Ohh yes, hoping this helps someone
I ended up using all I had in my arsenal. I have spent some time looking at every corner of hair related YouTube and I really want to use professional products whenever I have the access to do so but do the labor myself.
I had detangled and pre sectioned my hair in twists from the previous wash day, similar to several relaxer touch up videos I found. This was helpful for me to move quickly through the sections and it made everything less chaotic.
I based my scalp, neck, ears forehead etc to protect it from relaxer. I used the protection from the chi line which had petroleum, mineral oil, and dimethicone as top ingredients.
I sprayed the K18 professional mist on the middle to end of my hair. I didn’t spray with a heavy hand, mainly because it was getting all over the place and we have dogs at home who would think chemicals are tasty. I had to clean up the overspray quickly.
While I waited for the 4 minutes needed, I mixed up 13.5 ounces of relaxer with a conditioner (3.5 oz). I figured I would need that much based on
@MzSwift recommendation. I ended up using all of it so definitely glad I did mix up that much.
I measured a little over 1/8 ounces of the olaplex no.1 in my relaxer mix. The relaxer I was using is already a gentle relaxer so I figured I would mostly get elongated curls with this mixture. I didn’t add anything else although I might do a little less conditioner but put some oil (cocoa nibs by Camille rose) next time. The relaxer itself is a thick consistency and I want to smooth it out more.
after relaxing the full recommended time, I rinsed my hair/ scalp for 6-8 minutes straight, running my hands through the hair to make sure it was free from relaxer.
next it was time for the k18, I used about a pump per section- 4 sections total. It’s important to not go overboard with the product although it doesn’t really feel like it’s getting to all the hair. I left it for 4 minutes. I added Olaplex no.2 on top but only left it for 5 minutes. I wanted to neutralize as fast as possible.
i used the chi color indicating neutralizing shampoo, massaging for roughly 2 minutes each time. It was white from the first wash but I would always do it at least twice. The 3rd shampoo was with a Pureology shampoo which is a pH balanced shampoo as well. Their hydrate line is really nice when my hair is extra dry, which after the neutralizing shampoo, it definitely was. I also haven’t felt relaxed hair in ages so it was definitely a contrast to how my hair normally feels when wet.
I wrapped it up with a deep conditioner and blow dried with the revair & flat ironed. Next time I probably will not use any heat after so I could baby my hair more and combat dryness. My thought is that the neutralizing shampoo contains a lot of protein which left my hair feeling dryer immediately after that. It definitely feels strong but the elasticity that I’m used to isn’t really there.
I’m washing my hair about 1 week after to heavily deep condition and do another k18 mask / olaplex treatment to minimize breakage which I’m happy to say I haven’t dealt with at all thus far. I should have deep conditioned longer when I did the relaxer but it was already 10 pm. It is best to do this on a weekend/ full day rather than after work but I was called into the office so I had to.
FYSA- I naturally have high porosity hair that generally tolerates protein decently well. Even so, I regularly use mild protein products because my hair feels better with regular protein upkeep over hard treatments.
Also I was looking for stretched curl over bone straight. Not sure of the results using stronger relaxers. This is hopefully giving what I thought wash and go hair would be. My hair naturally shrinks to 90% of it’s length, this just gives me more stretch that other naturals seems to have. I won’t rule out relaxing for a straighter result in the future, but so far I think it’s cute. My flat ironed hair wasn’t fazed by some sprinkling outside which is all I asked for lol. I’ll try a styled wash and go this weekend to see how my hair does.