how do i prepare my hair for a relaxer

Preparing Your Hair

• 1 Don’t shampoo or scratch your scalp before relaxing your hair. Applying relaxer will be painful if your scalp is already irritated in any way. ...
• 2 Put on gloves and a cape. ...
• 3 Get out a couple of towels in case of spills. ...
• 4 Apply a protective base cream to the scalp and hairline. ...
• 5 Divide your hair into 4-6 sections. ...

Full Answer

How to prepare hair before a relaxer?

• Give your hair ONE LAST was before the relaxing process. It is advisable that you try and space your wash before your relaxer and avoid washing your hair too close ...
• Do a protein treatment. ...
• Moisturize and seal. ...
• Stop scratching!!! ...
• Don't comb your hair if at all possible or limit it as much as you can. ...

How can I straighten my hair without a relaxer?

• The key to flat ironing is consistent heat, so repetition is very effective in straightening hair.
• Buy a quality flat iron with ion-neutralizing effect, as found in ceramic irons.
• Always wrap hair at night to maintain straightened hair for longer.

How to loosen curls without a relaxer?

So if you are interested in doing this treatment then you will need:

• A can of coconut milk
• 2 tbsp of honey
• 2 tbsp of coconut oil or any other oil of your choice
• 4 tbsp plain organic yoghurt
• The juice of one lime
• Cornstarch to thicken

Can I use hair relaxer to perm hair?

You can use relaxer on your hair whether your white black brown tan but once your hair is bleached with a lightener please do not use relaxers or perms!!! And even if you dye your hair back brown or black after lightening the hair is still over processed from the lightening and will still damage with the relaxer or perm bc the hair is still ...

What should you not do before a relaxer?

Cleansing or even wetting your hair and scalp before you relax might lead to burning once you apply the chemicals, because your scalp hasn't had enough time to "rest" since your last shampoo. No matter what your regular cleansing routine is, do not shampoo your hair for at least one week before applying relaxer.

Should I moisturize my hair before a relaxer?

The day of. Before I head off to the salon, I apply an oil or Vaseline to my already relaxed hair, paying special attention to my ends. This helps to protect my hair from what's called relaxer run-off.

Can you wash your hair two days before a relaxer?

Don't scratch, wash or work out 3-4 days prior to relaxer day. Believe it or not, this can cause scalp irritation, which can lead to burning. Let your hair rest. Do coat the length of your hair with oil or conditioner to protect the previously relaxed hair from the relaxer.

How many days after a relaxer can I wash my hair?

How long after a relaxer can I wash my hair? Wait one week after getting your relaxer. Don't shampoo your hair right away because it'll dry out your hair more, leaving it brittle. The chemicals in a relaxer break down your hair to change its texture, which leaves your hair really dry and prone to damage.

Can I relax dirty hair?

A myth many ladies believe is that their hair and scalp should be dirty before relaxing because this will prevent relaxer burns. The correct procedure however is to wash your hair about one week before relaxer day with a clarifying shampoo, i.e, a shampoo that contains Sulfates.

What do you put on scalp before relaxer?

Use oils to protect your scalp Pure olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil are all great options for protecting your scalp before using the relaxing formula.

What should I do after relaxing my hair?

Hair Care After Using Relaxers#1 Wash only Once or Twice Week. ... #2 Use Sulphate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner. ... #3 Condition. ... #4 Limit Heat Styling. ... #5 Nourish the Scalp. ... #6 Trim the Hair Regularly. ... #7 Use Protective Styling. ... #8 Don't Relax Hair too Often.

Why is my relaxed hair puffy?

It's possible that the fuzziness is due to a lack of moisture in your hair. Frequent conditioning is key for relaxed hair. Plus, don't forget about protein. Hair that needs strengthening from protein tends to frizz; the hair cuticles don't lie flat, but have lifted scales due to chemical and/or heat abuse.

What do you put on scalp before relaxer?

Use oils to protect your scalp Pure olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil are all great options for protecting your scalp before using the relaxing formula.

Should I condition my hair before relaxing?

Moisturize and condition your hair often In the days leading up to your relaxer service, use light leave-in conditioners to keep your hair nourished and hydrated. You could also use an intensive deep conditioner the week before your treatment.

Why is my relaxed hair puffy?

It's possible that the fuzziness is due to a lack of moisture in your hair. Frequent conditioning is key for relaxed hair. Plus, don't forget about protein. Hair that needs strengthening from protein tends to frizz; the hair cuticles don't lie flat, but have lifted scales due to chemical and/or heat abuse.

