Things You Should Never Do Before Relaxing Your Hair
There are certain things you should never do before relaxing your hair. Whether you’re going to the salon or doing it yourself. If you’re doing it yourself you might want to ask a friend for help especially when it comes to the back of your hair. Relaxed hair is much more sensitive than natural hair. You will want to invest in a relaxer that guarantees your hair will not be overly sensitive to changes in weather. Hair growth for people with relaxed hair means your hair is prone to breakage and will need a little extra TLC so as not to break. It’s very easy for your hair to break at your growth line.
Here are some tips on the things you should never do before relaxing your hair:
Skip the Shampoo
Washing your hair before relaxing strips your hair of its natural lubricants, making it weaker and prone to breakage and might also cause irritation on your scalp. This does not mean you should also have a lot of product on your hair otherwise the relaxer will not be effective. If you can wash your hair at least one week before applying the relaxer. This way your scalp has had breathing time and your hair has regenerated its natural oils that will prevent breakage. Do not wet your hair before applying the relaxer because this will lead to breakage. Do not itch or scratch your scalp as any minor irritation, broken skin will lead burning once you apply your relaxer.
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Detangle
For your hair to be as smooth as possible and for it to cover your new hair growth, you need to detangle your hair. The relaxer needs to be evenly applied to your new growth. Detangling also ensures that the relaxer is spread on the new growth without causing any irritation or burns. The relaxer will not work on areas with tangled hair. If your hair detangles easily you might want to detangle a couple of days before applying a relaxer so as to prevent any irritation. Use a wide-tooth comb or finger detangle. You want to treat your scalp gently before applying a relaxer. You will want to work in sections while detangling your hair to prevent overworking one section.
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Small Sections
For the best results, you will want to work in sections. Then after sectioning your hair you will want to go further in and use a wide-tooth comb or the end of a rat tail comb to section your hair again into smaller sections. If you have normal volume hair you can divide your hair into four sections. However, if you have thicker hair you might want to divide your hair into more sections. Be careful when parting your hair so as not to scratch your scalp. This will make sure when you’re applying the relaxer every bit of growth gets a relaxer application. Big chunks of hair will lead to uneven relaxer application and you will not get great results.
Protection
When you buy a relaxer, there are always instructions that come with the box. Follow the instructions so as to avoid accidents. When relaxing your hair, you will want to apply the petroleum jelly that comes with the relaxer kit. If yours has none provided you can always use Vaseline. Don’t just protect your neck ears and forehead, make sure you protect your scalp hairline, and edges as well. If you have a sensitive scalp, you will also want to apply a bit on your scalp as well. Applying some petroleum jelly on your scalp prevents burning.
Precise
It may seem obvious to apply a relaxer where there’s a line of demarcation between the new growth and the previously relaxed hair. But, it’s harder than it looks, it’s difficult to apply the new relaxer only where there’s growth. Here is where a friend or a family member will come in handy. Ask them for help in the application process if you’re not a pro. It’s even more difficult to apply at the back of your head. You can miss the demarcation line and overprocess or under process your hair. Applying the relaxer on previously relaxed hair will make the hair weaker, so you will want to touch up your growth only.
Smooth, Don’t Comb
When applying your relaxer, you might want to apply it using the back of a rattail comb. Smooth the relaxer in as opposed to combing it through. Combing through your hair can lead to extreme cases of breakage depending on your hair type. Use your fingers to ensure the product is correctly applied. You have to be gentle with this process. If you want your hair to be straight, it’s very important you get this step correct.
Set a Timer
Depending on the type of relaxer you are using, there are always instructions on the kit. Confirm how long you should leave your relaxer on your hair and stick to it. Don’t eyeball the entire process. Leaving your hair for a longer period than recommended will lead to overprocessed hair that will eventually cause hair breakage and in some cases burning or irritation. Leaving a relaxer for too long can lead to permanently damaged hair, this is why it’s important to always set a timer. You also don’t want to leave the relaxer in and wash it out before the hair has fully processed. Make sure you follow the instructions on the kit to ensure you have healthy hair.
Neutralizing Shampoo
Never skip the neutralizing shampoo, this is what ensures that the relaxing process is stopped. There’s a very good reason why relaxers come with a kit. Regular shampoo will not stop the relaxing process. You need a neutralizer to stop the relaxer from continuing to work on your hair. If your kit does not come with a neutralizer shampoo or it does not look like it’s enough you should buy it separately. If you skip the neutralizing shampoo you risk extreme hair breakage and in some instances, your hair might start falling off.
Condition
After washing your hair with the neutralizing shampoo and conditioner. You need to condition your hair thoroughly. Your hair at this point needs a little extra TLC after the relaxing process. At this point, your hair is still sensitive and conditioning will restore it back to its former glory. The conditioner will also help in adding moisture.
Regular Relaxing Routine
If you have relaxed hair, you will want to maintain a regular relaxing routine. The longer you wait to retouch your hair, the more you increase your chances of breakage. The more growth you have, the harder it is to detangle. You also don’t want to retouch your hair often because this can also lead to shedding and breakage. Depending on how fast your hair grows, you might want to schedule a touch-up for every 3 months.