Details of Last Relaxer Day!

Hi lovelies,

Just as promised, here goes my relaxer day in as much detail as I can give. Having to deal with 3 textures at 18 weeks post was not feeling funny anymore. Wash days began to feel like horror days and I just didn't look forward to it. Not, not, not that kind of feeling I want to have as far as my hair is concerned. So as much as I really wanted to get to 20 weeks, I just woke up that night and at 10 pm , I had absolutely no desire to wake up with hair not retouched. It was late, I was tired but Lord knows where I found my way to my relaxer. 

Threading for wash days were not working anymore and I had to try braids. It was far better than threading and it definitely is the way to go for my texture and length of hair now. I had been keeping my own hair in these large braids under my wig after I took my braid extensions out. 

I parted my hair into 4 large sections, detangled and coated the already processed parts with castor and coconut oil mix. I used a lot of oil as I bought the Motions Relaxer in super strength and didn't want to risk processing the already texlaxed parts.

I do not use a comb on relaxer days as I find that it delays the process for me. I make the parts with my hands and apply the relaxer with my hands. I always wear gloves. 

I scooped out enough relaxer and stirred it to get it into a smooth paste. This relaxer was so soft already that was a step I could have skipped . 

I made parts quickly and applied the relaxer starting in the back as always; cos my hair grows thicker in there. It was my first time of using this relaxer and so I worked very fast as I wasn't sure how it would process. This relaxer surprised me honestly. It was so gentle and smooth to apply, didn't have that huge awful relaxer scent. I actually had to put my nose close to it to smell it to be sure it was a relaxer. I was amazed at how it felt on my hair...like a deep conditioner. Hair felt soft within minutes of application.  I had no sensation at all after 15 minutes....that was a nice surprise considering it was super strength and I thought I won't make it through 10 minutes. Boy, I was so wrong!

I worked the relaxer with my fingers, stretching the new growth for the last 5 minutes of the time and then I rinsed it out. It rinsed out so easily. Meeeeehn, I had such an awe with this relaxer. How do I describe the feeling.....

I applied ES Keratin Hair Treatment right after and then followed with ORS aloe shampoo twice after rinsing out. I then apllied ORS replenishing conditioner and waited for 15 minutes before I rinsed out. 

I then used my fan to airdry, applied Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 as a leave in, Afroriri butter to moisturise and Afroriri Hair and scalp conditioner to seal. I used a little pure castor oil for a final step.

My hair felt .....hairmazing!! I was in real love! Need I say more?! 

I was so confident I would have no issues for a long while and I put on my satin cap and went right to bed. I have been enjoying my hair for the past week. No issues with reversion. My texture is just the way I love it and my hair is in it's glory days once again. 

Styling has been easy and believe me, I still comb my hair no more than twice a week. Most of the braids and updo styles do no need to be very sleek so I just style and use a comb to smooth it afterwards. 

I'm considering a long term protective style soon but I'm mighty bored with braids or twists now...been my go-to option for the past months.... and would love to try a weave this time.

What product surprised you pleasantly recently? 

Cheers,

Star.  

Relaxer Update: Motions Relaxer At It's Best!

Hey everyone,

I've been so busy lately I have not updated y'all on my hair and what's going on with it. I relaxed my hair almost 2 weeks ago at home. I loved how the Motions relaxer I used felt on my hair and how the results I got were.

               

After : August 2015 

Before: October 2014 

My ends are much, much thicker and better now. And having trimmed twice between these 10 past months, I am mighty happy with my hair. All the vitamins and the growth products I'm using have definitely been worth it. 

I will do a post later on the relaxer day and the process. 

Cheers,

Star.

Hair Update at 4 Week Post

Thank you all for your patience and concern while I was away for God knows how long! All the while, I thought it was just a few weeks. My goodness, I'm ashamed it's been so long since I posted anything. Glad to be back and I'll not vanish like this again. 

I've been quite well and my hair is doing fine. Only issue is the reversion is getting worse ; or I'm just over-reacting? I really haven't gotten used to the texlaxed parts that much or rather the shrinkage that comes with it. I have found great products that make it easy for me to manage, but the shrinkage when I do not use heat is a little less welcome now but only because my roots look way thicker when that happens and my ends look miserable and far thinner. 