When should you moisturize your hair?

Use a daily moisturizing lotion in the morning and gently mist your hair with water at night. If your hair also feels dry by mid-day, using a refresher spray/spray like leave-in conditioner will help. The main takeaway is moisturizing once or twice a week is not going to do the trick for most people.

How to relax hair?

When you start to relax your hair, make sure your are smoothing the chemicals on rather than combing them through your hair. Some people insist on raking a comb through their hair as they relax it, but this may lead to severe breakage. I asked Kimble why combing is so bad for your hair and her response? "I don't recommend combing your hair too much because it can cause damage. It stretches your hair and you don't want to ruin the elasticity of you hair. You have to be very gentle. Always use the back of the comb and your fingers to smooth hair out with relaxer."

Why do you need a relaxer in a box?

There's a reason you buy relaxers in a box: everything you need should be included. More important than the conditioner or mixing stick is the neutralizing shampoo. You cannot use your regular shampoo to stop the relaxing process. If you do, expect to see major breakage and hair fall in the coming days and weeks. A neutralizer stops the relaxer from continuing to work on your hair and essentially eating through it. One of the issues some people face is that a small bottle of neutralizing shampoo isn't enough for their long and/or thick hair. If you routinely relax at home, do yourself a favor and purchase a separate bottle of this product at your local beauty supply.

Can you detangle your scalp before touch up?

Now, this isn't the time to perform an intense detangling session with a lot of pulling and tugging — that will irritate your scalp and may lead to burning. Instead, work through your new growth with your fingers first, maybe the night before your touch-up. This will give your scalp some time to rest.

Can you leave a hair relaxer on longer than recommended?

Leaving your hair to process for a period of time shorter than the recommended one is preferable to leaving the relaxer on longer than suggested. Leaving relaxer on too long may lead to severe breakage or burning, so this isn't the time to guesstimate. 07 of 08.

Can you shampoo your hair before using a relaxer?

Kimble says, "Washing your hair before getting a relaxer can cause scalp irritation. You also should not have a lot of product in your hair before getting a relaxer."

Can you put relaxer on your new hair?

Be Precise. If you've relaxed your hair before, it can be hard to only put relaxer on your new growth. Although the line of demarcation between the new growth and previously relaxed hair may be obvious, it's still difficult to be as precise as you can when placing a relaxer only onto your new growth. If you relax without help, it's especially ...

Do you need to use a conditioner after a relaxer?

Once the relaxer and neutralizing shampoo are completely rinsed away, don't skip the critical step of conditioning. Processing your tresses places stress on them, and they need some serious TLC after relaxing. You'll probably have a small bottle or packet of conditioner in your relaxer kit, but feel free to apply more of whatever you have on hand, including a deep conditioner. It never hurts to give your hair a little extra love after processing it.

Why deep condition hair?

I deep condition to make sure my hair is moisturized and has elasticity. This happens either as a pre-poo for detangling or after clarifying.

Can a hair relaxer be rinsed?

When the relaxer is rinsed from your hair it can touch the parts of your strands that are already relaxed causing the strands to weaken even more. I like to pay special attention to my ends because they are the oldest part of my hair and most prone to damage.

How to prepare for a relaxer treatment?

To prepare for a relaxer treatment, the first and most important thing that many people forget is that you should understand how long you want your hair to be. If you’ve had curly hair for your whole life, it’s easy to forget how much longer it takes for people with curly hair to gain length in their hair. When you relax your hair, the entire curl ...

What happens when you relax your hair?

When you relax your hair, the entire curl is going to unfurl and you’ll immediately have all that length available to you. However, if the reason you’re getting your hair relaxed is to wear a certain longer hairstyle, it may be best to postpone the relaxer treatment until you’re certain you can achieve that length.

What Is a Chemical Relaxer?

Put simply, a chemical relaxer works by breaking down the bonds in your hair that hold up the pattern of the hair.

Why is it important to moisturize your hair before and after a hair color treatment?

It’s important to keep the hair and scalp moisturized before and after the treatment because just like getting color treatments , relaxers can be harsh on the scalp and hair if not properly taken care of.

Do salons give relaxers?

Many salons will give you a relaxer treatment and send you out of the door. We genuinely care about our customers and want to make sure they’re happy with their results. We’re always willing to consult with and teach our customers the best ways to maintain their new look so that they’re always happy.

Can you get your hair relaxed?

However, if you’re dying to get your hair relaxed, have no worries! You can still get it relaxed and then get touch-ups as necessary as your original texture grows in. There’s a certain art to touch ups, you don’t want to overlap too much on hair that is already relaxed. It takes a steady and precise hand to do it right ...

