RELAXER UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2016

So, I relaxed my hair earlier this month…

I relaxed my hair on November 2nd at 11 weeks post with ORS Olive Oil Built-In Protection New Growth No Lye Relaxer in normal strength. For some of us who haven’t use that relaxer box before, it contains the relaxer base, liquid activator, shampoo, deep conditioner, gloves, mixing stick and instruction sheet.

As usual, I parted my hair in 4 sections and parted each of these sections in 5-6 smaller sections. I mixed the liquid activator into the relaxer base for a minute and let it sit as recommended while I based my ears, scalp and hairline with Vaseline. I applied some Vaseline on my already processed hair too. Then I proceeded to apply the relaxer.

It took me 20 minutes to apply the relaxer and smooth my hair. I then let the water run through my hair for 5 minutes or so to rinse the relaxer out, shampooed 4 times and deep conditioned for 45 minutes. I rinsed my hair, applied my leave-ins and set my hair on rollers to let them dry overnight.

There are a few things that I noticed during this relaxer touch-up that I need to address:

• ·        The relaxer mix wasn’t enough for my hair. I didn’t have that problem the first-time I used it. I have some part up front that’s left under-processed.

The next day, after I took the hair rollers out

• ·        The shampoo in this relaxer kit left my hair SO DRY!!! My hair was still feeling dry after deep conditioning. I never have a dryness problem when I use the relaxer kit for one complete application or when I use the Isoplus Neutralizing Shampoo. I had experienced that same dryness when I used the new growth relaxer kit earlier this year.

• ·        My scalp was sensitive from the relaxer touch-up until the following week, which NEVER happens since I started self-relaxing. And no, I did not scratch my scalp, neither before nor after my touch-up. 

So this is how my relaxer touch-up went. I understand the concept to target new growth only and to not embarrass the consumer with products they may already have (ORShair lotion, wrap/setting mousse). I also appreciate the fact that the shampoo has a built-in color alarm, which tells you when the relaxer is completely neutralized. But the shampoo is too drying to my hair, and my scalp felt too sensitive afterwards.

Something that has been hindering my self-relaxing process is the notion that one shouldn't relax their own hair with extra/super strength relaxers (not sure if this applies to lye or no lye relaxers) to avoid over-processing. In the meantime, we are also encouraged to stretch our relaxers to avoid over-processing... My hair is too coarse to apply these two conflicting notions because I always end up with under-processed hair. 

I may have to go back to what I was doing at the beginning of my hair journey: using an extra strength no lye relaxer every 2 - 3 months; I didn't have to worry about the uniformity of the relaxer touch-up back then.

Until my next post, have a happy hair journey!