Prepping for Relaxer

Every relaxer session is an opportunity to try something different in my quest for the (quasi) stable hair routine.  For this stretch I worked on length retention...so making sure my ends were well moisturized, trying to keep them away from clothing and scarves and deep conditioning every week.  I tried to extend that practice to my relaxer prep.

1 Week before relaxer.

I applied both a protein conditioner and moisturizing conditioner for my deep condition. I used Hairveda sitrinillah on my new growth and put Cantu on my ends in a effort to strengthen them before relaxing.  Market consensus is that relaxers break down the protein in your hair in order to get them straight. So you've got to do what you can to fortify them.

Of course this made my hair a little extra dry that week so I had to up my moisturizing and sealing regime. I switched to 70% castor oil mix.

3 Days before relaxer

I started prepping my scalp and already relaxed and texlaxed strands by massaging in castor oil and using an extra coat during my moisturizing session. I also tried really, really hard to not scratch but it seems like just the thought of getting relaxed makes my scalp itch.

I also started finger detangling. Trying to get my new growth as soft and easy to part and comb as possible. This was very very hard.

Results

I think overall it was a successful relaxer. No burns, I don't think there was much overlapping. I stretched for 17 weeks!! Which is the longest I've ever gone and really only started to see breakage in the last two weeks. So yay for that.
I did get a trim (I forgot to take the pre-trim picture and my hairdresser was cutting as she flat ironed my hair) and the result is below.

I'm very annoyed by that 'U' at the bottom. I told her to give me an under cut and just cut it all away but I guess she couldn't do it. I'm going to have to give it as much love as I can.