Saving the Straightened Strands: 6 Tips for Taking Care of Relaxed Hair

May 30th, 2012 - By Kendra Koger

newsone.com

Avoid excessive heat

Have you ever seen a black girl with jagged hair so horrendous that it made you want schedule an appointment to get your ends clipped?  Well, I used to be that girl who inspired you to take better care of your hair.  I thought that by having pretty hair meant having heat styled hair.  So for years I did that, until (in the back of my head) I found out that while one side went down my back, the other barely passed my shoulder.

All of the excessive heat lead to excessive breakage and I had to cut my hair into a bob to get rid of all of the dead pieces.

How to fix it?

A good way to keep your hair with that straight look is to wrap it.  It’d last longer and you won’t have to put the heat on it everyday.  But when the time comes to put heat on it, try only using one source of heat on your hair when styling.  You want to flat iron it?  Then let it air dry (I usually wrap my wet hair, let it air dry a whole day, then the next day, flat iron it).  Twist outs aren’t just for natural hair girls.  When wet, twist, or braid your hair for a beautiful wavy look.  Or wear a high bun.  So sleek, so elegant, so not needing of heat.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/safa.tamblre Safa Tamblre

    Im really going to focus on my hair beacuse my goal is to have long healthy thick relaxed hair

  • http://www.facebook.com/safa.tamblre Safa Tamblre

    This was a really helpful site beacuse my relaxed will grow only in the roots but my ends break all the these

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Wright/1120170157 Alex Wright

    I would also add that pre poo your hair and toss out those shampoos with sulfates

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Melissa-Taylor/100003170966965 Melissa Taylor

    If you heat style you need to use good quality products like the Karmin G3 Salon Pro Styling Iron, it’s great for relaxed hair because of the pure ceramic tourmaline plates and ajustable heat (up to 460F!). I love using it, makes my hair conditioned and silky soft :)

  • LaceWigs Front

    Oh,My god, this hair is so gorgeous! like it~

  • Guest

    Oil is not a moisturiser. The only thing that can moisturise your hair is water. Just a bit of a water based moisturiser is what you need. Not enough to make the hair wet, but enough to give the hair some moisture.

  • oOBubbles21

    MN:  You wrote:  
    Or in my case, I once got it by how I tied my do rag on my hair line after I wrapped it. 

    How do you tie your hair at night??
    Do you use the female do rag?

    • Juss Jenn

       Its a satin scarf and definitely looks like the female do rag. Sometimes I get lazy and put on a satin bonnet.

    • Kendra Koger

      I was going to include a pic, but I figured I’d shown too much of myself on this site, but Juss Jenn described it perfectly.  I would wrap my hair, and then use the female do rag to keep it.  But now I’ll wrap it and use a silk scarf.  When I’m lazy I will drape the scarf over my pillow.

    • oOBubbles21

      Ok great thanks everyone!!
      I don’t like sleeping with my hair out, I wake up to a tangled mess.
      I used to wrap my hair every night but my scalp felt tender the next morning.  Now I put it in a loose ponytail and tie my scarf on.I still have a sore scalp in the mornings, no matter how loose I tie it.  Guess that’s the price I pay huh?  :)  It’s worth it.

  • Islandgyal

    I don’t use oil in my hair. I rely on a leave in conditioner like Nexxus or Aveeno. I wash my hair twice a week & have found my scalp is much healthier when I do that. Thanks for tips on relaxed hair. I love natural hair, however with my fitness regimen & 60-70 hrs. of work it’s easier for me to do a quick blowout or a simple braid then wear it wavy next day.

  • Pingback: Saving the Straightened Strands: 6 Tips for Taking Care of Relaxed Hair | 93.1 WZAK

  • Guest

    Lol yall happy now?

  • LAME

    I’d add to make sure you wash your hair weekly or bi-weekly. I know black women tend to not wash their hair as frequently but dirty scalps do stunt growth. Also, OIL IS NOT A MOISTURIZER. Water is the only true moisturizer and oil is used to seal in the moisture. If your putting oil on your dry hair, without spraying water or using a water based leave-in conditioner 1st, all your doing is making your hair shiny and dry.  The only moisturizing oil that I know of is pure coconut cooking oil, found in the grocery store, I’d recommend organic coconut oil.

    • Carter

      I was just going to say that. I used to make the mistake in thinking my hair was getting moisturized with oil. Bad idea.

    • Juss Jenn

       I was going to say the same thing…using Extra Virgin Olive Oil to moisturize your hair won’t do it. Adding it to your Deep Conditioner or conditioner, sure. No oil will moisturize you hair…Only Water!!

      • oOBubbles21

        I thought water makes your hair weaker and more prone to breaking or tangling??  There’s no way I will wet then air dry my relaxed hair.  I’d be a mess.
        I wash once monthly now since having my baby.  Been doing that since he was born.  My hair has not been healthier.  I do keep my scarf on in the house though, so I think that helps.  I can’t stand oil or the thought of putting olive oil or coconut oil in my hair.  That sounds like a greasy mess.  I use Ashtae Sili-Gloss.  It’s perfect (for me).  Wish I could share pics :)