This question is for people with ethnic hair with relaxed or natural hair?

Question

I've had a relaxer since I was about 6 or 7 and I'm tired of getting touch ups after touch ups. Relaxer's make my hair extra thin with no body and always breaking off sometimes. So I'm think of stopping, I want to grow my hair natural and grow out the relaxer that I have in my hair. I know I have a lot of relaxer since my hair is past my shoulders, and I have a little bit of growth coming up in my roots. When I go the Dominicans and they blow dry my roots, my hair comes out extra silky and as if I had a relaxer. Last year alone I only relaxed my hair twice.What should I do, should I get over it and leave the relaxer in or should I try being natural even though its a long process?

Answer 1

I say it depends on your lifestyle. Do you have time to spend for that long process? I don't know about the thinning part but whether its permed or natural it never hurts to use deep conditioners, they really work. Iam in letting the perm grow out of my hair too and I used to have really dry hair that always was in the comb but since I use deep conditioners every wash, the hair stays on my head now.

Answer 2

it is really up to you..

on 1 hand....relaxers damage the hair significantly by breaking the bonds that give each strand its shape....so going natural is much better for the health of your hair

on the other hand...since you have been wearing a straight style so such a long time....going completely natural, style-wise might be a little bit difficult.....

also, when going completly natural (if u have "kinky" hair) its is usually better if you cut the relaxed parts of the hair...i know most ppl dont want to let go of the length... but what happens is that with the hair being two completly different textures on the same strand kinda encourages even more breakage!!!

bear in mind that relaxing is technically bad for the hair but so is blowdrying or flat ironing straight all the time...if thats how u plan on wearing it

its all up to u

Answer 3

My mother is Black Dutch (Melungeon,a Southeastern ethnic group that is a mix of 3 races) and although she's as white skinned and blonde haired as they come, she has the same problem with her hair being very kinky and very coarse. She blow-dries hers from the roots downward, and it straightens out beautifully. I did notice she uses a conditioning spray when she does that, so maybe that's the key. She also uses the largest size pick she can find when she does this, so that's another good hint.

As for me, mine is naturally straight, but also thick and medium to coarse (I'm mostly Native American). I had some problems with breakage after bleaching my hair--apparently ours becomes fragile very easily if we do things like that to it. Now, if I don't put sheen spray on it, it looks like a hedgehog is sitting on my head :(

Answer 4

I can relate.. my hair is naturally curly, and as a young girl, I too started relaxing my hair. I used to get it done at a shop, and it damaged my hair completely. My beautiful thick hair started to get thinner and thinner, and started breaking off, and by the time I got to high school, the hair underneath was totally uneven, I had to get it chopped off to my shoulders! :( But eventually it all grew back.
I started going to the hair salon (they were domincans) And they would wash and set my hair (wash it, put it in rollers, sit you under the dryer, then blow it out). Relaxer or no relaxer, it still comes out silky smooth. I liked it soo much, I went out and bought my own rollers, and dryer, so that I could do it myself.
So yeah, my opinion is that you should continue going to the salon and have them wash and set your hair. Relaxing it too much is causing your hair to break off, and it's not healthy for your hair. You're better off growing your hair out nautually, and if your roots are showing, just blow them out, or put a flat iron to them. BUT, if you are in dire need of a relaxer, I suggest you just relax your roots, and not your whole head, to avoid from overprocessing and damaging your ends, which can break them off. Just don't do it often.
Go natural!
Also, (some people may fing this as being dirty, but it's actually very healthy for your hair) try not to wash your hair often, about once a week is good.
Good luck in making your choice!

Answer 5

...I was once in the same position, and I haven't had a relaxer in over 5 years now...if you take care of your hair, it will survive...deep condition it well...I didn't cut it nor did it fall out, in fact it grows so well now, it's past the middle of my back...I just took care of it, making sure to use heat protection products when straightening it and quality hair products on a regular basis that are targeted toward my hair type...use moisture products and deep condition alot...take your time with your hair, when combing use a wide tooth comb and take small sections...Don't try to do what's in now b/c that's why alot of females hair don't grow too long and/or fall out b/c they are doing too much to it...if you can manage your hair w/o the relaxer then don't get one...I have had about 5-7 in my life and only got them b/c I was too lazy to deal with my curly, wavy, thick and tangleprone hair...if you want it straight, go back to the place that did it the way you like...be carefull with coloring it too...watch how much better it looks and healthier it'll be, just be patient...

Answer 6

go natural if it doesnt work you can always get a relaxer

Answer 7

Try to have your natural hair back you are dying for it! it wont hurt!

Answer 8

straightening iron
that's the only thing that has EVER worked for me