Relaxer Update

I relaxed my hair last weekend with ORS Professional Line. I used the half and half method and basically did everything I did in my last relaxer update. Just a quick run through of the steps.

1. Parted my hair straight down the middle into two halves. Added clips on one half to keep hair separated.
2. Sectioned my hair in 1 inch horizontal parts and based my scalp with Vaseline. 
3. Covered on half with 2 plastic caps.
4. Applied relaxer to each section of new growth only
5. Applied/smoothed for 15 mins.
6. Rinsed with warm water and did a mid-step protein treatment with Aphoghee 2 Minute Reconstructor.
7. Rinsed out protein treatment and neutralized 3x.
8. Repeated steps 4-7 on the second half.
9. Deep conditioned with Optimum Care's Repair Masque with heat for 30 mins with my hooded dryer. I ended up falling asleep with this on for about another 2 hours.
10. Rinsed with warm water and t-shirt dried for about 15 mins.
11. Added Aphoghee Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructor as a leave in.

I had every intention of roller-setting my hair, but I was too lazy tired so I just bunned. Truthfully I was feeling sick so I didn't want to even take on that challenge. All week I have been bunning. Boring!!! I wanted to roller-set today, but I just have not been up to doing my hair! I really do plan on getting out of this lazy spell soon. Work is just kicking my butt!!! I love my job, but being a bedside nurse in a hospital setting is hard work. I will probably wash my hair in the morning so be on the lookout for a wash day post. Sorry I have no pics. I really have been too lazy busy to take any. I will try to make up for it in my next post. Also review on the Optimum Care Hair Masque will be posted soon. I want to use it a few more times so I can give a through review. I will say that so far I really like it. I love the way it makes my scalp tingle and I also love the smell. 

Texlaxed Update #2 (*Updated)

Styles for the Month of July

It has been a few weeks since I published a blog post which is very unusual for me. I'm currently going through a transitional stage in my life and it is time consuming. I will share more details in the future as things begin to unfold. In the mean time I will blog as often as I can.

I texlaxed my hair 2 weeks ago (August 14) at 15 weeks post with ORS Lye Relaxer. Texlaxing meaning to purposely under process the hair during the relaxer process. It leaves your hair with more texture and overall a more healthy option for relaxing hair. I used the Half and Half method shown by Jeni of Just Grow Already. The only difference is I parted my hair straight down the middle to have a right and left section instead of top and bottom. This method is perfect for self-relaxing and I will be using this method from here on out. It allows you to process your hair the way you desire without having under processed hair due to lack of time during application process.

This was my first time using this relaxer and I was impressed. I left the relaxer on for 13 minutes for each half and it left my hair with the perfect amount of texture. I rinsed the relaxer out and did a mid-step protein treatment with Aphogee 2 Step Reconstructor. I then shampooed 3 times with ORS neutralizing Shampoo. I DCed with ORS Replenishing Conditioner for about 30 minutes. I air-dried to about 80%.

New Growth VS Texlaxed 

I applied CON Argon Oil Strength and Shine Leave in Conditioner and GVP's Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum to my hair. I blow-dried with warm heat on high. I then applied a few drops of IC Fantasia's Heat Protectant and flat ironed my hair with my BabyLiss Pro Flat Irons. I did 1 or 2 heat passes. After flat ironing my hair I used my Tweezerman Stainless 2000 5 1/2 Shears to trim my hair. I used Feye's Method to make a blunt cut. I used the updated method which was to hold my head down slightly when putting my hair in the ponytail holder.

I trimmed about 2 inches off. After I trimmed I realized I could have trimmed about a half an inch less.

Overall, I am very pleased with my results. Since my relaxer I have washed my hair twice and have been playing around with a few styles. I completed my first successful flexi-rod set on dry hair that reverted in 2 hours due to the Alabama humidity and a gorgeous high bun that I didn't really capture well on film. I plan to do another flexi-rod set on dry hair,  a few bantu knotouts, and a few curly updo's before my next relaxer. Follow me on twitter @blutifulblaq and Instagram @blu2kizmet for faster updates!

Freshly flat ironed and trimmed

Next Day Hair

I hope you all enjoyed this update. Check out my progression tab for photos of my entire journey thus far. HHG!

*Corrected date of relaxer

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.