Useful tips to grow and maintain your Relaxed Hair

Relaxed hair is any hair that has been chemically treated to achieve a straighter look. Here are some tips from your stylist to ensure that you keep your relaxed hair looking healthy, bouncy and moisturized.

 

Ensure your body is hydrated

Hydration is important for every part of your body: hair, skin, nails, production of blood etc... Most importantly, hydrated body produces hydrated hair. Drink about 6 to 8 glasses of fresh water for proper functioning of the body. For hair specifically, the water in your body is a transporter of vitamins to the follicle which in turn contributes to well-nourished hair. Insufficient amounts of water could stop your hair from growing and leave it feeling brittle, crunchy or with split ends.

 

 

Relaxer application

It is important to allow a professional hair stylist to relax your hair to ensure its proper application. However, if you are relaxing by yourself at home, ensure you carefully follow all the directions imprinted on the product. Ensure application is only on the new growth unless it is a first-time full head application. When application is done on already relaxed hair, it causes it to be weaker and more prone to breakage.

 

 

 

 

 

The need for extra special care

Since the relaxing process is a chemical process, it is important to ensure that the hair is cared for after to prevent any damages. It is important to use a neutralizing shampoo after each relaxing process to remove all chemicals from your hair.

During the relaxer process, some hair nutrients can be stripped away so it is important to replenish your hair. We advise you to use the Dark and Lovely Ultra Plus Intensive Treatment as a deep conditioner. This treatment infuses moisture and protein back in the hair thereby strengthening it after relaxing.

If possible, limit the daily use of heat styling tools. If it is necessary to use direct heat styling tools , use the the Dark and Lovely Moisture Seal Styling Mist to protect your hair against the heat. An alternative to direct heat styling techniques could be Velcro rollers, flexi rollers or a wrapping method. Extreme and repeated heat styling could lead to hair damage with the worst-case scenario of a cuticle blowout.

 

 

Protecting the relaxed hair

Relaxed hair needs to be consciously protected in order to retain length, moisture and the overall look of healthy hair. There are a few ways you can protect your hair. This could be through protective styling, wrapping your hair properly at night with a silk scarf or sleeping on a silk pillow and ensuring a suitable daily or nightly routine.

Protective styling is important for your relaxed hair ; it will give it a break from styling and manipulation. There are a host of protective styles that you can do: plaits, twists, wigs, braids, crochet, faux locs …

It is, however, important to protect the scalp, hairline and the hair whilst protective styling. Be sure not to braid too tight to protect the hairline and moisturize your scalp and hair to prevent breakage. You can choose from any of the Dark and Lovely range of Gro Strong Hair Foods for maximum moisturization and protection of the scalp when protective styling. In addition, you can choose the Dark and Lovely Braid Spray, the Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Anti-Itch Scalp Soother or the Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Au Naturale Wash Free Braid Refresher to keep your protective styles clean and moisturize throughout your protective styling period.

Tying your hair with a silk scarf or sleeping on a silk pillow will prevent your hair from breaking whilst you sleep. This is because when you sleep on a cotton fabric or a fabric that is not as slippery as a silk fabric there is friction between your hair and the material which breaks your hair or even tangles it. Therefore to protect your relaxed hair , sleep in a silk scarf or silk pillow it will also retain the moisture in your hair and you will wake up every day with beautiful silky hair.

Protect your relaxed hair on sunny days by wearing a hat or putting on a scarf so the hair is protected from the direct UV rays. Do not forget to shampoo and treat your hair after swimming as chlorine and seawater can cause breakage to your hair if it is left in the hair for a longer period. To be safe just wear a swimming cap while swimming. 

Finally allow your stylist to trim your ends after your relaxing process , this is to give your hair a flattery reshape and lose unattractive split ends.