damage from too much straightening. I knew that with all of the healthy relaxed heads online, I could do it. I don't regret it one bit.

Definitely NOT saying you should do it, but I feel your pain.
Click to expand...
Thank you! And I def feel you on the bolded !
Idk... I felt this same exact way last year. Now it's getting cooler and I'm thinking of using heat more.
Napp said:
How long does a twist out normally last for you?
Click to expand...
If I do a two strand twists small on wet hair I can get away with not retwisting the next night and the following night putting in big chunky twists. It's the restrictions that bother me tho. I got up early Sunday morning for a coffee run and a few errands, if my hair were natural I'd have to take down my chunky twists and then put them back in when I'm in the house so that my hair is a 'setting' for the twist out again. Or when I have to wash my hair and let it air dry with twists in it, I don't mind it sometimes but it's a restriction and it's annoying. I didn't realize this until I got a life lol ! The first year I went natural, I did everything around my twist outs, I would know in advance if I'm going out and then take the time to wash and twist and let it dry. Every single night w/o fail I'd wash and flat twist. Some nights I'd detangle and remoisturize and then if the twists are still kinda damp I'd have to go under the dryer to make sure my hair is dry enough for the next day and my twists aren't too frizzy. I'm tired of all the different products I've bought and product combination to get the right twist out especially since my fav product has been reformualted. Idkkk, ehhhh I'm just over it all right now. I feel torn a bit. Right now, I just want fluffy straight hair or hair I can comb easily and then put it in a high bun or something when I need to go.
 
Saw a YT video for a halo braid style I want to try. Hopefully it comes out good so I can rock it until I straighten for my friends wedding.
 
YvetteWithJoy said:


@MzSwift, I wanna texlax but have heard it just doesn't work over the long term.

How long have you worn texlaxed hair? What chemical do you use to texlax? What's your regimen?

TIA!
Click to expand...

I've been texlaxed for 2.5 years now. I used to texlax my short hair before I knew what that was and wore that for about 10 years on and off. I love the ease of it. I've always used Motions oil lye relaxer in regular strength. At first, I texlaxed in the 4th/8th/12th month to make it easier to remember. I've alternated between both techniques - either diluting the perm w/conditioner and leaving it on longer or coating my hair with oil and conditioner, using the perm straight and leaving it on for a shorter time. I think I just prefer to dilute it. I'm now moving to texlaxing once per quarter or every 3 months.

Like @Aggie , I initially left a lot of texture in my hair. Having long hair, the first thing I noticed the day after I texlaxed was that I could actually feel the air on my scalp. It did not sweat as much. I loved my natural fro and curly styles but my roots wouldn't hold the style long because my scalp would be so hot!

The second thing I noticed was that it was so much easier to detangle and cowash in the shower. My wash days went from day(s) to hours (because I DC w/heat). It was amazing! Not only that, I could even throw it into a ponytail in the shower and let it airdry in that ponytail. Overall, I loved that my hair felt softer and more moisturized. And I don't use nearly as many products as I did when I was natural - still use the same techniques though (LOC, M&S, almost daily rinsing/cowashing, etc.)

For the last year, however, I've decided to texlax straighter. I was still experiencing SSKs and, like @Britt , I prefer a more blown out look. I'm hoping to have a texture similar to Prettywitty77 on YT. I've found that my hair seems to pick up more texture/poofiness a few weeks after my relaxer. So even if I think I did it too straight, it doesn't look that way for long. And yes, you'll get uneven results from time to time. But my natural hair was not all one curl pattern/texture either so it doesn't bother me. I primarily rock braidouts and knotouts. I straighten it a few times per year and it doesn't poof the minute I walk out of the door. And when my roots start to grow out, I throw in mini braids or braid/twist extensions to helps stretch.

The only CON I've had being texlaxed is that now that I don't have the shrinkage, I've been wearing my hair out and flinging it around more. I mean you can't blame me, I've never had hair this long in my life! LOL. So I lost a little length (I'm currently MBL) because I started slipping on my regi. But I'm getting back on track now and I hope to be back to WL and beyond in the next couple of years.

Whew! Sorry so long. HTH! :)
 
MzSwift said:
I've been texlaxed for 2.5 years now. I used to texlax my short hair before I knew what that was and wore that for about 10 years on and off. I love the ease of it. I've always used Motions oil lye relaxer in regular strength. At first, I texlaxed in the 4th/8th/12th month to make it easier to remember. I've alternated between both techniques - either diluting the perm w/conditioner and leaving it on longer or coating my hair with oil and conditioner, using the perm straight and leaving it on for a shorter time. I think I just prefer to dilute it. I'm now moving to texlaxing once per quarter or every 3 months.

Like @Aggie , I initially left a lot of texture in my hair. Having long hair, the first thing I noticed the day after I texlaxed was that I could actually feel the air on my scalp. It did not sweat as much. I loved my natural fro and curly styles but my roots wouldn't hold the style long because my scalp would be so hot!

The second thing I noticed was that it was so much easier to detangle and cowash in the shower. My wash days went from day(s) to hours (because I DC w/heat). It was amazing! Not only that, I could even throw it into a ponytail in the shower and be done with it. Overall, I loved that my hair felt softer and more moisturized. And I don't use nearly as many products as I did when I was natural - still use the same techniques though (LOC, M&S, almost daily rinsing/cowashing, etc.)