What is a hair relaxer?

Hair relaxer, otherwise known as hair straightener, is used on hair that is naturally curly or wavy in order to attain a straighter, sleeker look. Caution should be used when relaxing hair, because of the chemicals that are used. To properly relax your hair, choose a relaxer, prepare your hair, apply the relaxer, remove the relaxer, ...

How to use relaxer cream on scalp?

Apply a protective base cream to the scalp and hairline. Because relaxer can irritate your skin, it’s a great idea to apply a base cream directly to the scalp to protect it. Part your hair in multiple places and apply the base to your scalp. Don’t forget to apply the base to your hairline and around your ears as well.

What to do if you have a sensitive scalp?

1. Get a no-lye relaxer if you have a sensitive scalp. There are two main types of relaxers, lye and no-lye. Both of these have benefits and drawbacks, but those with sensitive scalps should go with the no-lye because it’s less painful and irritating. However, no-lye relaxers often dry out the hair.

Why do you leave hair relaxer on longer?

Some people leave the relaxer on longer to achieve “bone straight” hair, but it’s typically more attractive to take the product off when you’re supposed to because then your hair will have some body . Also, leaving it on too long can damage your hair.

How to stop a hair relaxer from hurting your skin?

Put on gloves and a cape. You’ll be working with dangerous chemicals that can harm your skin and possibly damage your clothes. Get a hairdresser’s cape and plastic gloves and put them on before handling the relaxer to prevent any harm or damage.

Why is it painful to apply a relaxer?

Applying relaxer will be painful if your scalp is already irritated in any way. For this reason, it’s best to not wash your hair or scratch your head at all for at least the week leading up to application. If you do accidentally scratch your scalp, the relaxer will likely make your head tingle.

Where to apply relaxer for neck?

Apply relaxer to your nape and hairline last. Your hairline is the area that people will see first when they look at you, so you want to be extra sure that you don’t over-process the relaxer along the hairline. Also wait to apply relaxer to the nape of your neck, because the hair here tends to process more quickly.

7-6 days prior

The week before I clarify my hair. This gets rid of all of the dirt, oil, and product that’s built up since I last clarified my hair. It’s said that doing this helps the hair to better accept the relaxer. I can’t say this is 100% true but I do like the results better when my last shampoo was a clarifying one.

5-2 days prior

During the days after I wash my hair, I follow my normal moisturize and seal routine to keep my hair feeling good and not to dry out.

1 day prior

The night before, I base my scalp using either Jamaican Black Castor oil or some vaseline. While my stylist also bases my scalp I like to do it myself because I don’t do it quickly ensuring that I’ve covered all areas.

The day of

Before I head off to the salon, I apply an oil or vaseline to my already relaxed hair, paying special attention to my ends. This helps to protect my hair from what’s called relaxer run-off. Relaxer run-off is when the relaxer comes into contact with previously relaxed hair as it’s being rinsed out.

How to relax hair before a relaxer?

Correctly prepare your tresses for relaxation by removing any hair extensions such as braids or a weave one week prior to the relaxer day. The one-week interval will give your scalp adequate time to recover from the stress caused by wearing and removing extensions.

Can you put relaxer on your hair?

Relaxers can irritate your skin; it is a great idea to apply a base cream on your scalp before relaxing by parting your hair into multiple sections. Do not forget to apply the base cream to your hairline and around your ears as well.

What happens when you relax your hair?

When you relax your hair, you’re giving up something you want to get rid of (unruly texture) along with something your hair needs to grow longer (hair strength).

When you're due for your next relaxer touch up, do you protect your hair?

When you’re due for your next relaxer touch-up, make sure you protect your hair that’s already been relaxed.

Why Is It More Difficult To Grow Out Relaxed Hair?

Does it ever feel like your hair doesn’t grow as long as you want it to, even if you’re doing everything right, like moisturizing well and eating enough protein in your diet?

How do relaxers work?

Relaxers straighten and smoothen your hair by breaking down the disulfide bonds in your hair.

How does hair growth start?

Hair growth starts with repairing your hair damaged by previous relaxing treatments.

How to tame unruly hair?

While relaxing your hair is a quick and easy way to tame unruly and disheveled curls, you still have to put more work in to make sure it grows longer and stronger.

How to cover up the demarcation between curly and straight hair?

One thing you can do to improve the health of your hair and cover up the stark demarcation line between curly and straight hair is put your hair in protective styles.