Just Say No to These Relaxed Hair Habits

January 20th, 2012 - By Dolapo Roberts

 

The journey to healthier relaxed hair can seem daunting, especially when it means giving up habits you’ve grown accustomed to over the years. Fortunately, for every bad habit you give up there’s a good one waiting to replace it. Let’s take a look at some of the most common relaxed hair faux pas and what you should be doing instead to keep your head of hair healthy…

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  • Snakewrangler

    my problem is the first one. I just got mine done and im so afraid to wash it. I have this fear that it’ll go back to the puffy curly hair. so as bad as i know it is I never wash it as often as i should.

  • Amirah

    Hair should aways remain straight to prevent the newgrowth from breaking the relaxed hair. Your hairdresser (or whoever relaxes your hair) should always appy a conditioner cream or some sort before relaxing to protect the already proccessed hair. This way, (and preventing breaking) should form the circle of relaxing: new growth grows, new growth gets straightend, hair grows again

  • Candacey Doris

    I think i’ll start alternating wrapping directions now, i never thought it could make my edges thin! I wish i could say that i didn’t believe people don’t wash their hair, so many girls i know washed their hair maybe once a month. My hair would fall out. I used to use Motions for everything, but now i use Ojon products. I know it’s not for everyone, but my mother and i love it.

  • Fab

    Madame Noire I love these articles,  thank you! And ladies most of the comments (the ones actaully offering advice not chastising  or passing judgement) are so useful so please keep sharing. In the UK we’re catchcing up but still not quite there as most black people are 1st or 2nd gen there is not a lot of education on black hair care, just a crazy amount of products on offer  everywhere and an indian man telling you what sells the most lol. I know its up to us to do the research but I’ll still thanks for making it easier ladies :)

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  • BiokoIslandBabe

    Everybody’s hair is different and you have to know what works for YOU!  I am a licensed cosmetologist with 4A/4B hair and if I don’t shampoo my hair once a week, it breaks.  The minute I shampoo/condition it, the breakage stops immediately.  My hair just loves being clean.  Also, I HAVE to relax my hair every 4 weeks!  I know it sounds crazy, but my hair grows very, very fast, half inch per month and if I don’t relax it every 4 weeks, it will break!!  I have tried so many products under the sun but I always go back to Motions Oil Moisturizer (PINK AND CREAMY ONLY) Neutralizing Shampoo, Motions CPR in the jar (with the brown flecks), Optimum Normalizer Step 3 (after every chemical treatment), Aphogee Leave in Conditioner as a setting lotion put it in a spray bottle, and Wonder 8 oil (no pump only pour!).  And I flat iron it every week.  Wrap it every night and sleep on a satin pillow case.  No scarf on the head.  The rubbing motion while you sleep is what breaks the hair.  That’s it!  All of my client’s hair grows like weed once they start doing this regiment.  I will never switch!        

    • Zim

      I don’t have a problem with edges breaking off when I use my silk scarf. ( I also sleep on a silk pillowcase.) However, I do have a problem with the hair on the nape of my neck breaking off – no matter what I do!  Sometimes skipping the relaxer for a few months helps to stop the breakage.
      ALSO, like you, my hair starts getting crunchy if I go two weeks before washing, and starts breaking at the ends when I comb it. I like to co-wash once per week.

       

  • Chessica450

    who washes their hair every 2 weeks?? that’s just disgusting!! you’re supposed to wash your hair with a non-harsh clarifying shampoo once a week and cowash your hair with a conditioner once a week also and deep cond once a week and hot oil/pree-poo treatment once a week and protein treatment every other week smh to balance out the moisture…if you use Aphogee Protein treatment then you do that every six weeks :) )

    • http://www.wix.com/seakicreativeservice/designnow seaki ache’

      omg,..Aphogee Protein treatments are so fabulous!!!. My locticion in Brooklyn has the whole line, as is apart, as well as other products. Had the product tried on me, (when I can slurg and get my locs professionally done for special occasions), and the results were wonderful.

    • Bosslady

      I usually wash every two weeks, or every 10 – 14 days . My hair is relaxed, very long and very thick. Washing my hair one a week will and does break my hair. Every time I wash my hair I deep condition it, but when I washed my hair more often than 10 days in the long run it just dries, thins and breaks my hair.