I relaxed 4 weeks ago at my regular salon and she did a great job. However, just a few minutes before washing it out, I let her smooth with a comb and told her to let it go over the texlaxed parts to loosen them a bit. My ends were thin and the left side had outgrown the right by far and she asked to trim it out a bit. I agreed and decided not to even look in order not to stop the trim as it's something I'd been considering for a long while. At first I thought it was a successful "corrective". But after 4 weeks now, doesn't look like it loosened one bit. Below is my hair after relaxing. I just took it out of a bun and took the photo without combing.  The ends are still way thinner than the middle. 

I try my best to prevent breakage by deep conditioning often, moisturising often (not daily anymore though this would be the best situation), and washing at least once in 2 weeks, if not weekly. I got that lazy and I think my hair doesn't like the "once in a while" wash. I noticed this week that it gets dried out quicker than it used to so I've had to moisturise at least every 2 days. 

My ends were not looking that healthy anymore after some lazy weeks and I snipped some off last weekend. I am yet to do a length check again.

Manetabolism update: I was on antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs for a long while due to an ear infection and my battles with malaria and mosquitoes ..... and I didn't take my pills that often. After 2 months, I still have some pills in my bottle. I've decided to wait till I'm totally fine before I start with the hair vitamins again. 

But 2 weeks ago, before my hair began to look horrible to me recently,....... well my sisters say I'm being complacent and getting scissor-happy again.....everything was fine. 

I got Diva by Cindy hair products from Cindy Tawiah a month ago and I've been trying them out for the past 3 weeks. I love how soft and manageable they make my hair feel, and I love the tingle the shampoo gives. Very soothing on the scalp. They give that silky feel after wash day. They don't weigh the air down at all which is fabulous. I use the leave in detangler every few days and the hair gro on my edges 3 times a week. I had an occasion at the end of March and I used the products for my wash. I used the detangler right in my hair before I applied a little grapeseed oil and blow dried it. My hair just felt so right afterwards!! I got that " Is that your hair?" question all weekend. 

Right now, my ends are better after the trim on Saturday but when I comb it all back and I see the thicker middle, I just feel like doing away with the bone straight ends. For now, I just bun it or tuck it away all week because I really want to continue growing it and cutting the straighter ends bit by bit though the desire to chop is overwhelming. 

I don't wish to come up with any surprise chop, but ........hmmmmmmmmmmmm....looks like I just want 3 or 4 inches off. 

How do you feel about your hair today? 

Cheers,

Star.

Relaxer Day: At 9 Weeks Post

Hello hairdies,

9 weeks post relaxer

Once again, I gave up on stretching after 9 weeks. Do I consider it a fail? Not at all, because I always tell myself to do what makes me happy. And if at any point in time, even when it comes to my hair, anything about it makes me unhappy, I change it immediately. No second guessing. 

I just couldn't handle all the new growth....or just simply wasn't prepared to. And my hair was breaking much more than I wanted while detangling. Know how I go gaga over just 1 strand breaking off. I was just not prepared to feel bad about my hair. The new growth I had was over 2 inches anyway which is more like results from  a 16-20 week stretch without growth aids so I just grabbed the last bit of relaxer that was left and just slapped it on the sections I had detangled for my weekend wash. I was all smiley after that. Believe me, like I had won a lottery. 

Texlaxed roots

I used the same process I used here.  Only thing I did differently was to smoothe a little with a wide tooth comb. My new growth is denser nowadays and so coily...I figured I would still have texture even if I smoothed, and I was right. I used the same products but the relaxer I used was S&S relaxer made by Ghandour Cosmetices.

The thickness I have is amazing and I just love the look of the strands. I'm just at a point in my hairy life where everything I am using is just awesome! 

I wrapped my hair up for the night and had very smooth results the next day. I used AfroRiri hair butter and scalp&hair conditioner to moisturise and seal my hair......and once again, I felt like a million dollars. Look at the shine and how well moisturised my ends are. By the end of the day, my hair still looks "brand new". The ends don't give me that "I'm mighty thirsty'' look. 

