Relaxed hair often gets a bad rep for being damaged, unhealthy, and unable to grow, but that is one of the many misconceptions people have about getting a relaxer. The truth is, you can maintain healthy, relaxed hair that thrives and grows just like natural hair; all you need is a consistent routine to keep your strands nourished. Ready to get your healthiest relaxed hair yet? Keep scrolling for our full guide on how to maintain your hair before, during, and after getting your relaxer.
What Grows Relaxed Hair Faster?
No miracle ingredient will grow relaxed hair fast. As long as you are healthy and getting enough nutrients in your body, your hair will grow. The most important thing to do if you want to notice growth is maintain healthy hair habits like moisturising, reducing heat styling, and handling your hair with care. You can also incorporate hair oils into your scalp to help stimulate growth.
Should I Moisturise My Relaxed Hair Every Day?
You do not need to moisturise your hair every day when it is relaxed, as it most likely will not be as dry and brittle as textured natural hair, so it does not need daily moisture. However, it is important to keep your hair moisturised at least 1-2 times a week.
Why Isn’t My Relaxed Hair Growing?
The main reason your relaxed hair is stuck at the same length or does not seem to be growing is because of breakage. The chemicals in relaxers break down the structural bonds of your natural hair, making it more fragile and prone to breakage. When your relaxed hair does not get proper nourishment or is handled with too much force, it breaks off gradually and keeps you from retaining any length.
10 Tips For Caring For Relaxed Hair
1. Give Your Hair Enough Moisture
Keeping your hair moisturised is very important if you want to keep it healthy. Relaxers weaken your hair cuticles and cause it to lose moisture faster. So be sure to apply a moisturiser or leave-in conditioner 1-2 times a week to keep your hair from drying out. Dry hair breaks off easily, so avoid letting your hair dry out at all costs.
2. Protective Styles Are Still Important
Protective styles are a classic way to retain length, whether your hair is relaxed or not, as they keep your ends tucked away and help keep moisture locked into your hair for longer. However, when choosing a protective style, opt for loose braids, twists, buns, and any other hairstyle that does not put too much tension on your scalp. Those super-tight braids that pull every strand of hair on your scalp will do nothing but cause breakage over time, so avoid them if you want healthy hair.
Additionally, wigs and weaves are another way to rock a protective style without doing too much to your real hair. For a seamless and natural look, opt for our kinky straight wigs and wefts, which are designed to mimic the texture of relaxed hair.
3. Incorporate Protein Treatments And Bond Builders In Your Routine
Protein and bond-building treatments like Olaplex can help fill in any gaps and breakage along your hair cuticle that may have been caused by your relaxer or improper haircare habits. Using these treatments every 2-3 months can help strengthen your hair and prevent breakage while also making it feel more manageable and nourished.
4. Limit Heat Styling
Excessive use of heat on relaxed hair can weaken your strands and result in damage. In fact, heat damage is one of the major causes of breakage on relaxed hair because it is very easy to grab a blow dryer or flat iron when styling your hair. However, it is best to keep the heat to a minimum. Air dry your hair instead of blow drying, and only use a flat iron once every few months.
5. Detangle With Care
If you’re the type to yank at your hair with too much force while detangling, you could be causing a lot of breakage and even pulling out chunks of your hair. Comb your hair gently from ends to roots to avoid breakage, and avoid detangling your hair when it is completely dry. It is best to detangle your hair when it is damp if you have relaxed hair.
6. Don’t Overdo The Relaxers
One of the major causes of breakage in relaxed hair is overuse of relaxers. Always remember that relaxers alter your hair’s natural texture and makes its weak in the process, so it is not something you want to use often. Space out your relaxers every 12-14 weeks to keep your strands healthy. Additionally, unless you’re getting a relaxer for the first time, only apply it to your roots and new growth whenever you go for a touch-up. This will keep your hair from being overprocessed and allow you to enjoy the benefits of the relaxer without weakening your hair.
7. Get Regular Trims
Your hair naturally accumulates some split ends as a result of regular wear and tear. So, getting regular trims to snip off those damaged ends is extremely important for maintaining healthy hair. Trim your ends every 3-4 months to keep the split ends from travelling up your hair shaft and causing more damage.
8. Protect Your Strands While You Sleep
Protecting your hair with a satin bonnet or scarf is an important habit that is often ignored because people assume only those with natural hair need it. However, nighttime hair protection is equally important for relaxed hair, as the friction from linen and cotton beddings can dry out your hair and cause breakage.
9. Don’t Over-Process or Over-Manipulate Your Hair
As we’ve already highlighted, relaxed hair is very fragile and can easily break off when mismanaged, so if you want to keep it healthy, avoid treatments like bleach or dye jobs that will further overprocess your strands, as they can result in full-on hair damage.
Additionally, avoid over-manipulating your hair with too many new braid styles every week. Hair thrives when it is nourished and left alone, so give your hair room to breathe and resist the urge to always comb, braid, or style it every day.
10. Treat Your Hair on Wash Days
You do not have to wash your relaxed hair everyday but it is still important to get a good cleanse at least once a week. Once your wash day comes around, take your time and give your hair a little TLC. Start with a pre-poo using some warm hair oil to infuse your strands with nutrients. Then, shampoo and follow up with a deep conditioner at least 1-2 times a month. Your hair needs all the hydration and nourishment it can get when it is relaxed, and wash day is the perfect time to tend to it, so spend some time detangling with extra care and moisturising thoroughly. After styling your hair, finish off with some hair oil to lock in all that hydration.
Conclusion
The secret to keeping your hair healthy while it is relaxed is keeping it moisturised, protected, and not doing too much. Once you get the hang of the basics we’ve discussed in this article, your hair will thrive and grow.