27/03/2018
How to Take Care of Your Relaxed Hair
The relaxing process involves the application of chemicals designed to break down the protein bonds, by removing the invisible protective layer of hair. Hair relaxers can leave hair weak, dehydrated, porous and prone to breakage. To ensure that your relaxed hair stays bouncy, smooth, and frizz and split end free, proper care after the treatment is very essential.
Black hair requires even more special care and very gentle handling because relaxing makes this type of hair very fragile and prone to damage from heat and chemicals.
Hair Care Products for Relaxed Hair
Post Relaxer Care
It is important to thoroughly rinse with water to completely get the chemicals out of your hair. The relaxer is a rather strong chemical that, if left too long on the skin or scalp, will cause severe chemical burns. Any trace of a relaxer that is left on your hair will continue to process, causing your hair to break. That’s why all traces of relaxer residue must be rinsed away.
After rinsing out the relaxer proceed with the neutralizing shampoo to remove all traces of relaxer still active in your hair. Active ingredients in the neutralizer can pe*****te the hair shaft and stop the relaxer from working in the hair. Leaving the neutralizing shampoo on for a few minutes before rinsing helps restore chemically-treated hair to the natural pH balance.
After getting a relaxer, your hair is in its weakest state. After rinsing away the neutralizing shampoo you should apply a
protein conditioning treatment to fill in the cracks in the hair shaft. A relaxer causes the hair cuticles to open, so they can better absorb the protein lost in the relaxing process. Some stylists prefer doing the protein treatment immediately after rinsing out the relaxer and before the neutralizing shampoo.
Instead of doing a protein treatment, your stylist may suggest applying the Olaplex Stand-Alone Treatment to reconnect broken bonds in your hair and prevent shedding.
How to Wash Relaxed Hair
Shampoo your hair twice a week and condition after every shampoo wash. Use a
moisturizing, sulfate free shampoo and a very moisturizing conditioner formulated for chemically treated hair.
After applying the shampoo, gently massage the scalp with your fingertips and avoid using your nails. Hair is most vulnerable when wet, and black hair is more fragile and more prone to damage than other hair types. To minimize tangles, braid your hair or wash one section at a time.
Let the conditioner work for five to ten minutes. Untangle with a wide-toothed comb, from ends to roots, with the conditioner still in your hair.
When you have finished combing rinse with lukewarm water. Use cool water for your final rinse to close the cuticles and to prevent frizz.
Wrap a soft towel around your head to remove water from the hair. Do not squeeze or wring out your hair, just let the towel soak up the excess water. Follow with a cotton shirt and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
Always use a leave-in conditioner after washing relaxed hair. Make sure to detangle your hair thoroughly at this stage.
Take a small amount of coconut oil between your fingers and coat the ends of your hair. Coconut oil pe*****tes into the cortex, provides protection and helps retain moisture.
Co-Washing Relaxed Hair
Shampooing too often can be very drying to chemically treated hair due to harsh detergents in traditional shampoo formulas. If you want to wash more often than twice a week, “ co-washing “, or “conditioner-only washing” is a gentler alternative to shampooing. This no-shampoo method is done with a lightweight moisturizing conditioner, that cleanses and refreshes your hair without stripping the scalp of its natural oils. Washing with a cleansing conditioner adds moisture to your hair instead of taking it away, and can even be done daily.
If you have straight and fine hair, co-washing can cause it to look limp and lifeless.
Air Drying
Air drying is one of the healthiest options to maintain relaxed hair health.
For straight hair without the help of heat, wrap your hair into a cross wrap and tie with a satin or silk hair scarf to lay tresses down. Another way to get straight hair without heat is to smooth all the hair back into a loose bun.
For a nice, wavy look, roller setting is the best way to keep hair smooth without using too much heat. You can also put your hair in a braid while it’s wet and leave it until it is dry.
If you are going to blow dry , let your hair air dry at least partially before using the hairdryer. Put your dryer on the lowest heat setting or cold air to dry. Hold the dryer at least ten inches away from your hair and keep moving it constantly around your head.
