HAIRCARE

Everything You Need to Know Before and After Relaxing Your Hair.

Relaxing your hair can be a transformative experience, giving you smoother, more manageable locks, but it requires thoughtful preparation and aftercare to ensure your hair remains healthy and vibrant. Whether you're getting your first relaxer or maintaining relaxed hair, there are several essential steps to follow before and after the process. This in-depth guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from pre-relaxing precautions to the ultimate post-relaxing routine.

Before Relaxing Your Hair: Preparation Is Key

Relaxing your hair is not a decision to be taken lightly, and preparation is crucial to minimize damage and ensure the best results. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Assess Your Hair’s Health
Before relaxing your hair, it’s important to evaluate the current state of your strands. Relaxers work by chemically altering the structure of your hair, and if your hair is already damaged, this process could exacerbate the damage. Here’s how you can assess your hair health:

Check for Split Ends: If your ends are split, fragile, or breaking, it’s essential to trim them before relaxing. Relaxing weak hair can cause further breakage.

Strengthen Your Hair: If your hair feels brittle or dry, take a few weeks to nourish it with deep conditioning treatments. Look for protein-rich hair masks to rebuild strength and moisture balance.

Healthy Scalp: Ensure your scalp is in a healthy state. Conditions like dandruff, eczema, or irritation should be treated beforehand to avoid complications during the relaxing process.

2. Choose the Right Relaxer for Your Hair Type
Relaxers come in different strengths and formulations, so it’s vital to select one that suits your hair type:

Mild Relaxer: Best for fine or damaged hair. It won’t straighten the hair as intensely as stronger relaxers, but it can be more forgiving on delicate strands.

Regular Relaxer: Ideal for normal hair textures. This strength is commonly used for hair that isn’t too fine or too coarse.

Super Relaxer: A stronger formula meant for thick, coarse, or resistant hair.

When in doubt, consult with a professional stylist who can recommend the best relaxer based on your unique hair needs.

3. Perform a Strand Test
A strand test is a must to see how your hair will react to the relaxer. This involves applying a small amount of the relaxer to a discreet section of your hair to check for any adverse reactions or excessive damage. This test can help prevent over-processing and ensure your hair can handle the chemicals.

4. Protect Your Skin and Scalp
Relaxers contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin. Here’s what you should do to protect your skin and scalp:

Apply Petroleum Jelly or Oil: Generously apply petroleum jelly or a thick oil around your hairline, ears, and neck to prevent the relaxer from touching your skin.

Protective Cap or Towel: Consider wearing a protective cap or towel around your shoulders to prevent any drips or accidental relaxer spillage.

5. Choose a Professional Stylist
If you’re not experienced with relaxing your own hair, it’s highly recommended to go to a professional stylist who knows how to apply relaxers safely. A professional will ensure that the relaxer is applied evenly and that the processing time is not exceeded, which can cause damage.

During Relaxing: The Process

1. Section Your Hair
Divide your hair into small sections to allow the relaxer to be applied evenly. Work in manageable sections, making sure the relaxer is spread from root to tip.

2. Timing is Everything
The timing for how long you leave the relaxer in your hair depends on the strength of the product and your hair type. Over-processing can lead to severe damage, so it’s essential to follow the instructions carefully. A professional stylist will monitor the time closely to avoid over-relaxing.

3. Rinse Thoroughly
Once the processing time is complete, rinse the relaxer out with lukewarm water, making sure to remove all traces of the product. This is a crucial step to prevent further chemical reactions.

4. Neutralize
Most relaxers come with a neutralizing shampoo designed to stop the chemical process. Make sure to use this shampoo as instructed to balance your hair’s pH and prevent hair damage.

After Relaxing Your Hair: Maintenance and Care

Once your hair is relaxed, it’s crucial to follow a meticulous aftercare routine to preserve your new look and protect your hair from breakage and dryness.

1. Deep Condition Immediately
After relaxing, your hair will be in need of moisture and nourishment. Apply a deep conditioning treatment right after rinsing out the relaxer to restore moisture and elasticity. You can use store-bought deep conditioners or opt for a DIY treatment using oils such as coconut, jojoba, or avocado oil.

2. Limit Heat Styling
While it’s tempting to use hot tools to style your relaxed hair, try to limit the use of heat immediately after relaxing. Your hair will be more susceptible to heat damage, so give your strands a break from blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. If you must use heat, always apply a heat protectant.

3. Moisturize Regularly
Relaxed hair tends to be drier than natural hair, so moisturizing is critical. Look for a leave-in conditioner or a moisturizing cream that suits your hair type. Make sure to apply it to damp hair and seal in the moisture with a light oil. You may also want to try oil treatments or hot oil treatments once a week.

4. Trim Regularly
Relaxed hair requires frequent trimming to avoid split ends and breakage. The chemicals in the relaxer can weaken hair, so trimming every 6-8 weeks will keep your hair healthy, even, and free from damage.

5. Be Gentle When Detangling
Relaxed hair is more fragile than natural hair, so be extra careful when detangling. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently remove knots and tangles. Work in sections and always detangle from the tips upward to prevent breakage.

6. Protect Your Hair at Night
To keep your relaxed hair smooth and reduce frizz, it’s essential to protect it while sleeping. You can:
Wear a Satin or Silk Scarf: This prevents your hair from rubbing against rough cotton pillowcases, which can cause breakage and dryness.
Use a Satin or Silk Pillowcase: If you don’t like wearing a scarf, consider investing in a satin or silk pillowcase, which is gentle on your hair and helps retain moisture.

7. Avoid Chemical Overload
After relaxing your hair, avoid using harsh chemical treatments like perms, hair dyes, or other relaxers for at least 6-8 weeks. Your hair needs time to recover from the chemical process.

8. Protect Your Hair from the Elements
Sun, wind, and cold weather can all cause damage to your relaxed hair. When going out in the sun, protect your hair with a hat, or apply a UV-protectant spray to shield it from the harsh rays. Similarly, during winter, ensure your hair is moisturized and covered to avoid dryness and brittleness.

9. Stay Consistent with Your Routine
To maintain the health of your relaxed hair, consistency is key. Stick to a regular hair care routine that includes deep conditioning, moisturizing, trimming, and gentle detangling. Over time, this will keep your hair strong and looking great.

Things to Avoid After Relaxing Your Hair

1. Don’t Wash Too Often
Washing your hair too frequently can strip it of its natural oils, leaving it dry and prone to breakage. Aim to wash your hair no more than once a week, or every 10 days, depending on your hair’s needs.

2. Avoid Over-Processing
If you are relaxing your hair more than once a year, you risk over-processing. Stick to relaxing every 8-12 weeks to ensure your hair doesn’t become overly weak or damaged.

3. Don’t Neglect Your Scalp
While it’s easy to focus on hair length and texture, the scalp is just as important. Keep your scalp clean and healthy, but avoid harsh scrubbing or scratching, which can irritate the skin.

Relaxing your hair can be a rewarding way to achieve sleek, smooth strands, but it requires proper preparation and consistent care to maintain its health and beauty. By following these essential steps before and after relaxing your hair, you can ensure that your relaxed tresses remain vibrant, strong, and manageable for the long haul. With the right routine, your hair will continue to thrive and look gorgeous with every pass of the relaxer.