How to Deal With Hair That Is Relaxed Too Soon

Hair relaxers can overprocess hair.

Hair relaxers are frequently used by African American women to permanently straighten naturally curly hair. After the first application, hair relaxers must be reapplied to new growth every six to eight weeks. "New growth" is naturally textured hair that has grown from the scalp in between relaxer applications. When hair is exposed to relaxer solutions too frequently or relaxers are left on the hair for longer than the recommended processing time, hair can become overprocessed and damaged. Overprocessed hair is characterized by dryness, lack of shine, frizziness, and thin, split ends.

Things You'll Need

• Deep conditioner
• Protein conditioner
• Hot oil treatment
• Plastic caps
• Scissors
• Hooded hair dryer

Instructions

Ways You Can Fix Relaxer Damage at Home

1. Make sure you are using the right type of relaxer for your hair texture and scalp sensitivity. Relaxers come in a number of different strengths including mild, regular, super, senstive scalp, and color treated formulas. If you have very fine hair or an easily irritated scalp, and have damage, you may be using a relaxer that is too strong. Consult with a professional hair care provider to determine if you are using the formula that is best for your hair.

2. Take a break from chemically processing your hair for awhile. Allowing your hair to grow without chemicals for a few months may not reverse the previous damage but it will help prevent additional damage from occurring. Experiment with chemical-free transitional styles like braids, hair extensions, and wigs.

3. Cut off the damaged ends before they spread to healthier undamged hair. Trim your ends every four to six weeks to get rid of unhealthy ends and give healthy hair a chance to grow. To eliminate all the damaged ends at once,try a new short haircut that removes all the damaged hair.

4. Start a strict deep conditioning regimen. Weekly deep conditioning restores moisture to dry and overprocessed hair. Saturate your hair with a deep conditioner and cover it with a plastic cap. Sit under a hooded hair dryer for 30 minutes before rinsing with luke warm water.

5. Apply a hot oil treatment once a month. Hot oil treatments restore moisture and shine to the hair. You can buy a bottle of hot oil from your local beauty supply store. Heat hot oil bottle by placing it in hot water until it is warm to the touch, but not hot. Massage hot oil into your wet hair and scalp. Make sure all your hair is covered in oil. Let it sit in your hair for the amount of time suggested on the package. Rinse and shampoo your hair as normal.

6. Apply a protein conditioner to your hair. Protein conditioners restore strength to damaged hair by revitalizing the hair strands and repairing damage. You can buy a protein conditioner from the store or make your own mixtures at home with products like eggs and yogurt. Place a plastic cap over your hair and sit under a hooded dryer for 30 minutes before rinsing the conditioner out of you hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Always follow directions for recommended processing time on home relaxer kits.

References

• Black Hair Media Cafe: Mild, Super, Regular
• Hairfinder: Overprocessed Hair
• Black Hair Planet: How to Revive an Overprocessed Black Relaxer: Dena: August 2009