I added quite a bit of conditioner and olive oil to my relaxer and mixed very very thoroughly so that it was even. This gave me more time to apply it.
I also detangled really well first without getting the comb on my scalp.
I mapped out the different coarseness of my hair and separated it into loose Bantu knots secured with a bobby pin or just secured by itself. Prepped with regular old grease in between the Bantu parts.
I knew which ones to unravel first... I did crown, then went upwards closer to my forehead but not my edges, then did the side and back ones, paused a minute or two because by edges are a lot less coarse than the other areas. Did the edges and started smoothing the crown and other areas with just my gloved hands.... Edges last. Only at the end after my hair was much looser did I use comb to smooth.
Rinsed the relaxer out thoroughly with a powerful shower nozzle.
Then added a protein conditioner... Aphogees regular protein conditioner ( not the one that gets solid). That stayed in for a minute or less, rinsed.
Then Creme of Nature neutralizing shampoo, applied twice.
Then a mixture of several of my fave conditioners,... Deep conditioned and rinsed.
It came out really well.
Below is a pic of the Bantu knots. I also added grease in the big Bantu knots.
Tip: get snug fitting latex or hospital like gloves. My memory of using box perms are those extremely thin and loose gloves that stick to the relaxer and it's hard to work with. If u dont work in the hospital u could pick up a box at home depot or walgreens for less than 5 bucks. After u could use the rest when cleaning the bathroom, chicken, cutting onions etc so it wont be a waste.
Also I wouldnt wash my hair for at least a week prior. My hair doesn't get oily very quickly so it would be stripped and naked if I washed it 4 days before a perm