How I Manage My New Growth During Relaxer Stretches

I'm what's called a relaxer stretcher. This means I go several weeks between my relaxer touch-ups, longer than the hair stylist recommended six weeks. I typically go about 12 weeks between relaxers but have gone even more than that making it to 18 weeks post relaxer. 

I stretch my relaxers because it allows me to have a few inches of new growth and avoid relaxer overlap. Relaxer overlap is when hair is relaxed multiple times, usually by accident because there is very little new growth to work with. Relaxer overlap results in weak hair that thins and breaks.

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One result of stretching my relaxers means I can have a lot of new growth and will have several weeks where I'm dealing with two hair textures, straight and curly, which can be a challenge. So I've had to learn how to deal with two textures and have them work together without causing more damage. 

Here are the techniques I use to manage my new growth between relaxer touch-ups:

Deep condition, deep condition, deep condition

I say this a lot, only because it's true. If I don't deep condition during my relaxer stretches, detangling is a nightmare, and my new growth is more prone to tangling up on itself. Deep conditioning is when you use a hair treatment, typically called a deep conditioner or hair mask, on your hair to help nourish, add moisture to, and/or strengthen your hair. Deep conditioners contain nourishing ingredients like oils, proteins, and vitamins.

There are several deep conditioners I've used to successfully keep my relaxed hair and new growth moisturized

• The Eden Bodyworks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner is just the right consistency for both of my textures and helps make them soft, moisturized, and easy to detangle
• TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask is so thick and creamy, and it sinks into my hair when I apply it. This hair mask adds moisture to my hair and helps it retain that moisture
• Eden BodyWorks Lavender Aloe Anti-Breakage Deep Conditioner is a thick deep conditioner that leaves my hair feeling soft and manageable

Related read: TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask Review

Deep condition with heat 

When I'm deep in a relaxer stretch, in addition to deep conditioning each wash day, I like to amplify my deep conditioning with heat. Since direct heat, and even indirect heat if used a lot, can damage my hair, I use a heating cap. The one I use is the Hot Head Deep Conditioning Cap. I found that when I use my heating cap, my hair feels more moisturized and stays that way longer.

Stretch my new growth

This is something I learned from other relaxed hair bloggers. My natural hair has some tight curls in certain places, which result in the curls tangling or curling around each other. So stretching my new growth helps to lessen or eliminate the tangling.

Here are the two ways I stretch my new growth:

• Apply tension to straighten my new growth when blow-drying. When I blow dry my hair (always using cool or cold air), I take about 2-4 inch sections and hold the section taut while I blow dry my new growth. This way, my new growth dries straighter than curly.
• Cross wrap at night. This works best if my new growth is still damp when I go to bed or use tension when blow-drying. The more new growth I have, the more nights between wash days I cross wrap.

Drink lots of water

Having healthy hair is not just about the external, but also about taking care of yourself internally. When you're dehydrated, the hair closest to your scalp starts to feel it first. Not getting enough water into your system can make your hair feel dry, brittle, and rough.

Related read: 5 Ways Water Is Good For Your Hair And Skin

When I don't drink a lot of water and start getting dehydrated, my scalp and new growth begin feeling dry. As a result, my new growth starts tangling and doesn't stay stretched.

What I don't do

One thing I do not, especially regularly, is flat-iron my new growth straight. I used to do that in the past before I started my healthy hair journey, and I experienced thinning and breakage. Once I started my healthy hair journey, I cut back on the flat ironing to the point where my flat iron hasn't seen the light of day in a while. While I don't think heat should ever be used on relaxed hair, using a lot of direct heat on relaxed hair does more harm than good.

What do you do to manage your new growth between relaxer stretches?