Relaxer Results

That trim I wanted to get when I relax, I didn't think I needed it just yet so I skipped the trim. My right nape broke really badly last August and I see that it is filling in nicely. Will just have to wait till next relaxer day...and trim if I need it. 

This is just a great way for me to start my year in 2015. I am filled with so much optimism that not even a setback will dull my shine....I am discovering more about myself on this journey, loving my hair more, loving myself more, loving my life more. Every bit of it. 

Do you have any challenges with your hair that bother you? 

Cheers,

Star.

Relaxer Update: At 13 Weeks Post

Hello lovelies! 

So it was just me keeping it low to no manipulation till relaxer day. At 13 weeks post, I could not go any further and decided to throw in the towel and relax last weekend. On the 29th of November, I woke up and was mighty excited it was relaxer day for me.

I applied hair pomade heavily to my scalp the night before and applied Roux porosity conditioner over the length of my hair after I sectioned my hair. I used Soft & Silky (S&S) relaxer as I did the last time. I applied it very quickly with my gloved hands and then left it in a few minutes. I did not smooth with a comb as I prefer texture. I rinsed out after 15 minutes and proceeded to deep condition and then neutralise. I used the same products (minus the Vitale relaxer and hemp oil) and the same process as I used on most relaxer days . 

Read this post for more details here. 

Overall, I had a lot of texture again, but I love how soft and silky my hair feels each time I use this relaxer. I should probably check to see if there is a super strength as it is too mild for my hair type. It doesn't burn at all though it is a lye relaxer. I did not use any heat as usual and just airdried. 

I really love my texlaxed thickness. I have at least 6 inches of texlaxed hair now. Remember I started texlaxing at the beginning of the year and I love everything about being texlaxed except the detangling sessions which can get a little tough. I think it will get better once I snip all my relaxed ends off. I will not chop but will trim little by little if the ends remain OK. My hair still sheds, but it is not as crazy as it used to be and I will go back to Groganics DHT blocker products and vitamins ag to see if it will stop completely.

My newly texlaxed roots is 2 inches long. That's how much new growth I had in 13 weeks. Not bad at all!! Manetabolism hair vitamins really gave me a boost of growth in the last 8 weeks of my stretch when I took 2 pills a day religiously, almost. I missed just 2 days. I fell asleep with the pills in my hand one of the nights, can't stop laughing about that one....and I just forgot the other one night. My lil sister really helped me to take my pills each night. Those 2 nights were the ones where she was asleep by the time I got home from school, which is usually 10pm. I had no less than 1.5 inches of growth for sure from the pills and I might not have gained the full inch because my schedule was crazy in the past weeks, I had upcoming exams and I missed breakfast and supper an awful lot of days. I am onto my 3rd bottle, school is on break, and I would get a break from work before Christmas for 2 weeks so I hope to pamper myself this month in the hopes of getting my full inch. 

I have started making serious hair plans for 2015 and will fill you in on all those. I owe you all a couple of posts and will do well to write every other day to make up. I got a weave on Saturday and will tell you all about it too. 

Thanks for reading. 

Would I reach my Bra Strap Length goal by end of December? 

Cheers,

Star. 

Relaxer Update

Relaxer day, Saturday 12th July went on very well and I'm 5 days post. I used Vitale relaxer and the same products I use on previous relaxer days, and used the same methods. I washed my hair yesterday and find that I am still texlaxed though I allowed the hairdresser to smooth within the last 2 minutes with the comb because I wanted my hair 80% straight. I had issues with reversion with last February's relaxer and had to relax again after just 6 weeks. 

Overall, I am happy that I see progress though I was only 12 weeks post. My hair was very thick even on relaxer day and a day after though I rollerset using setting lotion. I see increase in length too. I am deeply thrilled because my roots are texlaxed so my hair may really be longer than it shows. I still do not want to flatiron yet and just hope to reach my bra strap length goal without having to flatiron my hair to get the length. I love voluminous hair and airdrying gives me just that!

