Perming Natural Curly Hair

Marianneh · 07-06-2011, 08:03 AM

Hi All!

I just joined this group and I am looking forward to getting people's feedback.

I was wondering if anyone on here has permed their natural curly hair in order to soften their curls? I would be described as having 3c kinky hair and I use to relax (straighten) my hair for years! I decided to stop and go back to my curls however my curls are not all that tame and white tight. When I was my hair I love the look of my curls and due to the fact that it is not that tight my hair is longer...when it is fully dried and super tight it just sits on my shoulders..when the curls are "dragged out" and softer it goes just around my shoulder blades. So I was wondering if anyone has permed their hair to "soften" the curls and get them more or less defined? And how was your hair afterwards? How much work did you have to do in order to keep them healthy after the chemicals?
BTW I have Bi-racial hair I'm half black and white.

Would really appreciate any input.

Thanks!

BekkaPoo · 07-06-2011, 08:40 AM

No I wouldn't perm my hair to soften it.. that would defeat the purpose of being natural. If I put a relaxer in my hair it would likely just break off. If your hair is shoulder length you could easily just do a braidout or some other non-chemical method to loosen your curls.

blissdrops · 07-06-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianneh

Hi All!

I just joined this group and I am looking forward to getting people's feedback.

I was wondering if anyone on here has permed their natural curly hair in order to soften their curls? I would be described as having 3c kinky hair and I use to relax (straighten) my hair for years! I decided to stop and go back to my curls however my curls are not all that tame and white tight. When I was my hair I love the look of my curls and due to the fact that it is not that tight my hair is longer...when it is fully dried and super tight it just sits on my shoulders..when the curls are "dragged out" and softer it goes just around my shoulder blades. So I was wondering if anyone has permed their hair to "soften" the curls and get them more or less defined? And how was your hair afterwards? How much work did you have to do in order to keep them healthy after the chemicals?
BTW I have Bi-racial hair I'm half black and white.

Would really appreciate any input.

Thanks!

You could get a texturizer. They can work very well on your type of hair you just have to make sure they don't leave it on too long and that you don't get them too often. You'll only need a retouch probably 2 or 3 times a year. To avoid damage just keep your hair well conditioned and moisturized and don't straighten it too often.

If you want a bit of a looser curl and bit less poof and volume these work great on 3c type hair.

blissdrops · 07-06-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

No I wouldn't perm my hair to soften it.. that would defeat the purpose of being natural. If I put a relaxer in my hair it would likely just break off. If your hair is shoulder length you could easily just do a braidout or some other non-chemical method to loosen your curls.

You can relax your curls some and still be a curly. Not everyone wants the very tightly curled look. Braid-outs look like braid-outs not loose curls.

Marianneh · 07-06-2011, 12:10 PM

Thank you guys for the quick replies and suggestions!

I love my curls but they are really messy at times (don't get me started on what I look like when I get up

) and the tightness of them makes my hair look much shorter than it is (I prefer longer hair). I definitely wouldn't have a perm frequently as I read online about how perms can damage your hair if done frequently due to the chemicals. Also it isn't necessary to do them frequently at least from what I have read online, they last quite a bit, and as blissdrops stated you will only really need to do retouches on the new growth hair. The main issue I have is that my curls are not particularly defined or in "chunks of curls" and they are quite tight...I therefore want to just soften them and make the curls not as tight.

Again thanks for getting back to me!

BekkaPoo · 07-06-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blissdrops

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

No I wouldn't perm my hair to soften it.. that would defeat the purpose of being natural. If I put a relaxer in my hair it would likely just break off. If your hair is shoulder length you could easily just do a braidout or some other non-chemical method to loosen your curls.

You can relax your curls some and still be a curly. Not everyone wants the very tightly curled look. Braid-outs look like braid-outs not loose curls.

I get loose curls by doing rollersets.. so there are ways without using chemicals to get them. She could also try using henna on a regular basis. I just feel that using a relaxer/texturizer (same thing) is too harsh and it's permanent. Why risk the damage?

She asked, and that was my answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianneh

Thank you guys for the quick replies and suggestions!

I love my curls but they are really messy at times (don't get me started on what I look like when I get up

) and the tightness of them makes my hair look much shorter than it is (I prefer longer hair). I definitely wouldn't have a perm frequently as I read online about how perms can damage your hair if done frequently due to the chemicals. Also it isn't necessary to do them frequently at least from what I have read online, they last quite a bit, and as blissdrops stated you will only really need to do retouches on the new growth hair. The main issue I have is that my curls are not particularly defined or in "chunks of curls" and they are quite tight...I therefore want to just soften them and make the curls not as tight.

