If you've recently had your hair relaxed, you might have discovered an unpleasant truth. Many chemical relaxers can leave your hair feeling dry, fried and split, especially if your hair is fine. Fine relaxed hair is also more delicate and prone to breakage. According to Kids Health, using heated styling appliances on hair that has been relaxed can cause even more problems for your hair, as heat promotes further breakage and damage. Luckily, you can usually nurse your hair back to health using home remedies and an occasional visit to the salon.
Step 1
Trim your ends every four to six weeks. You might not want to hear it, but the truth is, you have to cut off the damaged and dry ends in order for your hair to heal. If they are applied incorrectly, chemical relaxers can cause severe damage and split ends, according to Kids Health. The only way to promote healthier hair is to remove the damage first. Trimming a little more frequently rather than a lot all at once will help you to preserve the length of your hair while slowly removing split ends and damage.
Step 2
Brush your hair with a cushioned paddle brush. According to Yetunde Jude in her book "The Black Hair Care Revolution," using a cushioned paddle brush is the recommended type of brush for use on relaxed hair. Since your fine hair is already more prone to breakage, it's important to be gentle and to avoid pulling or tugging.
Step 3
Sleep with your hair loose, free of ponytail holders or clips. Sleeping with your hair tied back can cause you to pull your hair when you move around, causing further breakage and damage. According to Jude, sleeping with your hair in a ponytail is a common cause of breakage after hair has been relaxed.
Step 4
Wash your hair with a gentle moisturizing shampoo. When your hair is relaxed and fine, it's important to use a gentle shampoo that won't remove natural oils from your hair, according to "Cosmopolitan" magazine. Follow with a thick, moisture-rich conditioner formulated for relaxed hair to help seal in oils and nutrients.
Step 5
Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair to add volume to fine hair. Allow your hair to dry naturally until it's just damp, and apply a palmful of mousse to your roots. If you must use a blow dryer, use one with a diffuser attachment. These attachments diffuse the air so your hair won't be as prone to breakage from the strong air and heat of the blow dyer. Heated appliances, including blow dryers, can cause damage, so only blow dry your hair when absolutely necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Cushioned paddle brush
- Gentle moisturizing shampoo
- Conditioner for relaxed hair
- Volumizing mousse
- Diffuser
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