How I Stretched My Relaxer 18 Weeks

I made it! Without doing it on purpose I made to 18 post my last relaxer touch up. This is the longest I've stretched so I couldn't believe it at first and had to count the weeks a few times before it sunk in.
While outside of a few weeks this stretch has been pretty easy I've decided week 19 will be touch-up week. I've booked an appointment with a new stylist after doing some online research on her. I'll be posting an update on my relaxer touch-up.

This wash day was all about prepping my hair for the touch-up. So I focused on clarifying, moisturizing, and strengthening with protein.

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First I started with a deep conditioning pre-poo. I divided my hair into six sections and slathered each with Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner and did some serious detangling. I then braided the sections, pinned them up, and went for a morning walk. The Florida sun was up and hot which helped the conditioner sink into my strands.

After the walk, I started cleansing with the SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo. I poured a little bit into an applicator bottle and mixed in some distilled water. With the applicator bottle, I applied the shampoo and water mix directly to my scalp.  Then I lathered it up good, rinsed, and repeated. I couldn't remember the last time I'd clarified so I wanted to make sure my hair was thoroughly cleaned prior to my relaxer touch-up.  

Next was a green tea rinse. I usually mix a little apple cider vinegar with the green tea, but due to the shampoo containing some apple cider vinegar, I mixed in less than normal.

Without rinsing out the green tea I apply the last of the Suave Moisturizing Conditioner to the middle section of each braid and new growth and Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor to the demarcation line and ends.

After rinsing I re-braided a few braids that started to unravel, t-shirt dried for a couple of hours, and then let my hair air dry.

That evening my hair wasn't completely dry so I unbraided each section and applied the Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner to each section. After that, I blow-dried my hair with cool air.  

After each section was dry I applied grapeseed oil and lightly flat ironed my new growth so I could make sure my hair was fully detangled.

For bedtime, I did two side braids which I pinned up the next day with a hair clip.

This week I'll be sporting low manipulation styles, such as using hair clips, wearing buns and braids. Hopefully, that will help keep the tangles at bay until my relaxer touch-up.

 How do you prepare your hair for a trip to the salon?