To Relax or Not to Relax...that is the question.
Posted 06-09-2012 at 05:57 AM by missbugg21
I have been struggling with this natural vs. relaxed thing for over two years now. I've learned so much over the last two years, I definitely know what I was doing wrong and I've made a 180 degree improvement in taking care of my hair. The problem is that I keep trying to go natural but I don't make it very long and I end up relaxing.
I'm having another bout with it now that I'm 12 weeks post and due for my relaxer. A part of me wants to relax and install a sew-in as a protective style to keep heat off of my hair and to help it grow. The plan is to wear a weave for 2 months, take it down, baby it for 2 weeks, relax it and re-install a new weave a week or two later and continue that process until I reach MBL (or longer).
Sounds like a decent plan, right? Well, the problem is that I self-relax and although I do a decent job, I usually end up overlapping a little or ending up with underprocessed sections. I think that is contributing to the terrible split ends and breakage that I have. I could go to a salon for a professional relaxer, but I have a hard time overpaying for something and most salons charge upwards of $100 for a relaxer.
Another part of me wants to not relax and just install the weave as a protective style and gradually cut off the relaxed ends as my natural hair grows out. My natural hair is type 4 and is very thick and unruly at times. I prefer to wear straight styles, so I have to keep heat on my hair which is also contributing to the terrible split ends and breakage that I have.
As of right now, I am going to relax my hair next week and head back to the BSS for the weaving hair and proceed with plan #1. This plan seems to change daily, so I may change my mind.
I'm having another bout with it now that I'm 12 weeks post and due for my relaxer. A part of me wants to relax and install a sew-in as a protective style to keep heat off of my hair and to help it grow. The plan is to wear a weave for 2 months, take it down, baby it for 2 weeks, relax it and re-install a new weave a week or two later and continue that process until I reach MBL (or longer).
Sounds like a decent plan, right? Well, the problem is that I self-relax and although I do a decent job, I usually end up overlapping a little or ending up with underprocessed sections. I think that is contributing to the terrible split ends and breakage that I have. I could go to a salon for a professional relaxer, but I have a hard time overpaying for something and most salons charge upwards of $100 for a relaxer.
Another part of me wants to not relax and just install the weave as a protective style and gradually cut off the relaxed ends as my natural hair grows out. My natural hair is type 4 and is very thick and unruly at times. I prefer to wear straight styles, so I have to keep heat on my hair which is also contributing to the terrible split ends and breakage that I have.
As of right now, I am going to relax my hair next week and head back to the BSS for the weaving hair and proceed with plan #1. This plan seems to change daily, so I may change my mind.
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