How to Relax Black Hair

If you're African American and prefer to wear your hair straight rather than curly, you'll need to relax your hair. There are many degrees of relaxing black hair. You can simply have curls softened slightly or achieve bone-straight hair.

Things You'll Need

• Professional hair relaxer appointment
• Home hair relaxer kit

Instructions

1. Determine the degree to which you would like your hair relaxed. If you would like to keep your curls but make them more manageable, you can opt for a soft to medium relaxer. If you wish straight hair, you'll need a more heavy-duty relaxer. It is advised that you do not completely relax your hair as this removes all elasticity from it. If you can retain some hair elasticity, you'll keep body and bounce which tends to make the hair appear healthier.

2. See a professional hair dresser who specializes in relaxing black hair. As African American hair has a different texture than Caucasian hair, it's helpful to see a professional who has extensive experience dealing with black hair. Talk to the hair dresser about the exact look you want to achieve with the relaxing process.

3. Purchase an at-home hair relaxer kit, designed for black hair. Generally, a home relaxer kit should include hair relaxer solution, shampoo, conditioner, a mixing utensil, gloves and petroleum jelly. Follow the kit's directions exactly. Directions may vary from kit to kit so make sure to thoroughly read and follow the kit's individual instructions, even if you have relaxed your own hair before. You must ensure that you remove all the relaxer out of your hair once you have finished the process. It's recommended that you shampoo your hair repeatedly as remaining relaxer can seriously damage hair.

4. Avoid relaxing your hair, either at home or professionally, if you have recently had braids or extensions in your hair. Hair can be weakened by both extensions and braids so you need to give your hair a chance to rejuvenate prior to stressing it with relaxing chemicals.

5. Apply leave-in conditioner to your hair while it is wet. This will help to weigh down your hair and further relax your curls and kinks on a daily basis.

6. Care for your hair carefully after you have it relaxed. The relaxing process tends to make hair dryer and weaker so you must be gentle with it to avoid breakage. Do not color your hair prior to relaxing it.

Tips & Warnings

• You can get away with harsher chemical treatments if your hair is short. Avoid extreme relaxing on long, black hair. Instead, opt for 75 to 80 percent relaxing.

• If your relaxed hair has grown out, only relax the new hair at your roots. You do not need to relax hair that has been relaxed in the past.

• Be aware that scalp burns can occur when you relax your hair. Though they are rare, scalp burns occur when solution is left on for too long or on those with particularly sensitive scalps.