Relaxed Hair Thread

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
How many of you guys regularly air dry and does it work for you as a drying method?

Honestly, if I airdry on loose hair, my hair feels very rough when dry. It is overall, soft and fluffy but my individual strands feel rough. The only way my strands feel soft and smooth are when I airdry with tension. I tried wet wrapping but it was way too much manipulation. If I airdry in a knot bun, bantu knots, braids or cornrows, my hair feels better.

I cant get a straight, smooth style when airdrying. I think I’m gonna stick to using a hot air brush and then wrapping my hair.
 

LushLox

Well-Known Member
Honestly, if I airdry on loose hair, my hair feels very rough when dry. It is overall, soft and fluffy but my individual strands feel rough. The only way my strands feel soft and smooth are when I airdry with tension. I tried wet wrapping but it was way too much manipulation. If I airdry in a knot bun, bantu knots, braids or cornrows, my hair feels better.

I cant get a straight, smooth style when airdrying. I think I’m gonna stick to using a hot air brush and then wrapping my hair.

I find I have to mix things up. I air dry for a few weeks then I move to a bit of heat, be it roller setting, blow drying or my hot brush, then I will revert back to air drying.

When I air dry I feel like I need to to use a lot of product for my hair to look and feel moisturised. My first day hair will be great, nice a straight and smooth, but the second day hair needs a bit of help. I like how my hair feels when I air dry but, I don't stick religiously to it. My hair seems to do well with a bit of heat so I indulge now and again. The balance seems to be working.
 

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
I find I have to mix things up. I air dry for a few weeks then I move to a bit of heat, be it roller setting, blow drying or my hot brush, then I will revert back to air drying.

When I air dry I feel like I need to to use a lot of product for my hair to look and feel moisturised. My first day hair will be great, nice a straight and smooth, but the second day hair needs a bit of help. I like how my hair feels when I air dry but, I don't stick religiously to it. My hair seems to do well with a bit of heat so I indulge now and again. The balance seems to be working.

That sounds like a good routine - alternating.
 

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
Yay! So I think I've found a way to wear my hair "out" that is low mani. I put my hair into one braid that is very loose base - so the actual braid starts about 3-4 inches from the scalp. I oiled the end, rolled it and secured with a small ponytail holder. I sleep like that with a scarf. The loose braid gives me the option to wear a high, middle or low braided ponytail/bun without having to take the braid down. I just brush back my edges with either my hands a comb and secure into a ponytail/bun with another ponytail holder

I'll see if this works out for a couple of weeks. Because I was seriously struggling with wanting to put in mini braids or a crochet style. I rarely wear my hair loose but I could probably take the braid down for loose waves if we have an impromptu date night.
 

sunnieb

Well-Known Member
Relaxed yesterday and loving my hair and length retention! I actually wore my hair in a flexi8 pony today! :grin:

I remember being bald back there a year ago, so my growth rate is pretty good.

I will probably be able to claim SL by the fall. I know I'll trim sometime this week so a lil bit of this length will be gone. However, in the long run my hair is going to be fabulous once I grow it out again.
 

sunnieb

Well-Known Member
@Wenbev Have you (or anyone) ever not done the mid-relaxer protein step? If so, did you notice a difference in your hair?

I still do it because of Sistaslick's advice, but I've just been wondering about it lately.
 

Wenbev

Well-Known Member
@Wenbev Have you (or anyone) ever not done the mid-relaxer protein step? If so, did you notice a difference in your hair?

I still do it because of Sistaslick's advice, but I've just been wondering about it lately.
@sunnieb I’ve been doing it for maybe the last 3-4 relaxers. And the acv has only maybe been the last 2-3ish. I immediately noticed a difference in my hair as I was washing out the two step. Weirdly enough, it felt stronger and here were no hairs in the drain. Adding the acv after the neutralizer is a game changer to me. My hair felt thick. The first time I used ACV, I did it prior to neutralizing but the funky smell I didn’t like. So all others have been after neutralizing.
I have very thin strands but a lot of density and a big head. :look: I can fake thickness when my hair is out but but it in a ponytail and you can see the thinness.
 

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
@Wenbev Have you (or anyone) ever not done the mid-relaxer protein step? If so, did you notice a difference in your hair?

I still do it because of Sistaslick's advice, but I've just been wondering about it lately.

I stopped doing the protein mid step. I now do it immediately following my neutralizing steps. I felt like the midstep made my telaxer results less straight. But I understand the importance of restoring protein after a relaxer so I do it after washing out all of the relaxer.