    • Redvelvet321

      You only need to clarify once a month. According to The Science of Black Hair, you can also clarify with a regular shampoo b/c of the harsh sulfates in the product. “Clarifying” shampoos are more of a marketing strategy.  I love the Greenhouse Method too.

    • Msmykimoto2u

      Different people and different hair types require different maintenance. For my hair there was no need to wash my hair everyother day with shampoo because I did not have dandruff and only use organic products that did not cause buildup. But I did co wash often almost every 2days, hot oil treatment/deep condish every week and washed with organic sulfate free shampoo and egg protein treatment every 2 weeks and my hair is thick, full and healthy

    • biweekly wash

      You do know if u wash ur hair as often as you suggested you are stripping your hair of its natural oils. That can easily damage ur hair. Keep on! smh (sidenote:I wash mine every 2weeks and my hair is relaxed, long, thick and very healthy).

  • Prissy

    Exactly!! I deep condition way more often than I shampoo because shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils. I also don’t “fully” relax my hair but every 4-5 months. I do a “mini” on my edges once every 3 months. Protective styles are great! I stopped wrapping my hair back in highschool because one side always seemed longer than the other, or one part would stick out then I would have to end up flat ironing that part and just like the article stated, a little “thinness” would start. I just tie my hair in a satin scarf or put a bonnet cap on it. Pin curls are my friend and so are rod sets, and buns . :-)  

    • Mskwhidbee

      I realized the same thing when it came to wrapping my hair as well, I couldn’t stand one side looking different from the other,it was so annoying. I have relaxed hair and I’m always looking for new hair treatments I’ve tried (motions & cream of nature), do you recommend a particular deep conditioner ?

      • http://www.wix.com/seakicreativeservice/designnow seaki ache’

        I use Infusium 23 Leave in Conditioner,   Cream of Nature Deep Conditioning shampoo, and . Once a month I use Infusium 23 Repair and Renew. I also give my hair “placenta treatments, in-between washing. I try to keep the regiment consistent, as well as product use, and my hair is down my back, to the mid area of my butt. The tradition of “Wrapping to Love” ( wrapping our hair at night to preserve our hair health) has been around for a VERY , VERY long time is so important, wether relaxed, or natural. It seals in moisture and keeps the hair healthy and supple. Wrapping also extends “product usage, really allowing the hair-care products we use, to do their jobs. Every night, before wrapping, ( I use a very thin wonderful silk/cashmere pashmina scarf, but DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS TO RELAXED HAIR, stay with satin/silk wraps or scarves), I add a conditioning lotion, that is light, and will penetrate my hair (not weigh it down). I do have locs, but I have recommended this regimen to my girls friends, and their hair is now A MANE OF GLORY!!!! Try it! Most of all, if you are going to start a “I LOVE my Mane care regimen”,..please me VERY consistent, as your scalp and hair will grow to “depend” on this type of love and care. Make it a nightly ritual, a small amount of “pampering time” that makes you feel special, and your hair look and feel wonderful.

      • Tntb03

        Pantene has great conditioners. My daughters all have natural hair but mines is relaxed but I find Pantene work great in both texture hair.

        • Prissy

          I DO NOT support Pantene because I remember walking in Krogers my senior year if highschool (2005) looking for some sanitary products.. I am a hair product freak and I LOVE to look at new products so I wandered to the hair care isle, I saw the regular white Pantene bottles all of a sudden looking BROWN.. I looked at the words “For Women Of Color” and got instantly turned OFF. You mean to tell me that ALL of a sudden after being here since 1619 we JUST started washing our hair?? AND if you look at the back of the brown bottle it is the SAME ingredients as the white bottle except for like “jojoba oil” or whatever.. LOl I will NOT be giving them my dollars.

      • Prissy

        I LOVE anything by Elasta QP because they don’t use alcohol in their products. Aphogee is great as well, try even the Olive Oil Replenishing pack.. It’s usually about a dollar at CVS or Walgreens. 

    • Chessica450

      that’s why you’re supposed to wrap your hair in a different direction every night….if you wrap it in the same direction, one side will be thinner than the other