After my wash 2 days ago, I find that my hair is reverting again especially at the back and I don't know how much more it would revert. Looks like 70% straight right now but the back feels heavy and extremely thick. It tangles a lot back there already. I will put it in braids or thread it up and wear my wig if I find it unmanageable in the coming weeks. I have to find a workable solution to my texlaxed woes because I really like the thickness that comes with it. If only my hair would be more manageable!!

How long before you do a corrective relaxer when needed?

Cheers,

Star.

I Relaxed at 6 Weeks Post

Oh my bad.....I didn't update you on that but I was just shuffling to and fro between states in 9ja so I had little time to write. I got back to Ghana yesterday. I got really frustrated with my new growth, and especially my texlaxed middle...I simply had to relax. So, I woke up on Saturday and decided I had had enough. I was just 6 weeks post but my hair was breaking seriously. It was really heart-breaking. No more!

I asked a few friends in Akure to recommend a good hairdresser and I was really glad about the lady I was referred to. I decided to chit-chat a bit first to see if she would do as I pleased with my hair, and she passed! She was totally supportive and understood how important it was to handle the hair with care. 

So, she convinced me enough and I sat in the chair. She was awesome!! The way she parted and combed my hair, from tips to roots, ever carefully. She recommended a relaxer called "Relax" when I showed her the parts I had relaxed previously. She assured me it was gentle but good for coarse hair. I was really impressed when she even showed me how little the hair in the comb was. I got totally comfortable and just relaxed as she applied the relaxer, to new growth only after applying conditioner to the relaxed parts. She used little relaxer per section and didn't smooth with a comb. Only with her fingers. Even after 15 mins, I wasn't sure the relaxer will take so I asked her to smooth with a comb but she refused politely because she said it was one cause of breakage. You should have seen my broad smile!! "I'm taking you to Ghana"!! Finally, I got one good hair day which compensated for all the bad hair days I had during my stay in 9ja. 

After 20 minutes, she washed out and neutralised, shampooed and then conditioned the hair. I had deep conditioned my hair the night before so I didn't feel too bad about missing the mid step protein treatment as she didn't have a protein treatment in her shop. 

Overall, I was very happy with my results. I still have a lil texture but it is very little for now so I will wait a week to see if my hair will revert again or not. I am on a braid out styling regimen since I relaxed on Saturday so I haven't combed my hair since then but I don't see hair all over the floor when I m&s like before. I will wash and deep condition tomorrow as I have the rest of the week as holidays. I will do a henna treatment at the weekend and hope to just enjoy my hair a little while for now. I have lost my edges a bit so I will probably just do braidouts and wear wigs for the next few weeks and see how it goes. I will massage my edges with T444Z everyday from today because I need to regrow them very fast.

Being back home is really great...there really is no place like home. I just can't wait to start using all the hair goodies I couldn't carry along with me. My hair is gonna be sooooooooooooooooo happy again!!

Do you get so frustrated during your relaxer stretches and just give up sometimes? 

Cheers,

Star.

I Just Had To Texlax Again

Yes, you read right and oh my goodness!! She just broke a rule...............*wide-eyed*. Yes I did. My bad.

I was very happy on texlax day last week and a few days after...but later, I realised my hair had reverted. It just reverted more each day and by the end of the week, I was back to square one. I could hardly get a comb through and I had to spend loads of time moisturising in tiny sections to get my moisturiser and oils on my hair. No no no....I was no more going to endure the struggle for another week. My mind was made up so on Saturday evening, off I went to the hairdresser's...where I got my braids done last year exactly how I wanted it. I just remembered how she relaxed another client's hair. She applied to new growth only so I decided to trust her with my hair.

I explained before we begun that she had only 15-18 minutes from start to finish and by 18 minutes, she was done with application and smoothing. At first, I didn't want to smooth but after 12 minutes, upon inspecting the back, it seemed not to have straightened one bit so I allowed her to smooth though twice with the rat tail comb. As soon as 18 minutes were up, she washed it out and continued with the mid step protein treatment and neutralising. Leave ins were applied, rollerset and dryer and so on till I was done. I spent some time afterwards to chit chat about hair care.....you know....lol!

