Hair Update: Relaxer and Cut

I previously posted about my current hair setback. So yesterday, I relaxed my new growth and proceeded to cut my hair.

Left: After relaxer. Right: After cut.

I must say, my hair felt a lot stronger and softer than usual. I think that's evident from the photo on the left. I attribute that to all the protein treatments I've been doing. Here's a summary of how I've treated  my hair since the beginning of March:

Wash Day 1 (Wednesday)

• Co-wash hair with ORS Olive Oil Replenshing Pak (Mild Protein Conditioner)
• Do black tea rinse (to reduce shedding)
• Condition with Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner for 5 minutes (Moisturising Conditioner)
• Use Davines NaturalTech Nourishing Hairbuilding Pak for 10-15 minutes (Medium Protein Treatment)

Setbacks and Comebacks

I started my healthy hair journey (HHJ) in mid-2010. I kept the use of heat styling tools to a minimum, stretched the time between relaxers, did not over-process my hair, did not overlap relaxers, wore low-manipulation hair styles, deep conditioned my hair, kept my hair moisturised, and sealed the moisture in using various natural oils like avocado oil. I was doing everything right!

I saw huge improvement in the state of my hair. There was a lot less breakage, my hair looked thicker and fuller. It was longer, bouncier... full of life. By mid-2011 my hair had gone past shoulder length and was grazing arm-pit length - the longest my hair has ever been. However, I got so excited about having reached that length, and all my healthy hair habits flew right out the window. I was so excited to show off my hair that I started flat-ironing it twice a week. I stopped moisturising and sealing it daily because I did not want to weigh it down with products... I wanted that "swang"! When my hair was down, I would touch it constantly. When it wasn't down, I would have it in a ponytail. Then to top it all off, I decided I wanted to relax my hair bone straight, and did a "corrective" relaxer in January.

Naturally, I am now paying for my mistakes. I am experiencing my second setback in my HHJ. (The first setback was a thinning hair line. Click here to see how I grew back my hairline and nape.) I went from this:

September 2011

to this: