Saturday, January 14, 2012

Relaxer Day


I started the day of basing my scalp with EVOO. I wanted to use vaseline, but my new growth was so thick I could not part it. I have not been combing my hair this week and I didn't have time to detangle my hair. This was the biggest mistake I made!! I'm shuddering just thinking about it. I put my hair in a pony tail and went to class.

When I got to the shop I warned my beautician that my hair was thick with new growth. She grabbed a comb and proceeded to rip through my hair and part it. Yes I said rip!!! After she parted my hair she started raking my hair with a comb. Something felt wrong so I tilted my head to see what type of comb she had. To my horror she was attempting to comb 16 weeks of new growth with a FINE TOOTH comb!! I politely asked of she had a wide tooth comb. She replied that she using a wide tooth comb would not help. I told her please do not comb my hair with a fine tooth comb. I told her would detangle it of she needed me too. She then told me that stretching my relaxer was a bad idea because when you comb your hair then it would "pop" right off. I then shared with her the art of detangling!! She stopped combing and started applying the relaxer. The amount of hair in that fine tooth comb made me sick to my stomach.

Before I started my hair journey I would have recommended her to anyone. Now I would only recommend her with a disclaimer. I can not believe that all this time she was tearing hair my from head. I now regret not self relaxing. I will definitely be self relaxing next time!!

I got a protein treatment and sat under the dryer for about fifteen mins. I then got a bubble wrap (silk wrap) stressing the fact that I did not want direct heat on my hair. I'm afraid of what her process is for flat ironing. I'd probably notice other things that would make me gasp. Well after rinsing out the conditioner in my hair she attempted to "detangle" once again with a fine tooth comb. She started from the roots and made her way to the ends. I started praying at this point for me to get out of this shop with a decent amount of hair. I literally felt as if all my hard work was going down the drain. After she applied the relaxer and she was half way through the smoothing I told her I was starting to experience a little burning in the back. She asks if I can hold out a few more mins so the relaxer can sit it. I say just log enough for you to finish smoothing and then u must rinse this out. I remember back when I though burning meant the perm was taking a little better. I will definitely make time to base with vaseline before I relax in the future.

She rolled my hair as we had a conversation about natural hair and relaxed hair. She explained how she had started transitioning two months ago and her hair was tight due to the way it was growing from her scalp. Truthfully I had no idea what that meant. But just from the ten minute conversation l realized that she was no aligned with my hair care regimen, goals, and what I wanted for my hair. At that moment I decided I would only go back to her if I decided I wanted a salon trim.

The wait was awful as always. I hate going into a salon and spending 5+ hours when there aren that many people in there. My beautician is slow and does not honor ur appointment times. I'm convinced she takes you by who comes in the door first instead of by appointments.

Overall I am very pleased with the results. I'm just mortified with the process it took to get there. I can't see myself going back for a relaxer, especially if I'm 16 weeks post. I do plan on stretching to about 16 weeks from now on unless I experience breakage or I get tired of the new growth. My next relaxer day is estimated to be on or around May 2nd.


9 comments:

  1. This was my last experience at the salon too... I feel like once we educate ourselves on the proper hair care practices, the amount of crap we are willing to take at the salon drastically reduces! I wish a stylist WOULD ruin my hard work and effort in 4-5 hours!! (honestly, if I were you I wouldn't even go to her for a trim!)

    BUT your hair looks nice though, even after the trauma!!

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  2. It is amazing what things our stylist does that isn't right when we educate ourselves. I'm very happy that I know what I know now. It will definitely help me with doing my own hair. I'm considering doing my own trims from now on. I was just looking at my ends a I don't like them. Thanks! U think it looks nice but it was so not worth the trauma!

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  3. My last experience was actually really good. I made it a point to find a salon that specializes in healthy hair care. And I sat down and spoke with the stylist before we started anything.

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  4. I do not know why some of these stylists are so rough on a client's head. I have been in your shoes before with this posting. One little thing I used to do is pretend I was SO tender headed. So they would be more gentle, LOL. But really I was thinking, lady are you out of yo' mind?!

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  5. That sounds awful, I am scared - literally scared - to go to hairdressers for the very reasons that you have just highlighted. I hope that if I ever have such an experience, I will be willing to walk out with my hair half done. Wish you all the best on your next salon visit!

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    1. I have not been back to a stylist since then because of this very reason and my hair has been thriving.

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  6. Wow! I guess there are just some stylists who are not that passionate about what they do. I love your hair story. I came across different blogs too trying to educate myself on taking care of my own hair. I started thinking it was impossible until I saw proof from other bloggers. I just started my HHJ blog. It is lengtheninglocks.blogspot.com if you want to check it out. I'm adding you to my blog list. Thanks for sharing your journey! :)

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Sorry - tried to edit my post. lol. Was just thinking how this post reminds me of when I was getting a relaxer and the stylist's assitant was detangling my hair with the blow dryer with the comb attachment. She was yanking at my hair and it was painful. This was years ago and my hair was longer too. It was such a nightmare, but I was too timid to say anything. Rest assured I did not return to that salon. :(

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