HOW TO GROW & KEEP LONG LENGTH RELAXED HAIR! CONTEST WINNERS

FROM THE DESK OF ANGEL'S RINGLETS BEAUTIES.......
HOW TO GROW AND MAINTAIN LONG RELAXED HAIR!

We want to thank everyone who participated in this contest! We received so many excellent comments that we are sure will be a great resource to anyone looking for lots of information on how to grow long relaxed hair. We noticed that most of the care requirements for long, healthy relaxed hair are pretty much the same for growing long, natural hair.

CONTEST PARTICIPANTS: Please check below this post for the winners names, and how to claim your prize!

• Relax My Hair every 5 to 6 months: This is referred to as "stretching". Typically, you will be instructed by a hair care professional to relax your hair somewhere between every 6-10 weeks. T & I used to go to the hairdresser for a relaxer once every 10 to 12 weeks. Sometimes we were told that we waited too long. WHY stretch 5 to 6 months? At 6 months, you could have 3 inches of unprocessed hair. That's enough new hair growth to apply the chemicals safely without overlapping. Overlapping leads to thinner (double processed) hair, which can and probably will be easily broken sooner or later.
• theprfktangelful says "My best relaxed hair care practice is to relax properly such as not leaving it on too long or letting it burn your scalp which could lead to permanent damage and breakage, impeding hair growth and retention.
• "T" encourages ALL to "tex lax", a process where the relaxer chemical is not left on the hair long enough to make it "bone straight", it simply "loosens" up the curl. This will allow for thicker hair with more strength to withstand everyday wear and tear, thus resulting in longer lengths.
• Reduce Heat Use: Every Wash day I used to blow dry and flat iron. What I could have done instead was air dry mostly, and then use the flat iron. An even better option was to air dry partially, moisturize and do a braid out or twist out. Roller sets are a great option for using a different type of heat (indirect). Any time heat is used, don't forget to use heat protectant. Don't low dry from soaking wet, allow to dry partially. Add oil to the heat session (i.e. grapeseed oil, avocado oil).

• MIMI MACKAY said: "Protective styling and minimum usage of heat I believe are the best practices for relaxed, natural, or in-between. It allows your hair to grow because you aren't doing too much damage. Heat used to dry out my relaxed hair so bad, but I kept using my flat iron everyday! It left my hair dull and limp after too much abuse!"

• Oil before washing with shampoo (pre poo or hot oil treatment): Traditional Indian hair care encompasses oil from scalp to ends prior to using a cleanser (or simply just to oil). The oil serves as a buffer to hair against harsh cleansing agents. A pre conditioner can also do this. This step will help protect the hair ends!

• Trim only as needed: If your ends are now being taken care of, then there's no reason for a trim every time you go to get a relaxer. Did you ever go the get your hair relaxed (all excited about the new hair growth and anticipating the new longer length gain) only to have your beautician chop off 2'' of hair? Well if you got your hair relaxed every 6-8 weeks, the beautician would have cut off more than you even grew.

• Moisturize hair focus on ends: WATER!! We didn't use to put water on relaxed hair. Frankly it took too long to dry. It was mushy. But research shows that relaxed hair enjoys the benefits of moisturizing with water and holding that water in with oil. Moisturizers that are water based are great! Can you flat iron relaxed hair & moisturize? Yes. You can use lightweight water based moisturizers and seal with oil. Some people use straight up oil (rumor says that coconut oil is a moisturizer?)
• • mkupmstrss73 says: "I think that if I had known about moisturizing and sealing in that moisture, I would have done better being relaxed".

• Low Manipulation: Combs/Brushes, combined with dry, heated hair ensured that my ends would be on the floor daily. Wrapping, roller sets, maintaining your style with as little manhandling as possible. Some people have opted to throw away their combs and brushes! Relaxed hair can be styled with fingers and the palms of your hands at times.  

• Deep Condition/Protein Treatment & Balance: ayitah69 said: "conditioning the hair and doing a protein treatment at least once to twice per month. I would say deep conditioning every other week or once per week also helps.  Wearing hair in a wash n go during the warm months with alcohol free gel, and using a variation of the curly girl method."

•  mkupmstrss73 said: "I think that if I had known about moisturizing and sealing in that moiture, I would have done better being relaxed. I also know that I used way too much heat along with overprocessing my hair on a monthly basis for years. I relaxed every 30 days faithfully and that was too much".

AND THE WINNERS ARE....................

1) Annette
2) SC


AND COMMENTS THAT WERE SELECTED, BUT HAVE TO MEET FULL REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIZE REDEMPTION:

3) Dshawn4
4)MIMI MACKEY
5) HOTMOMC

Winners: PLEASE PROVIDE CONTACT US: FREEBIES@UNTAME.TV