So I'm 12 weeks post relaxer, and I have 4b hair, it's beyond 4b but for reference sake just think of the kinkiest, most tightly coiled hair type, that's me. I'm 100% african here!
If you are 4b and beyond and have additional suggestions on how to manage new growth and make it "manageable" please let me know. I would like to have options.
So I've been having trouble getting my new growth "manageable". No matter how much I deep condition and moisturize while it's under running water, it's fine, but as soon as it starts drying it just becomes impossible to deal with. Then there is the issue of moisture. NOTHING seems to penetrate it. You know how your hair feels when the outer layer is lathered but you can tell it just hasn't penetrated? That's how my hair would always feel.Even when I would add oils to my conditioner it would always feel dehydrated afterward. anyways this weekend I was determined to become the "mad scientist" and come up with a solution. The only "new" product for me here is the parachute brand coconut oil. I bought it at an Indian Store on Saturday. I have always used the spectrum brand coconut oil, and I love that one but I didn't use it on this experiment.So I can't speak on whether it would work or not. So I washed my hair with the Dabur Vatika Henna Cream Conditioning Shampoo (I LOVE this shampoo by the way) then I warmed the parachute coconut oil in hot water until it turned back in to a liquid and mixed it with KeraCare Humecto Creme Conditioner (love this product too). I sectioned my hair in fours and applied the mix to each section, scalp to ends. I could feel the difference as soon as I started washing it out. My hair started feeling silky. I towel dried it and the new growth still felt soft. Usually by that point it starts curling right up. Anyways I planned to blow dry that night because I'm doing the OCT/MegaTek personal challenge and I wanted to take progress pics (i ended up not finding my camera and I was HOT because My hair looked great, come to find out DH had it in his car the whole time) anyways as I was blow drying the brush just slid through my hair, no pulling at all. I was so excited, by the time I finished drying it it didn't even look like I was 12 weeks post relaxer. it looked like I was maybe 6, but even that's a stretch, my roots were so soft! Anyways I wanted to share this experience with people that would understand my joy and excitement. I usually HATE wash days because of the process it would take to get my hair to work with me. This is the first time I have stretched this long and I just didn't think I could make it any longer if I didn't find a solution. well i think I found it and to those that may be having a similar issue, i hope this helps. This worked for ME. My hair is very unusual. I have had numerous hairdressers tell me that. So it may not work for all. But I think it's worth a try. The coconut oil was like 2.99! I included a picture below.