You can prevent hair breakage with the following methods. Keep reading.
How To Stop Relaxed Hair Breakage?
Moisturize Your Hair
The harsh chemicals in hair relaxers change your hair texture and could dry it out. They also make it prone to breakage. You may go for moisturizing treatments every week. Get a spa done at least once a month. The steam opens up the hair cuticles and allows the moisture to penetrate the hair shaft. You can also apply a mixture of coconut and olive oils to your scalp and hair strands. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wash with a moisturizing shampoo. Do this twice a week. Towel dry your hair and lightly apply argan oil to your hair strands.
Get A Protein Treatment
A hair relaxer can weaken the hair strands, and a protein treatment can strengthen them. Protein treatments with keratin, collagen, or whey protein will keep your hair strong and healthy and prevent hair breakage. Those with short hair may need to get a protein treatment every 4 to 6 weeks. Individuals with longer hair can get a protein treatment once every 12 weeks. However, do not overdo it. Excessive protein in hair can make it dry and brittle. Create a balance between protein treatment and hair moisturization. Hard, brittle strands need more hydration.
Use A Wide-Toothed Comb
Hair relaxers can weaken hair and make it brittle. Using a teasing comb will only damage hair further. A wide-toothed comb helps reduce friction and the chances of hair breakage.
Avoid Overprocessing
Do not relax your hair frequently. Overprocessing will do more harm. Layering hair relaxers on already relaxed hair can further dry your hair out and even make it protein deficient (leading to hair shedding and breakage). Talk to your hairstylist to understand the right time to relax your hair again.
Avoid Hair Color
Bleaching and/or coloring hair that is already brittle can make things worse. However, if you do want to color your hair, you may stick to non-permanent colors and color rinses that reduce damage. You must also wait for at least 2 to 3 weeks before coloring your relaxed hair.
Use A Scarf
Protecting your hair from friction and the sun can keep your strands from drying out further. Wrap a satin scarf around your hair strands and tuck it in the ends before you step into the sun or go to sleep.
Wear Loose Hairstyles
Avoid twist outs, bantu knots, braids, crochet braids, etc. While the whole point of relaxing your hair is to wear it straight, twisting and turning your hair too much to achieve a certain hairstyle may lead to breakage. Loose hairstyles like a low ponytail or a low bun can prevent hair breakage.
Avoid Heat Tools
Subjecting your hair to heat styling tools when your hair is already fragile could lead to excessive hair breakage and damage. Try the wash and go hair care method to avoid using a blow dryer after washing your hair. But should you need to use a blow dryer, do so in the cool setting or use a heat protectant. These are the ways you can reduce hair breakage after a hair relaxing treatment. Check the following tips on taking care of your hair post the treatment.
Hair Care Tips For Relaxed Hair
Use deep conditioners for your hair. Use a hydrating leave-in mask once a week. Get a hair spa done once a month.
But you can only do so much to protect your hair. Before you enter a point of no return, it is best to recognize the signs that tell you to stop relaxing your hair.
Signs It Is Time To Stop Relaxing Your Hair
Keep an eye out for the following signs to know if it is time to stop relaxing your hair.
Your scalp is always itchy. It also burns every time you relax your hair. You have chronic dandruff. You have excessive hair loss.
Does stretching your relaxer cause breakage? Yes, stretching your relaxer can cause breakage. The line of demarcation, which is the part where relaxed hair and new hair meet, is particularly vulnerable to breakage. The two different textures are highly prone to get tangled and breaking away if not taken proper care of. How many times should you relax your hair in a year? It is safe to limit relaxers to thrice a year. You need to have enough new hair growth (at least an inch) to work with, and most of us do not have much growth. Relaxing your hair 3-4 times in a year with a gap of 3-4 months in between would be ideal. Is coconut oil good for relaxed hair? Yes. Relaxing makes hair weak and results in the loss of essential nutrients from it. Coconut oil is great for nourishing your relaxed hair as it penetrates the shaft and seals in proteins to prevent their loss. Why is my relaxed hair puffy? Just like the chemicals in relaxers make your hair dry and brittle, they also result in a lot of frizziness. It is because of loss of essential nutrients and lack of moisture. All of this can give your relaxed hair a puffy look if not conditioned and maintained properly.
