How to put a relaxer in African American hair

A properly applied relaxer leaves your hair smooth and healthy.

There are several options for changing your hair from natural to straight. Relaxers ease the natural curl pattern of your hair, making it more manageable and easy to style on a daily basis. There are several relaxer kits available for home application. These kits are not hard to use, but you should educate yourself on the risks and proper technique before applying a relaxer.

Things You'll Need

• Wide-toothed comb
• Latex gloves
• Timer
• Towel
• Plastic bowl

Instructions

1. Part your hair into four sections.

2. Spread protective gel or Vaseline around the edges of your hair and the tops of your ears. This will protect your skin from coming into contact with chemicals.

3. Pour the activator liquid into the container of relaxer cream and mix thoroughly.

4. Set your timer or alarm to go off in the time frame specified on your relaxer instructions.

5. Drape a towel around your shoulders to protect your skin and clothing.

6. Apply gloves and then remove the clip from a rear section of your hair. Spread the relaxer cream onto your hair. For hair that has never been relaxed, start at the roots and spread the relaxer toward the ends. If your hair was previously relaxed, take caution to only apply the cream to the new-growth hair at your roots.

7. Apply relaxer to the other rear section of your hair and then to each of the two front sections.

8. Smooth your hair using the back of a wide-toothed comb or your hands. Smoothing is the process of gently coaxing your hair into a straight pattern. Do this until your timer sounds.

9. Wash your hair using relaxer neutralizing shampoo. It is important that all traces of the relaxer be removed. Continue to wash and rinse your hair until it is completely clear of relaxer.

10. Use the leave-in conditioning treatments included with your relaxer. Allow this conditioner to sit on your hair for the specified amount of time and then rinse.

11. Style your hair in a roller set, wrap or twist style following your relaxer application.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a relaxer formula that focuses on enhancing moisture.

• Avoid attempting to get your hair "bone straight". This is done by leaving relaxer on your hair for longer than advised. This is a process that strips your hair of all moisture and leaves it brittle and extremely prone to breakage.

References

• Black Beauty and Hair: Home Straight
• Grow Afro Hair Long: Perms and Relaxers
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Hair Dye and Hair Relaxers