Skip to main content

Farewell 2024

2024 has been a wild ride gone in a flash. Managed to do a small trim and ended the year on a high hair note. Work, health and life have kept me from writing more. I also kept my hair routine to a bare minimum. I managed to wash about once a week and kept it in a bun most of the time.  This worked quite well and am going to continue keeping things simple. Before taking this photo I had been asked if it's my real hair a few times when I had it down. In 2025 I would like to be more regular with my trims. I barely managed to do it twice this year. The soft v shape and layers are a bit more forgiving and don't let my hair look scraggly too much which helps. I am hoping as I take better care of my health I'll have more energy for my hair. My current wash and blow dry routine takes me about an hour and a half and that's been the most I could do this year. I will try take better pictures in the coming year. I might also dig to see if I have any others from this year to share m...

Day 8: How to prepare for relaxer

Once you find a routine that works stick with it. Let's  talk about how I prepare for relaxer. This really marks the start of the process for me.

My wash day before relaxer is where it starts. I clarify my hair with a clarifying shampoo to make sure all the build up is removed. This is currently the main difference to my normal wash day.

I usually style my hair in a low bun and try not to manipulate my hair or scratch my scalp. You don't want an irritated scalp before relaxer as that can lead to relaxer burns on your scalp.

The day before relaxer I part my hair into four sections and loosley twist my hair in smaller sections within them. I do this by starting the twisting roughly at the line of demarcation between the new growth and the already relaxed hair. Then I base my scalp with coconut oil. These sections make the whole application process so much easier and quicker. No fighting with your hair to get to the new growth.

After wash day when I am dealing with my hair I only use my fingers and no combs. I don't worry if my parting is not straight. At the current length my hair is in I hold each of my four sections of twists with a scrunchie before going to bed.

On the day I base my edges, nape and ears with some petroleum jelly. Then continue on with applying the relaxer. 

How do you prepare for your relaxer?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lifestyle hair length goal

It's been a while since my last note. I have been thinking about my goal hair length and how that fits with my lifestyle.  As my hair grows longer managing it take longer. Washing, drying and styling. The perfect balance for me of length and my lifestyle is around shoulder length. Just enough length to put it up in a bun or ponytail and easy enough to manage.  However I'd also really like to have classic length hair. That is my ultimate goal in terms of length. So now I'm trying to find a way to manage my hair at any length that's not draining. My health isn't always the best and usually when I am low on energy a lot of things fall out of my hair routine. Sometimes having water run through my hair is all I can manage and other times not even that. I want to reach my goal with full, shiny and luscious hair. So please share with me any tips you have on what's working for you and how to keep things as simple as possible. 

Still here

Checking in to say I am still here. The year has been overwhelming and somehow my hair has survived too. I kept thinking I need a low maintenance style for those times however am yet to find one low enough. Apart from being bald... Will keep trying out different things. Hope you're well and have managed to keep hair on your head. If there's any ideas for a super low maintenance style would love to hear about it!

January 2023 Update

It's a new year! Hope you're all well and started the year on a good note. One of the things I do at the start of the year is look ahead at what's coming and make a plan. This plan is not set in stone and it helps reduce decision fatigue.  With respect to my hair after looking at how busy the year is going to be I decided to get back to braiding my hair as a protective style. As you can see from the picture I am a little bit out of practice.  With hats and scarves I am not too worried. I'm sure I'll  get into the swing of things. I am currently 8weeks post relaxer and at this stage next relaxer is scheduled for June. I will still be keeping my weekly wash day schedule and rebraid my hair every two weeks. Another reason I made this decision is to save me from breakage due to friction and too much manipulation. In my day to day when wearing my hair out there are more chances of getting it stuck somewhere or rubbing against things. I tried putting it up in a bun howeve...