Simple shop, simple tools, but totally willing to learn all she could. She did my hair just the way I wanted and actually asked her apprentice to write the relaxer steps down and promised to treat her other clients the same way provided they were prepared to pay for the mid step protein product. Her relaxer service was so cheap too......5ghs.......that's just 2 dollars. I was 500% satisfied. She is a keeper. I was honestly so happy and will get my braids done at the weekend by this same hairdresser. I hope it goes well again. 

Lots of Texture. 

Results? My roots texlaxed! I still have a lot of texture. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeehn, this new growth really came in fierce and strong. That's a total plus.

Hair not bone straight. No heat regimen. 

Airdried and bunned ...2 days post relaxer. 

Next day, yesterday, I washed my hair again. I just felt like washing it again. I prepooed with coconut oil overnight. I used my neautralising shampoo, lathered twice and then deep conditioned with Vitale Mayonnaise. I followed with VO5 Moisture Milks.

I didn't do a proper length check before I relaxed but the left was a pix I took the morning of relaxer day and the right was immediately I got back from the salon. For me, the length is not of primary importance but the health of my hair ends. My ends are filling in nicely and thickly too. And I dunno where bra strap length should be but if it should be at the bottom of the bra, I still have a chance to make it to that length by December if I don't get any setbacks. 3-4 inches are all I need Lord. I intend to continue protective styling...with or without braids for as long as I can. I'm babying those ends till July when I will trim for beauty and evenness. 3-4 inches are all I need Lord.

How many inches more to reach your next goal length? 

Cheers,
Star.

Relaxer Update #4

I ended my relaxer stretch on Saturday at 14 weeks post. I decided to texlax my roots myself again and I was determined to leave a lot more texture in this time. My relaxer day...or texlaxer day went just the way I wanted it. I used my good old relaxer day arsenal. I trust these products to give me just the results I want.

I detangled thoroughly and parted my hair into 3 sections. 2 in front and 1 at the back.

I applied petroleum jelly all over my scalp, ears and edges thickly. I then applied Hemp oil and Roux Porosity Control Conditioner on my hair, avoiding the new growth.

I applied the Vitale lye relaxer quickly. I decided to process the new growth less in order to have more texture. I combed through a few times with my wide tooth comb to ensure the relaxer cream was evenly distributed. I worked really fast and parted with my fingers so it was hard to get the relaxer well distributed. I rinsed it out as 2 minutes after I combed it through. The process took a total of 11 minutes; application and processing time.

I then applied the Vitale mid step protein treatment and then neutralised with ORS Aloe shampoo afterwards.

I applied Roux conditioner for 2 minutes and rinsed. 

I applied the Vitale corrective conditioner and left it in for 10 minutes. 

I T-shirt dried and applied my leave-ins. I used Infusium 23 and Creme of Nature Argan oil leave in. I airdried about 50% and then set my hair in rollers. I used about 8 rollers in all....was tired and not really up to the task of making small parts. I sat under the dryer for a 15 minutes but my hair still felt damp so I decided to just allow the air to dry it up.

Once dry, I realised that my hair was processed just a tiny bit....hehehhehehhehehhe...but it is loosely curled so at least I can comb through easily. So like I suspected, there was not much change in the overall length of hair also considering that I didn't blowdry or flatiron to get my hair straight. For me, I love the freedom from struggling with the coils and knots. Now I can go to the salon and get braids whenever I want and be sure half my hair won't be yanked out by the time I'm done. My overall objective for ending my stretch was totally met. 

I'm happy that despite the extreme breakage and shedding I am experiencing, my ends are pretty cool. I will therefore not trim though I had planned to. I am working seriously on thickening my hair and will do a henna treatment at the weekend. I have also decided to do only 2 official length checks this year; in July and in December. Until then, no direct heat on my hair for any reason whatsoever. 

Health first, the length will follow....that's my mantra for 2014.

Have you considered texlaxing? 

Cheers,

Star.