Relaxed hair requires extra care to maintain its health. It’s important to have a great hairstylist apply your relaxer (or to use a home kit) and wait the recommended time frame between touch-ups.
Avoid damaging your relaxed hair by “co-washing” with a moisturizing conditioner instead of using a shampoo. This will reduce dryness and tangles.
Washing
Washing your hair properly is an essential part of your relaxed-hair care routine. If you don’t do it right, it can cause serious damage to your strands.
Always choose sulfate-free shampoos for your relaxer-treated hair and scalp. Look for ingredients such as jojoba, coconut, argan oil, shea butter and other natural extracts to hydrate and nourish your hair strands and scalp.
You should also use a neutralizing shampoo after every relaxer service to remove the chemical from your scalp and hair. If left on for a long time, the chemical from the relaxer can cause heavy damage to your hair and scalp.
Conditioning
Having healthy relaxed hair is possible, but you do need to put in some work. Relaxers cause damage to your strands and, in order to maintain a sleek, straight look, you need to keep up with regular touch-ups and trims.
Make sure you have a great stylist who will properly care for your hair and teach you the best way to style it daily. They should know whether a lye or no-lye relaxer is right for you and which cuts will flatter your face.
Don’t get a touch-up too soon. It’s best to wait at least 10 weeks between retouches, as this helps prevent breakage at the line of demarcation where new growth meets old relaxation.
It’s also important to moisturize your hair regularly, especially if it’s high porosity. Wrapping your hair at night with a satin bonnet can help your strands retain moisture and reduce frizz.
Adding a protein treatment the week before your relaxer can also help strengthen your hair and prevent damage.
Detangling
Getting your hair tangle-free is crucial for the health of your strands. While this may not be the most fun part of caring for your hair, it is necessary to reduce breakage and maintain healthy locks.
The best way to detangle your hair is to do it in sections. This makes the process much less stressful on your strands and helps you work out any major tangles. Wetting your hair & applying a generous amount of slippery conditioner before starting can also make your hair easier to detangle.
It is important to always start with your fingers and work out the knots first, even if you have a wide-tooth comb. Avoid putting too much pressure on your strands, as this can cause damage and breakage.
As you detangle your hair, try to do it from the ends up. This will help prevent re-knotting the tangles you have already worked out. Be patient and gentle, as this is not the easiest thing to do with tangled hair.
Heat styling
Relaxing your hair is the chemical process that rearranges natural curly or textured hair into smooth, straight strands. While there are some advantages to having relaxed hair, the process is hard on your strands and requires regular maintenance.
Regular maintenance can be as simple as using a high-quality shampoo and conditioner that contain hydrating ingredients. Also, it’s important to avoid getting your hair relaxed too frequently, which can cause serious damage to your strands.
It’s also recommended to use a heat protectant every time you style your hair. Also, it’s important to comb your hair with a brush that’s specifically designed for your hair type. Lastly, try wrapping your hair at night to help keep moisture locked in.
If you are experiencing severe breakage, it may be necessary to invest in a protein treatment or reconstructor to strengthen fragile strands. It’s also a good idea to get your hair professionally trimmed to help with regrowth.