I am now officially starting to call salons for my relaxer! It is so exciting! My hair has a lot of new growth and I think it is time to get a touch-up.
Though I am excited, I am also worried. So many girls have horror stories about their hair breaking and over processing.
Can this be avoid?
I think so, and I have helpful tips for ladies who are interested!
One week before your relax your hair, you should take the time to do a throughout analyze of the shape of your locks. You should check if your hair is shedding, breaking, brittle, etc.
Many ladies do not know the difference between shedding and breaking. Let me explain:
If you notice that many of strands are falling, try taking one and see if there's a white bulb at the end. If you have many strands like this, than you are SHEDDING. Shedding is a normal practice, and human tend to shed 50-100 hairs per day. Don't worry, new hair grows to replace the hair that was shedded.
If you do not notice any white bulbs, then there is a good chance that your hair is BREAKING. This is bad news, if you do not manipulate your hair, or use chemicals that could increase hair breakage.
Multiple factors can cause hair breakage, but the two top reasons are a lack of moisture and protein in your hair.
Therefore, before relaxing your hair, try to determine what your hair status is.
Once you establish your status, proceed by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo. What is a clarifying shampoo? It is a shampoo that will cleanses built-up residues, toxins and styling products from the hair shaft. Using this type of shampoo will give your hair a clean start.
Follow-up the shampoo with a moisturizing shampoo.
If you have a lot of breakage:
Use a hard protein to repair damage hair. You can use products such as Nexxus Aloxxi Polymedic Emergency Reconstructor.
If your hair is in good shape and there's no not much shedding of breaking, I would suggest using a light protein such as APHOGEE Intensive Keratin Reconstructor which restores softness and elasticity and repairs damaged hair.
***When you use a protein, it is important VITAL to use a moisturizing conditioner! This means deep conditioning for at least 20 minutes!
Once your hair is clean and dry, avoid doing activities that could reintegrate moisture in your hair. This means no exercising, no swimming or any activities that could make you sweat! This also means avoid Saunas! And if you can, avoid rainy days (or keep an umbrella handy!)
It is also good to note that you should limit brushing and styling your hair. Less hair manipulation is the best thing you can do! Therefore, the few days before the relaxer, limit brushing, combing, pulling at the hair and no hair wrapping!
It is important no to make your scalp sensitive!
Also, a few days before your treatment, oil your scalp with Castor oil. You should part you hair with your fingers and start oiling from the back. This will make you scalp less tender and soften new growth.
So a recap:
- Use Clarifying Shampoo
- Follow-up with Moisturizing Shampoo
- Use a Hard or Light Protein
- Deep Condition hair for 20 minutes
- Avoid activities that could add moisture to your hair
- Avoid hair manipulation
- Oil your scalp
I hope this post helps!
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Good article!!!!
Posted by: Karina | November 05, 2008 at 03:19 PM