Also, it could be the product I’m using for protein that could be the problem. My beloved Motions CPR has been MIA so I’ve been using Joico KPak rconstructor which feels like it is stronger than CPR. So my hair feels terrible when I use it pre-neutralizing.

A long time ago when I used Optimum No Lye, it included a pre-neutralizing conditioner and my results were just fine. I didn’t know better then about whether or not it was protein, moisture or both. Does anyone know?
 

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
@LushLox
Lol! I watched this video the other day where the lady wrapped her hair after relaxing and there were so many white ladies in the comment section giving her props on her wrapping skills and how they need to practice. I know with sites like LHC, many are trying healthier no heat options to style their hair. But I never thought I’d see them jump into wrapping. Lol
 

Royalq

Well-Known Member
So I touched up yesterday at 15 weeks. Under processed my left side again! I think cause I'm right handed i just cant do the left side as well as I do my right side. Oh well. Did Ion Burgundy brown rinse which came out nice, gave me a nice black cherry color. So I blow dried and flat iron and my hair looks so much thicker! I used to hate straightening my hair cause it looks so fine. IDK if it the black rinse or what but my hair looks fuller. I was almost waist length but I went to hair cuttery and got a trim.
The ladies at hair cuttery were so in love with my hair lol. They were fasinated and kept asking if i get it professionally done. Im like nope, all home grown. They were also surprised I relax correctly and dont pull it all the way through my hair. They kept running their fingers through it and playing with it. My hair does look nice and flowy. The lady trimmed it nicely and gave me advise about heat protectants.

I plan to add some clip ins to my hair to make it look thicker though..
 

MzSwift

Well-Known Member
So I touched up yesterday at 15 weeks. Under processed my left side again! I think cause I'm right handed i just cant do the left side as well as I do my right side. Oh well. Did Ion Burgundy brown rinse which came out nice, gave me a nice black cherry color. So I blow dried and flat iron and my hair looks so much thicker! I used to hate straightening my hair cause it looks so fine. IDK if it the black rinse or what but my hair looks fuller. I was almost waist length but I went to hair cuttery and got a trim.
The ladies at hair cuttery were so in love with my hair lol. They were fasinated and kept asking if i get it professionally done. Im like nope, all home grown. They were also surprised I relax correctly and dont pull it all the way through my hair. They kept running their fingers through it and playing with it. My hair does look nice and flowy. The lady trimmed it nicely and gave me advise about heat protectants.

I plan to add some clip ins to my hair to make it look thicker though..

Yay! Congratulations! And that color sounds nice. Flowy thickness sounds like #hairgoals to meee!

Now, where are da pitchas! :dork:
 

SpiceUpMyHair

Well-Known Member
I found this article while looking for relaxer alternative. My hair broke with relaxer and demi permanent dye usage. (Not used at the same time)
http://www.bellemocha.com/2013/08/japanese-straightening-healthier.html?m=1

I'm thinking of trying it. Has anyone ever tried Japanese straightening treatment?
I tried it before. Currently my end have Japanese Straight Perm. My roots have lye perm. I transitioned out of the JSP bc I didn’t notice a difference between regular relaxers and JSP. I did retain length but my hair is fine, I didn’t have much thickness.Doing the JSP on your own is such a learning curve and I was paying way too much money and not getting the results I want. Please note I only used the JSP I didn’t do the second part of straightening part bc I didn’t want my hair pin straight.I was watching YouTubes and girls with similar hair was retaining length and thickness and spending wayyyyy less money. I wanted to take control of my hair so I switched and my hair is nice and thicker and I am retaining length.
 

abioni

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the feedback. My main reason for wanting to try it is so I can color my hair without breakage but from my research it doesn't do well with coloring either.

I tried it before. Currently my end have Japanese Straight Perm. My roots have lye perm. I transitioned out of the JSP bc I didn’t notice a difference between regular relaxers and JSP. I did retain length but my hair is fine, I didn’t have much thickness.Doing the JSP on your own is such a learning curve and I was paying way too much money and not getting the results I want. Please note I only used the JSP I didn’t do the second part of straightening part bc I didn’t want my hair pin straight.I was watching YouTubes and girls with similar hair was retaining length and thickness and spending wayyyyy less money. I wanted to take control of my hair so I switched and my hair is nice and thicker and I am retaining length.
 

Wenbev

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the feedback. My main reason for wanting to try it is so I can color my hair without breakage but from my research it doesn't do well with coloring either.
I color and highlight my hair with a relaxer. I wait at least three weeks after relaxing before getting color.
And I do not diy color, did that meself in the past and that’s when I had breakage. My colorist makes sure she uses a gentler product than she would for her single process clients.
You will have dryness initially, but that can be corrected with product and using heat properly.
 
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