This past Friday (1/11/13), I got the urge to relax my hair.Well actually, I got the urge to cut it. I figured that this sudden urge to cut was directly related to my lack of doing anything to my hair. As a result, I decided that I should relax my hair. I was 16 weeks post and I figured this time was a good as any to relax my hair.
This relaxer day was no different from any other relaxer day. I based my scalp with grease, relaxed with ORS lye relaxer, neutralized, and deep conditioned with ORS Replenishing Conditioner. Pretty standard stuff. Nothing new to report with that.
But.....
Starting with this relaxer, I made the decision to wet wrap my hair post-wash. As I mentioned in a previous post, blow drying my hair has been complete murder on my hair. However, I remembered that immediately following my hair cut I was a wet wrapping queen and my hair thrived. So that's what I did. It took some doing (I hadn't wet wrapped since 2009) but I got a pretty decent wrap done. I then sat under my hooded dryer for an hour and a half....which wasn't bad at all considering that a roller set would mean a 2 DAY drying affair.
Once my hair was dry, I pulled out my flat iron and went to work. Immediately, I could see the difference wet wrapping pre-flat iron had on my ends. To put it plainly, my hair didn't look fried and my ends are in good shape. That right there was all the convincing that I needed. Wet wrapping has earned its way back into my regimen.
Another thing I did this relaxer day was do a silk/saran wrap (another thing I used to do on a somewhat regular basis but stopped). The premise of the silk wrap is simple, post flat iron wrap your hair up, place some saran wrap on it, and sit under the dryer for ~15minutes. This process will, well, make your hair silky. It also straightens your hair a little bit more. Most folks typically do this post roller set but since I absolutely abhor (yes, abhor) roller setting, this is how I'm using it. My hair responded well to it and once I was finished, I sprayed my hair with KeraCare Oil Sheen with Humidity Block and went about my way. All in all, this was a good relaxer day. There is no length check this go round simply because I don't want to try it with a crap camera phone. As soon as I upgrade my camera, you guys will get a length check outta me. :)
Check out the results!
Here is my hair the day after:
Here is my hair today (mind you, it has been raining endlessly here in Birmingham):
Girl, I didn't even ATTEMPT to straighten my hair out due to this soggy weather... I feel like it's been raining for 72hrs straight here in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteGreat relaxer-day results! I think I'm going to try to wet wrap on my next wash day!
I didn't know that it would be raining this long. It has been raining since Saturday...and it won't stop until Friday. I need to see the sun again!
DeleteDefinitely give wet wrapping a go! Make sure to use foam wrap lotion (Motions is ok but Jane Carter Solution Wrap and Roll gives hold w/o making your hair crunchy or leaving any residue). I hope it turns out well! :)
Hmmmm, I haven't wet wrapped since literally the 90s bc my hair would NEVER dry but I think maybe with a fresh relaxer and my new dryer I will try it. I like the sleekness of it as opposed to air drying aand like you said I definitely don't want to blow dry. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteGive a shot! I think it's the best alternative (outside of air drying) for your ends during the whole straightening process. Especially since you have that awesome hair dryer, I'm sure your hair will dry with no problems!
DeleteI ageee with ECP that I will try this. I don't have a fresh relaxer but I'm hoping it will still dry sleek.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will turn out fine! Just make sure your wrap is on point! I intend to wet wrap until I can't anymore (around 10 weeks or so) so I don't think your relaxer has to be super fresh to do it. Good luck! :)
DeleteYour hair looks good! Personally I think I'll give wet wrapping a miss. I roller set religiously and luckily it's summer time here, so I air dry my hair whilst their in rollers and it only takes a couple of hours, 3 at the most. I have two awesome straightening irons and they're so not being used according to their value, due to my new slightly aversion to heat, lol.
ReplyDeleteSee I'm just the opposite. I'm terrible at roller sets! And they also take FOREVER to dry in my hair. So wet wrapping is a great alternative for me. I'm glad that roller wrapping works for you, it can be a great alternative to direct heat!
DeleteYour hair looks great! I've never tried to wet wrap, but then again I don't wrap my hair period so that's prob why it never crossed my mind lol. I love your results though!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteHey sharday,
ReplyDeletehave you ever tried wet wrapping and then sitting under the hooded/bonnet dryer only to get the same results without flat ironing and then doing the seran wrap afterwards?
I'm wondering if it would work the same since I try to limit direct heat to a very minimum
For me it wouldn't work because I still have to use the flat iron to straighten my roots ( even though I relax, I don't relax bone straight). I think that if you are able to wet wrap good enough to get your roots straight ( or if you relax bone straight), you should be ok.
Deletethanks for your response.
Deletethe next wash day i will try to get my wrap as neat as possible. hopefully it would come out the way i desire it, since I'm only 3 weeks post corrective relaxer
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