Proper maintenance of relaxed hair is key to ensuring healthy growth.
Managing relaxed hair presents its own set of challenges. As with any other chemical hair treatments, the hair can be damaged if it is not properly maintained. Many products claim to be able to give you longer hair, but the only way to achieve this with relaxed hair is to prevent breakage and keep hair healthy.
What a Relaxer Does to Your Hair
If your hair is very curly, thick or coarse, you can apply a relaxer to straighten and smooth the hair. A relaxer is a combination of chemicals that, when applied to the hair, enters the hair shaft and breaks down the protein inside it. It essentially destroys the bonds that hold the hair together. This causes the hair to become straight. The relaxer will need to be reapplied to new hair growth at the scalp every few months.
What is in a Relaxer?
A relaxer contains sodium hydroxide, a powerful chemical used in drain cleaning products, and ammonium hydroxide, which is a respiratory irritant. These chemicals strip your hair of nutrients essential for hair growth. Consistent use of relaxers can damage hair follicles and hinder hair growth.
There can be serious consequences to your hair and health if a relaxer is not applied properly. Chemical burns, and severe breakage are common. A chemical burn to the scalp is not only painful, it can cause permanent baldness.
Hair Growth and Relaxers
Your hair will most likely continue to grow after a relaxer has been applied. However, the reason hair may appear to stop growing is most likely the result of breakage. Breakage occurs when the chemicals in the relaxer make the hair weak and vulnerable to damage.
Apply a moisturizer daily to chemically treated hair. Limit the use of heated styling tools. Don't wash your hair every day, as this will cause more dryness and breakage. Once or twice a week should suffice.
Ways to Help Lessen the Damage Caused By Relaxers
Make sure that the person applying the relaxer is a trained professional. You should use light weight oil such as coconut or jojoba, to moisturize the scalp. Avoid using petroleum based products on the hair. Petroleum, or grease, will only act as a barrier and will not adequately moisturize the hair. Maintaining a healthy diet is also important. If your body does not get the nutrients it needs it cannot support healthy hair growth. The best advice for long healthy hair may be to phase out use of the relaxer and stick to natural methods of styling.
Tags: hair growth, relaxed hair, healthy hair, most likely, What Relaxer
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