Again thanks for getting back to me!

You're welcome.. good luck whatever you decide.

NaturallyNiké · 07-06-2011, 10:20 PM

OP I think you mean , relax or telax...

Google "Texlaxing natural hair" I recommend that way before getting a texturizer...

and yes there are alot of people who do that to loosen their curl pattern a bit, they usually add oils to lessen the effect of the relaxer and leave it on for a few minutes, without combing, so the curl pattern is still there..

I understand that not everyone is big on being "natural" but there are plenty of techniques and products that may temporarily loosen pattern or combat shrinkage, so you might wanna look up on those before resorting to a relaxer... But if being natural aint your prerogative *shrugs* do you, as long as you do your research, because it would technically still be like taking care of your natural hair anyway...

and Bekkapoo texlaxing ≠ damage, as long as she is taking care of if it, there are plenty of texlaxee's whose hair are still intact and thriving...

blissdrops · 07-06-2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaturallyNiké

OP I think you mean , relax or telax...

Google "Texlaxing natural hair" I recommend that way before getting a texturizer...

and yes there are alot of people who do that to loosen their curl pattern a bit, they usually add oils to lessen the effect of the relaxer and leave it on for a few minutes, without combing, so the curl pattern is still there..

I understand that not everyone is big on being "natural" but there are plenty of techniques and products that may temporarily loosen pattern or combat shrinkage, so you might wanna look up on those before resorting to a relaxer... But if being natural aint your prerogative *shrugs* do you, as long as you do your research, because it would technically still be like taking care of your natural hair anyway...

and Bekkapoo texlaxing ≠ damage, as long as she is taking care of if it, there are plenty of texlaxee's whose hair are still intact and thriving...

By texturizer that's what I meant. A mild relaxer applied to the hair then rinsed out almost immediately.

NaturallyNiké · 07-06-2011, 10:51 PM

Yea I know whatchta meant I was referring to the OP's title because a perm does the total opposite of all three, was just tryna avoid confusion..

As for the texturizing, alot of people actually prefer using a relaxer to relax the curl pattern over a texturizer because after a while many people get stringy hair from those kits...What the technique is called is often misnamed...

To the OP ,This chicks does what you are looking for, there are more videos on it including totorial and regimens if your just search "texlaxing natural hair " on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw7xea1RXmM

blissdrops · 07-06-2011, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by blissdrops

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

No I wouldn't perm my hair to soften it.. that would defeat the purpose of being natural. If I put a relaxer in my hair it would likely just break off. If your hair is shoulder length you could easily just do a braidout or some other non-chemical method to loosen your curls.

You can relax your curls some and still be a curly. Not everyone wants the very tightly curled look. Braid-outs look like braid-outs not loose curls.

I get loose curls by doing rollersets.. so there are ways without using chemicals to get them. She could also try using henna on a regular basis. I just feel that using a relaxer/texturizer (same thing) is too harsh and it's permanent. Why risk the damage?

She asked, and that was my answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianneh

Thank you guys for the quick replies and suggestions!

I love my curls but they are really messy at times (don't get me started on what I look like when I get up

) and the tightness of them makes my hair look much shorter than it is (I prefer longer hair). I definitely wouldn't have a perm frequently as I read online about how perms can damage your hair if done frequently due to the chemicals. Also it isn't necessary to do them frequently at least from what I have read online, they last quite a bit, and as blissdrops stated you will only really need to do retouches on the new growth hair. The main issue I have is that my curls are not particularly defined or in "chunks of curls" and they are quite tight...I therefore want to just soften them and make the curls not as tight.

Again thanks for getting back to me!

You're welcome.. good luck whatever you decide.

I wouldn't really call a roller wet set "curly" hair either. That's like a braid out. Those are completely different looks compared to the naturally curly look. Plus a wet set is more work then a wash and go in "most" cases. Texturizing her hair would allow her to do wash and goes and wear her hair as is without setting it. Plus they're mild, unless she doesn't take care of her hair it won't damage it. It's not a like a full on full strength relaxer.

