Texlax/Relaxer Update #3

I texlaxed on Monday, 30/08/16 at 17 weeks and 3 days post. I prepared my hair the usual way, using aphogee two step protein treatment. See here, to read how I prepare my hair for texlax touch-up.

For the first time on my hhj, someone else did my texlax for me!!! I had my texlax touch done at HairvolutionbyBee Lounge by one of our stylists. And she did a very good job following all my prompts and instructions. Felt good really. Finally, a texlax day without the stress and arm-ache.

Steps followed:                                  

• My hair was parted into 4 and detangled.
• Petroleum jelly was applied to my previously relaxed hair to prevent over-processing from relaxer runoff during wash. Petroleum jelly was also applied to my hairline and top of my ears
• About one-third of the jar of ORS lye relaxer was mixed with two tablespoons oof vegetable oil. Lol? yea, you read that right. I was out of olive oil which use normally. So i used good ol' vegetable oil from my kitchen.
• The diluted relaxed was applied to my hair. Application and smoothing time (fingers only) was 12 minutes. I left it on for another 4 minutes. Making a total of 16 minutes.
• The relaxer was rinsed out, and shampooed thrice with Vitale Olive Oil Neutralising Shampoo. The shampoo was left on for 4 minutes the third time before rinsing out.     
• Deep conditioned for 15 minutes with heat, with a mix of ORS Replenishing Conditioner, Roux Porosity Control, and Motions Moisture Plus Conditioner.
• Megagrowth Profectiv Daily Leave-in Strengthener was applied and sealed with HairvolutionbyBee Whipped Shea Butter.

My hair was then rolled with large rollers, I sat under the hooded dryer for a while but I didn't have the patience to sit till my hairgot dry. I simply combed out the curls and I was left with fairly straight hair.

This texlax was a very successful one, the vegetable oil was a good call after all. I love the texture I was left with.

Post-trim Hair

However, I observed I'm having an unusual amount of breakage. I'm trying not to freak out. I noticed about two weeks before my texlax touch-up but I believed the Aphogee two step protein treatment would keep it in check. Alas! I was wrong. I ended up trimming so much, I trimmed twice on texlax day, and once the following day. My plan is to give my hair some TLC and do a henna treatment which is long overdue.

I don't think I retained much length this stretch due to the thin ends which I had to trim (1.5 - 2 inches). I didn't really do a length check or comparison pictures because I didn't flat iron. However, I measured for my hair diary before trimming. I will do an update on that in another post.

xx,
Bee

Texlax/Relaxer Update #2

I did my first texlax touch-up of the year on 20/4/2016 at 20 weeks post touch-up. This was my longest stretch and it wasn't so bad at all. Although, I have not decided if I would stretch for that long again. Read how I prepared my hair HERE.

Pre-application: I parted my hair in 4 quadrants and detangled thoroughly. I then further divided each quadrant into one inch sections and twisted each section. I always do this to make the relaxer application easier and faster. I discovered the night before that I had run out of vaseline, so instead, I used raw shea butter to base scalp, edges and to protect my ears. I also applied a lot of shea butter to the length of my hair not sparing my new growth. I added 2 tablespoons of Extra virgin olive oil to about half jar of ORS lye relaxer in normal strength and mixed thoroughly.

Application: I started the stopwatch onmy phone and simply applied the relaxer to my NEW GROWTH ONLY on both sides of each pre-parted section. I started application at the back and finished in the front. After applying relaxer to all the sections I smoothed each quadrant once with my fingers. Application, smoothing and waiting took 15 minutes.

Rinsing + Neutralising: Just before I started rinsing out the relaxer, I applied Roux Porosity Control Conditioner to my previously relaxed hair to further prevent relaxer run-off. I rinsed with warm water starting from the first quadrant I applied relaxer to, to the last. I rinsed thoroughly then did a mid-step protein treatment with Aphogee Keratin Two Minutes Reconstructor. I then started washing with Vitale Olive Oil Neutralising Shampoo. I left the 4th and 5th later on for about 5 minutes each. Although the shampoo has colour alarm but better safe than sorry. I rinsed out the last lather and wrapped my hair in a cotton tshirt.

Deep Conditioning: I deed conditioned with a mix of ORS Replenishing Conditioner + Roux Porosity Control + 1 tablespoon Grapeseed Oil + 1 tablespoon JBCO ( Rosemary ). I used my Electric heating cap and rinsed with cold water after about 20 minutes.

