How to Maintain Relaxed Hair

The chemical process of relaxing hair has changed for the better over the years. The process is less harsh on the hair and scalp, with healthier results. Maintaining relaxed hair is important for manageability, hair growth and looking great. Read on to learn how to maintain relaxed hair.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gentle, moisturizing hair products
• A silky scarf or sleeping cap
• A natural bristle brush
• Wide tooth comb
• Controlled heat styling equipment(s)
• A stylist who understands relaxed hair texture
• Scissors
• Time for personal hair care

1. Shortly after the relaxer, have your hair cut into a style that requires minimal heat and chemicals to maintain the look. Styles that require continuous or heavy harsh products or excessive heat to maintain that salon look will be brutal on the health of relaxed hair.

2. Check all hair product labels before using them. For optimal hair health and fabulous results, make sure products used are specifically for relaxed hair, or is gentle enough to use in relaxed hair. Because relaxing the hair is a major chemical process, the hair has already taken the maximum recommended chemical process. Additional chemical processes, such as hair dyes, or certain styling products--will be damaging unless these products are designed specifically for chemically processed hair.

3. 
    

   Moisturize the hair regularly in between styling. Hair sheen or moisturizing products protect the hair and promote hair health and shine. Keeping the hair hydrated protects against, or minimizes hair breakage. Every time relaxed hair is washed, a moisturizing conditioner is very important.

4. Deep condition therapy once per week if possible. There are many great over-the-counter deep conditioners available. After relaxed hair is washed, applying a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment is healthy therapy for chemically treated hair. Most of these treatments require the product be left on the hair for several minutes, or have heat applied to activate the deep conditioning. Conditioning the hair protects the hair cuticle from damage and lowers static, which also reduces hair damage. Investing this extra time in your hair care goes a long way to promoting hair health, growth, and personal well-being.

5. 
    
   Keep blowdrying to a minimum.

   When styling, use controlled heat. Curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers are some of the styling equipment used that distribute heat in the styling process. Rather than high blasts of heat, opt for a slower, medium heat that minimized the effect of burning the hair. Heat reduces the moisture in hair and high heat causes the water in hair shaft to boil, weakening the hair shaft which leads to damage. Some high end products are designed to distribute heat without burning the hair. Regardless, try to keep using these products to a minimum.

6. Have your styles last longer. Having styled the hair, keeping that style going for two or more days helps you look great longer, and reduce the number of times the hair undergoes the styling process. Before bed, add a light moisturizer to the scalp and brush through hair with a natural bristle brush to evenly distribute. Cover hair with a silky scarf of sleeping cap to keep moisture in, and reduce friction to the hair while sleeping. Hair styling will be easier the next day reducing the need to use the curling or flat irons again.

7. 
    
   Trimming is essential.

   Keep ends trimmed. Damaged hair may be temporarily masked but can never truly be fixed. Relaxed hair tends to split more readily than non-chemically treated hair. Ignoring this step will lead to further hair damage. Trim relaxed hair every four to six weeks for optimal hair health.

8. 
    
   http://www.divavillage.com/images/Oct05/trimming_hair_myths_web307.jpg

   Keep ends trimmedDamaged hair may temporarily be masked, but can never truly be fixed. Relaxed hair ends tend to split more often than hair that has not been chemically treated. Every four to six weeks have hair ends trimmed to remove split ends which make the best styles look unkempt, and ultimately leads to further hair damage.

Tips & Warnings

• Opt for shampoo and conditioner, rather than conditioning shampoos to maximize added moisture to relaxed hair.
• Wash and go cuts reduce the need for heat required styling. Less heat equals healthier hair.
• Check all hair product labels for appropriateness on chemically treated hair.
• Relaxing the hair is a chemical process that compromises the hair shaft making it susceptible to weakness.
• Hair growth requires a repeat relaxer. Ensure the relaxer is applied to the new growth only to avoid over processing the hair.
• Taking care of chemically treated hair is important if the goal is healthy, manageable, fabulous hair.

Resources

• Article about hair relaxers

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[Family1DSB]

on 8/13/2008 Relaxing the hair does not straighten it. Instead it softens the natural curl allowing the hair to be styled with waves or softer curls, or styled straight. For those with curly hair, relaxing - rather than chemically straightening the hair is a less damaging, and more flexible way to go.