Marianneh · 07-07-2011, 04:46 AM

Hi Blissdrop

I also think that roller wet set curl is different from what I want to achieve. As I said I LOVE my curls which is why I stopped putting in relaxer to get my hair straight and I don't want to make up "excuses" but I run a very hectic life... I work in a hotel as a Marketing Manager and therefore I'm at work sometimes longer than I am at home. Work starts at 8:00am and on a good day I am home by 7:00pm ish if all my work for the day is done...if we have events then my day ends when the events end. So I really would find it hard to put in rollers everyday to get my curls to the way I would like especially since I haven't ever put in rollers on my own hair.

I am aware that if I were to perm my hair it wouldn’t mean that I could just jump out of bed with “perfect” looking hair. All forms of curly hair, requires extra care and attention which I do. I generally do not wash my hair with shampoo (but do when I feel that it might start to get oily) because shampoo tends to dry my hair (even the ones for curly hair). I condition my hair put in leave in conditioner, hot oil treatments, air dry (never blow dry of use a diffuser). So I was hoping for people's views before I make any decisions.

I am just looking at options of how to tame my curls because the strands of my curls do not really form the nice kind of chucks of curls that I would like...rather they are a little straggly and separate especially at the front. (My hair has two different textures). I want to achieve a uniformed look.

I appreciate everyone's feedback!

Marianneh · 07-07-2011, 04:48 AM

Hi NaturallyNike,

Thank you for the feedback and the video! I shall keep my eyes open for alternative methods.

Thanks again!

BekkaPoo · 07-07-2011, 05:08 AM

Well, people are going to see things differently. A texturizer is a relaxer. Same ingredients. A texturizer is simply left on for a shorter time than a relaxer. OP, it's your head.. do what thou wilt. And post pictures.

ttlolla · 07-07-2011, 08:21 AM

I don't really have any thing to add

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_u...?v=7vl4HnqjXv4

She uses a texturizer and her is still pretty .

Hope you get the look you want

NaturallyNiké · 07-07-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

Well, people are going to see things differently. A texturizer is a relaxer. Same ingredients. A texturizer is simply left on for a shorter time than a relaxer. OP, it's your head.. do what thou wilt. And post pictures.

I dont think anybody argues that...the issue is the formula (ratio of ingredients) of the texturizing kits that dont seem to give people the optimal results, as a "diluted" full on relaxer...

Marianneh · 09-05-2011, 06:30 AM

Hi Ladies,

I just wanted to come back and say thank you for all the advice you gave me. I finally came to the conclusion not to use any more chemicals in my hair! I have to say that this forum really helped me ALOT! I came up with the best solution to taking advantage of my hair length by doing twist out's. This allows me to take advantage of curls and length at the same time. I never did this before (putting my head down in shame) and honestly didn’t think it would work for me but after I did... I realized that there is no need to try and alter my hair texture with chemicals. While the twist out is not "permanent" it is easy to do and I do not have the issue of hair breakage.

I also joined the Henna and Amla bandwagon! The combination of henna and amla has given my hair new life!

It is ten times stronger, healthier, shinier, and I am loving the color. While Henna doesn’t do anything to my curl pattern the Amla seems to clump my curls and give it bounce.

I just wanted to post a few of my latest hair pictures. These are of twist outs that are either just removed from the twists or a couple days of carrying a twist out. They are also taken along my henna and amla journey (so far I have done 4 full head henna treatments and 2 amla) so the color of my hair looks different in some pictures. The last 3 pictures are the most recent pics and the color of my hair is more “uniformed”.

Once again thanks for all the help!

,

BekkaPoo · 09-05-2011, 07:45 AM

Wow, looks good! I'm glad you decided not to relax your hair. The color is lovely too.

Marianneh · 09-05-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

Wow, looks good! I'm glad you decided not to relax your hair. The color is lovely too.

Hi BekkaPoo,

Thank you! I think I was having a moment of weakness and didn't realize that there were other alternatives out there...but I'm loving the journey!

forbee · 09-05-2011, 11:40 AM

I'm also glad you decided not to go the chemical route...hopefully length retention and health won't be a problem since you are staying natural.

BekkaPoo · 09-05-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianneh

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

Wow, looks good! I'm glad you decided not to relax your hair. The color is lovely too.

Hi BekkaPoo,

Thank you! I think I was having a moment of weakness and didn't realize that there were other alternatives out there...but I'm loving the journey!

Oh yeah, you definitely have options!

Just keep doing your research and ask questions if you're not sure about something. I'm glad the twistouts are working for you. Keep up the good work.