After - Care: I tshirt-dried for 15 minutes, detangled and then blow-dried on low heat using the comb attachment.
Products used: Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer, African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Moisture Intense Leave-in Conditioner, Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Carrot Growth Serum.
I decided to give my hair a break and not flat iron plus the result I got from blow-drying was satisfactory.

 Results & Length Check: I gained about 2 inches since my last major trim (after my last touch-up). My thickness/volume has also increased.

I trimmed my hair taking off just about an inch. The longest part of my hair (crown) before I trimmed measured 17 inches. I'm also glad that my right side is now catching up with my left side which has a faster growth.

Post-trim hair - BSL!!!

 

I'm loving the increase in thickness 

Overall I'm happy with my progress. 

xx,
Bee 

Texlax/Relaxer Update #1

Hello darlings,

This post is coming later than I planned but the past week has been SUPER busy for. Even right now I'm so knackered. Anyway God is my strength always. So let's cut the chase, I did my relaxer touch-up on 04/12/15. Yay! my new growth was driving me crazy so I glad for the opportunity to do away with new growth for a while.

I have been self-relaxing (texlaxing) since the beginning of my healthy hair journey. So I would highlight the steps and processes I take since this is my first relaxer touch-up post.

1. I always have a pre-relaxer touch-up washday. This is usually a week/5 days before touch-up day. On this washday I clarify and do a hard protein treatment using aphogee two-step protein treatment. This is done to fortify my hair against the impending chemical treatment  (relaxer)
2. The day before the touch-up or early that same day, I detangle thoroughly, part my hair into four quadrants and I then make 1 inch sections in each and twist up. I do this this to make application of the relaxer easier and faster. I texlax so pre-parting my hair makes sticking my time limit a breeze. 
   
3. I apply olive oil/coconut oil on my scalp and all over my hair (new growth and length). Then I apply vaseline to the previously relaxed/texlaxed ends, the perimeter of my hair and my ears. The vaseline is to protect the previously relaxed/texlaxed ends from relaxer run-off while washing out the relaxer as this could lead to over processing and eventually breakage. 
4. I use ORS lye relaxer in normal strength and usually use half of the jar per touch-up. So i scoop a half of the jar into a small bowl that i use only for this purpose, the I add about 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix well. 
   
5. Then I apply the relaxer to the pre-parted sections. The application usually takes about 8-10 mins (approx. 2 mins per quadrant). I then smooth with my fingers only making sure the relaxer is well distributed to the new growth. Smoothing usually takes about 5 - 8 mins. So the entire process usually takes about 15- 18 mins.
   
6. I wash out all the relaxer using warm water then I do a mid-step  protein treatment with aphogee two minutes reconstructor. Then I rinse the conditioner out and start washing my hair with neutralising shampoo. I'm currently using  Vitale olive oil  anti-breakage neutralising shampoo. I usually  lather 3 to 4 times and I leave the 3rd and 4th lather in for about 3 or 4 minutes. 
7. I wrap my hair in a cotton tshirt to absorb excess water. Then I deep condition with ORS replenishing conditioner for 20 mins with heat.
8. I then wash the deep conditioner out with cool water and apply roux porosity control conditioner for about two minutes then rinse out. 
9. I tshirt dry for about an hour, then I apply my leave-in conditioners (Aphogee pro vitamin leave-in or Aphogee green tea reconstructor and/or megagrowth profectiv daily leave-in strengthener). I apply my oil mix to my scalp and seal with either my oil mix or fantasia ic carrot oil serum if I want to flat iron.
10. I usually air-dry or blow dry with cold air but I wanted to do a proper length check this touch-up so I sealed with fantasia ic carrot oil serum and blow dried in small sections using medium heat. After this I flat-ironed in one-inch sections at the lowest heat of my Babyliss flat iron (140°C.)

                  Flat-ironed hair...BSL?
Overall, I was happy with the results of this relaxer touch-up and Yay!!! I got to BSL....drum roll!!!!!..... However, I have decided not to claim BSL just yet as I would prefer thicker ends. Seems my hair prefers to grow into a V-shape though. So i took off about 1.5 inches all round. I should be Full BSL by my next touch-up.
                     

                   1.5 inches trimmed off

                     
                         Post-trim hair

                       So far....so good...

I hope I didn't bore you with my longgggg post.

Later Darlings, 

Stay fabulous.  mwwuaaah!