Deep Conditioning
Deep condition your relaxed hair at least every fortnight. Relaxers strip the hair of all natural oils. Deep conditioning helps rehydrate chemically treated hair and makes it shiny and strong enough to withstand styling. Coat your hair in the conditioner, starting from the ends and avoid scalp as much as possible. For best results, use a plastic cap and go under a hooded dryer. Let the conditioner sit for up to 30-45 minutes using low heat setting. You can also deep condition if you sleep with the conditioner overnight wearing a plastic cap. Your body heat will warm the conditioner and increase absorption into the hair.
Protein-based deep conditioner should be applied to strengthen the hair and to replenish protein lost through the relaxing process once a month. Using protein treatments too frequently will have the opposite effect and cause hair to become weak and brittle.
Hydrolyzed Proteins in Your Hair Care Products
Adding hydrolyzed proteins to your shampoo or conditioner can be very beneficial for relaxed hair. Chemicals relaxers can leave hair extremely dry, brittle, and prone to tangling and breakage. Hydrolyzed proteins added to your hair care products have ability fill in damaged areas in the cuticle layer, strengthening hair from within and reducing breakage.
Hot-Oil Treatment
Do a hot-oil treatment on a weekly basis to add extra moisture and give body to your hair. Gently warm olive, coconut or jojoba oil, and massage into your freshly washed hair. Wrap your head in a plastic shower cap and leave the oil on for half an hour before rinsing.
Bed Time Care of Relaxed Hair
Relaxed hair requires special care for bedtime. Conventional cotton pillowcases tend to rob the hair of moisture, and can cause friction and tangles. Sleeping on a satin pillow keeps your hair from getting tangled and prevents dryness. If you don’t have a silk or a satin pillowcase, tie your hair in a bun or wrap it in a silk cap. Apply leave on serums to the ends to keep them moisturized while sleeping.
Avoid Heat
Avoid using heat when styling your hair, as heat can cause relaxed hair to become very dry and prone to breakage. You can style your hair occasionally, using a high quality, ceramic flat iron with adjustable heat controls, but be careful, because with repeated usage it can burn relaxed hair. When you use the curling iron, hold the barrel cover slightly open – so the hair simply passes over the barrel without being tagged or pulled by pressure from the barrel cover.
Do not Over Brush
Use a wide tooth comb or your fingers to gently detangle your hair. Never use a brush while your hair is wet, because this can cause breakage. Gently brush with a boar bristle brush and avoid pulling and tugging on your hair. Over-brushing relaxed hair can cause split ends and hair breakage.
Protective Styling
Wearing relaxed hair down daily is not advisable. Protective styling is one of the best ways to minimize hair breakage. Wearing the hair in a protective style helps hide the ends from harsh elements and from rubbing on your shoulders and clothes. Popular protective styles include buns, chignons, braids, twists, and weaves. Create protective styles that will last at least for a few days with minimal touch ups and give your hair a rest from styling.
Dying Relaxed Hair
You should wait at least two weeks after a relaxer service before applying permanent hair color. If the hair is brittle and prone to breakage, permanent hair color is not recommended.
Because chemical relaxers are so harsh on hair, consider picking a dye that doesn’t require bleach or ammonia. Restore color vibrancy and shine with a tinted conditioner, or use temporary and semi-permanent colors as well as ammonia-free hair colors. These colors can be used immediately following a chemical relaxer.
To cover gray hair, use demi-permanent hair color. To hide your gray roots between color services use the temporary root touch up products – like root touch up sprays, color wands, and color touch up powders.
Trimming
Keep your hair trimmed to remove dry split ends and uneven growth. Regular trims will prevent further damage to your hair. Get a trim every 2-3 months. Trimming more often can slow down the hair growth.
Healthy Diet
In order to increase your hair’s protein content, eat healthy meals and incorporate a lot of protein rich food into your diet. Drink plenty of water to keep your hair hydrated from the inside. Your hair will be healthy, bounce and will not break easily.
How to Avoid Over-Processing
Before the next relaxer service, make sure it’s been at least 10 weeks since your last touch-up. Applying relaxing treatments more frequently could lead to breakage and thinness. When retouching, only relax your new growth. Don’t use the strongest formulations every time you get your hair relaxed
