How to Color Relaxed Hair

If you have a relaxer on your hair, you may be wondering if it's safe to try out that new color that you saw in the store. You probably already know that adding too many chemicals to any hair can make it too brittle, causing it to fall out. Follow these steps to color relaxed hair.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hair color for your hair type
• Deep conditioner

1. Know that you shouldn't color relaxed hair during the 2 weeks after it's been relaxed. You also need to wash your hair as least once before you add the color.

2. Understand that relaxer changes the structure of your hair and makes it very porous. Therefore, the color will take to the hair much faster, so you don't need to leave it on your hair as long as the package directs. If you leave the dye on your relaxed hair too long, you will probably end up with a much more intense shade than you wanted.

3. Try to find a hair color that doesn't contain ammonia, bleach or peroxide. These dyes will only be semi-permanent, but won't do nearly as much damage to your hair as permanent dye will.

4. Use a hair color that's specifically for your hair type. If you are African American, for example, find a dye that is only for use on African-American hair.

5. Apply a deep conditioning treatment on your hair after you finish dying it. You want to keep your hair from drying out too much.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't dye your hair too frequently or you will risk damaging it.