Just as the other ladies have said, adding a week at the time is the best way to stretch. I onced relaxed 5-6 wks and now I can go 14 wks. I am 10 wks now and plan to relax at 13 wks to go on vacation. I have discovered that I need different products once I get a lot of ng. So far this stretch the Aveda DR has been working nicely. Tomorrow I plan to use some Dom products for my Wed wash. Last time I stretched around the 12wk mark was a little rough.
That's also what I found. That was the way to go for me.
This Saturday marks my first 12-week stretch. My hair breaks a little at week 2, no matter how careful I am about overlapping. I do a protein treatment and all is well. When I first started stretching, my hair would start breaking a little at 6 weeks. I added mayonnaise (protein) to my pre-poo. My hair DID NOT like it at 6 weeks, it broke worse! I had to find something fast.
I soaked my hair in Amla oil for about 6 hours. The breakage completely stopped and my new growth was soft! It was still a little challenging to detangle and I made it to nine weeks. This stretch, I've done weekly Amla soaks starting at 6 weeks and I haven't had any breakage.
After my relaxer in May, I bought Vatika oil. I read that it releases the tightness of curls among other wonderful things. I have been incredibly busy over the last month and didn't realize I went past 10 weeks. I decided to see if I can go to 12!
While I have LOTS of thick NG, the texture isn't as angry, my scalp isn't sore, and I can detangle with my fingers before combing it. I'm not sure if it's the weekly Amla soaks or that and the Vatika oil. No matter, though, I'm gonna keep doing it!
I fully agree about stretching gradually. Before LHCF, I relaxed at 5-6 weeks. I first stretched to 7, then 8, then 9... I had a goal of stretching to 12 by this fall, but since I have the NG under control, I decided to go for it now. I was ready to end it at any moment if I felt I was about to do more harm than good.
I think 12 will be my max, though.