For the last year, however, I've decided to texlax straighter. I was still experiencing SSKs and, like @Britt , I prefer a more blown out look. I'm hoping to have a texture similar to Prettywitty77 on YT. I've found that my hair seems to pick up more texture/poofiness a few weeks after my relaxer. So even if I think I did it too straight, it doesn't look that way for long. And yes, you'll get uneven results from time to time. But my natural hair was not all one curl pattern/texture either so it doesn't bother me. I primarily rock braidouts and knotouts. I straighten it a few times per year and it doesn't poof the minute I walk out of the door. And when my roots start to grow out, I throw in mini braids or braid/twist extensions to helps stretch.

The only CON I've had being texlaxed is that now that I don't have the shrinkage, I've been wearing my hair out and flinging it around more. I mean you can't blame me, I've never had hair this long in my life! LOL. So I lost a little length because I started slipping on my regi. But I'm getting back on track now and I hope to be back to WL and beyond in the next couple of years.

Whew! Sorry so long. HTH! :)
Click to expand...

Thank you! Wow! So helpful!
 
I promised myself I would not put chemicals in my hair until I finished EVERY idea on my checklist.

Sigh.

I forgot about that checklist. I just told hubby, "That's it! I'm done!!! I'm texlaxing, and I don't care if it ends up causing a setback or not. I've got to try it. I'm DONE!!!"

Hubby gently guides me upstairs and pulls me over to my unopened bag of henna and says, "You can't. I'm not going to let you. You haven't tried everything on your checklist, including this henna stuff, right? So tonight I'll look after the little ones. You make a date with your natural hair. Meet up in the shower and y'all just reconnect. Because you're just frustrated right now. This is not a suggestion, this is a command."

Sigh.
 
Very well put together @MzSwift.

I prefer diluting my relaxer myself. I use Avlon Affirm Fiberguard mild lye relaxer.

In a mixing bowl, I add 2.5 to 3 heaping tablespoons of relaxer, 1 heaping tablespoon of creamy protein deep conditioner (right now I use Keracare Restorative Mask for this), and half an ounce of sunflower oil, mix well, 2 teaspoons of Chi Silk Infusion or Neutral Protein Filler, then add to my 4 sectioned, heavily based, oil sealed hair, very quickly.

I think I will be coating my previously texlaxed hair with the Chi Silk Infusion for my next Texlaxer. I rotate my starting point with every new texlax session. I only leave it on for 9-10 minutes and this include my application time. So I move quickly.

Next I water rinse for a while to make sure all the relaxer is out then immediately put on a protein treatment for 5 minutes, wash that out, THEN I neutralize about 5 times, the last poo which I leave in for 10 minutes, then wash that out. Then I would use a moisturizing comditioner for about 20-30 minutes, leave-in/moisturize and seal, style as usual.

ETA : I do not smooth my relaxer because I don't want my hair straight - just apply quickly, wait until I reach at least 9-10 minutes, rinse.
 
YvetteWithJoy said:
I promised myself I would not put chemicals in my hair until I finished EVERY idea on my checklist.

Sigh.

I forgot about that checklist. I just told hubby, "That's it! I'm done!!! I'm texlaxing, and I don't care if it ends up causing a setback or not. I've got to try it. I'm DONE!!!"

Hubby gently guides me upstairs and pulls me over to my unopened bag of henna and says, "You can't. I'm not going to let you. You haven't tried everything on your checklist, including this henna stuff, right? So tonight I'll look after the little ones. You make a date with your natural hair. Meet up in the shower and y'all just reconnect. Because you're just frustrated right now. This is not a suggestion, this is a command."

Sigh.
Click to expand...
Aww, he is so good for you. Girl keep him. Not all the men out there are like that. Keep him!
 
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@Aggie

When I was texlaxed, I didn't smooth either. I did the half and half method and applied presectioned half my hair in the sections I wanted to texlax. I would apply relaxer and time myself for 8 minutes. Then rinse and neutralize and go to the other side. I would coat all my hair with Vaseline :look: I also used low lye relaxers.

Texlaxing taught me a lot about stretching.
 
:cry4:

Thanks for the support and encouragement, ladies. I called the hair salon to start asking questions about texlaxing, and the lady talked me down from a texlaxer. She doesn't recommend that I do something so permanent and chemical-based, since chemicals were eating up my hair in the past.

Where's the emoticon for walking over to your bed, crawling in, and throwing the covers over your head?

I'm going to sleep on it and taking everyone's advice to proceed cautiously and wait until I'm less emotional before doing anything too new. I'll DC with Bekura Y.A.M. and put it out of my mind for the day.

Thanks again.

:cry4:

Hair! :look:
 
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YvetteWithJoy said:
I promised myself I would not put chemicals in my hair until I finished EVERY idea on my checklist.

Sigh.

I forgot about that checklist. I just told hubby, "That's it! I'm done!!! I'm texlaxing, and I don't care if it ends up causing a setback or not. I've got to try it. I'm DONE!!!"

Hubby gently guides me upstairs and pulls me over to my unopened bag of henna and says, "You can't. I'm not going to let you. You haven't tried everything on your checklist, including this henna stuff, right? So tonight I'll look after the little ones. You make a date with your natural hair. Meet up in the shower and y'all just reconnect. Because you're just frustrated right now. This is not a suggestion, this is a command."

Sigh.
Click to expand...

LOL, that is too cute!

IA with the ladies. I didn't texlax until I had a grasp on my natural hair, mastered my protein-moisture balance and was pretty much on maintenance mode. I had been natural just short of 5 years and had gone from bald to WL so I had accomplished all that I wanted.

FYI, ayurveda is a BIG part of my regi and I didn't give it up just because I texlax. Traycee (of KISS) had a lot of success using it on her chemically treated hair and so did many others on the hair boards.

Isn't this HHJ so fun!
 
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