Lisa-Lisa

My last relaxer was in February of 2010. I have 4b, shoulder-length hair, and the 7 months of new growth is getting on my nerves. I want to wear my hair straight, but it takes me 4 hours start to finish to be able to leave the house. And my hair reverts at the first sign of humidity or sweat.

I'm thinking about getting my hair relaxed next week; however, I just got a recommendation from a stylist to get a Coppola Keratin Treatment.

Here is what I need to know:

1. Is this treatment safe for African American/4b hair? I haven't seen any people of AA heritage in the Coppola advertisements.

2. Is this treatment safe for people with two textures: 3 inches of natural hair, and the majority of relaxed hair? (I don't want ANY breakage. I'm trying to grow my hair out as long as it can be.)

3. Are there any 4b/AA ladies on this forum who have tried the Coppola Keratin Treatment? If so, HELP ME!

I'm on the verge of getting this stuff RELAXED!

DimePiece17

No! Lol...I've written about it a dozen times on this board. Coppola is only effective for the 3bs and up. I have 4a and 3c in the back and that crap did not take any of the three times I tried it. Don't play yourself. The best treatment for this hair texture is Marcia t. Second is qod max. I use qod max from eBay seller keratintoday. Most of us who do it ourselves buy it from him and are happy. Good luck!

Lisa-Lisa

Thank you so much. I'll check into the Marcia t. Do you think it'll be safe for me even though I have mostly relaxed ends?

DimePiece17

This process responds best to chemically treated hair, but I will tell you this is not an alt to relaxing your hair. I use it to loosen and soften my curls

redcelticcurls

Define safe. Coppola has been banned in Ireland (and perhaps Greece) because the formaldehyde limit far exceeded the safety standard.

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/r...pex_search.cfm

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Med/Coarse, porous curly.

Lisa-Lisa

I was referring to whether or not the Coppola treatment could be used on AA hair without breakage. I am aware of the formaldehyde information on the blogs, and I guess I'm willing to try a keratin treatment in spite of the formaldehyde.

Lisa-Lisa

Last week I was about to break down and get my hair relaxed, but I decided against it. I went to a new salon and got a shampoo, blow dry, flat iron, and trim. Since the stylist was new to me, I just wanted to try her out before releasing her to do something major to my hair.

She told me that my hair is fine, and there is some breakage. (She showed me the breakage, and I didn't think it was too bad considering a dude at another salon in the city dang near burned my hair to death when he flat ironed it a couple of months ago. My hair smelled "BURNT" for days. I was praying that it all wouldn't fall on the floor.) Thankfully, it didn't, but there is definite damage. I will never go to that salon again.

Anyway, I thought there would have been more breakage than what she showed me. That being said, I don't want to experience ANY more breakage, and I want to retain my growth, which I don't feel is happening right now. The new stylist said that fine hair needs protein more than people with coarse hair because the strands of the hair are so thin. People with coarse hair can store up more protein in the strands because there is more room. This is the first I've heard of this, and the first time in my life that I've ever been told I have fine hair. I don't know if what she said about protein is true, but I asked my mom, and she said my hair is definitely fine like hers. (Gee, thanks, mom. The hair on my dad's side is coarse. Why couldn't I have gotten my dad's hair?)

I think it's best for me to get the Keratin treatment. Obviously, my hair is breaking where my natural hair and relaxed ends meet. That's a no-no for me. I want to do what I can to strengthen my hair for the rest of my transition. And now that I've learned my hair is "fine" (which I'm thinking is a bad word for me) I better get help fast.

I will let you guys know how it goes for me. BTW, I have tried posting pictures. Evidently, I'm not very tech savvy. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

natassjha05

I transitioned slowly. My last relaxer was Jan 09. I'm not sure what texture my hair is but the curl is very tight! I straightened my hair too which is why my stylist recommended Coppola KT. I sat in the shop 4 hours in Feb 10 while she brushed the KT through my hair. I loved how much easier it was to straighten my hair and the fact that it lengthens the curl. However, when I decided to cut the relaxed ends in July, I discovered that the front half of my head does not curl! So my answer is yes the treatment is safe for "us" however, it may set you back on the amount of transition period. A natural hair stylist told me I could either cut the KT out or wait and grow it out slowly! I wish now that I used more protective styles as I transitioned like rod or twist sets.