My before pictures are from December 2004, I was looking to grow out my hair after being cutting off all of my previously relaxed hair and going natural from Feb. 04 - Sept. 04. My first perm (after being natural again was) in Sept. was no-lye and I try to wait between 6-12 weeks to get touch-ups (my stylist switched me to Affirm after that, but I think I only had 1 or 2 touch-ups with Affirm). I really let my hair tell me what time to re-touch because I will not suffer breakage just to stretch my relaxers out. From January until December I was self-relaxing, first with Phytorelaxer Index 2(no-lye) and then I switched to Vitale lye; I stopped self-relaxing because I was underprocessing myself.
I wash my hair at least once a week, but sometimes more...if more than once a week I'll do a conditioner wash using either V05 or Pantene conditioners. I do a light protein conditioner every two weeks and use Aubrey's GPB for the most part, although I have used Nexxus Emergencee. I only do heavy protein when I feel like my hair needs it, if it's breaking more than usual or something like that and my heavy protein is always Aphogee Treatment for damaged hair, but you have to be very careful and rinse it out for a LONG time and then use a HEAVY moisturizing conditioner and let it marinate for as long as you can. Products I use to wash: Nioxin Protectives Smoothing Shampoo, Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo or Elucence Moisture Balancing Shampoo.
After washing I always use something to act as a leave-in conditioner...my favorites are Salerm 21 and Loreal Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz Cream and Pantene Light Detangling Spray Conditioner.
As far as styling goes, I try not to use a lot of heat on my hair so if I use heat it's once a week at the most. After washing sometimes I will airdry and then use my ceramic curlers to bump my hair. The trick with direct heating tools is to use the heat on the roots more than the ends. Start the curl at the roots and then go to the ends, leaving the tool in contact with the ends for as short a time as possible, since the ends are the most fragile. Sometimes when I'm lazy I'll blow-dry my hair 80-95% of the way, let the rest airdry and then use my ceramic curler or flat iron. To be honest I also frequently rollerset and will sometimes blow-out my own hair.
I don't really go to the salon a lot, but I will sometimes treat myself and go to the Dominican Salon for a rollerset and blow out.
BEFORE
AFTER
