10 Best Tips to Grow Healthy Relaxed Hair

Are you looking for ways to grow healthy, relaxed hair? If so, you’re in the right place! We know that sometimes it can be a challenge to grow out your hair. And relaxed hair can be even more challenging to manage since it is prone to breakage and split ends. But relaxed hair can be beautiful and healthy – it just takes a little bit of effort on your part. This article will discuss 10 tips to help you achieve your desired results. We hope that these tips help you on your journey to growing long, gorgeous hair!

Our ten best tips to grow healthy relaxed hair include:

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
Maintain a healthy moisture-protein balance
Trim/dust your ends regularly
Have a consistent relaxing schedule
Avoid relaxer run-off
Find a good relaxer and stick to it
Embrace texture and avoid relaxing hair bone straight
Use a clarifying shampoo once a month
Minimize hair manipulation
Avoid direct heat as much as possible

Let’s get right into it!

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

This tip is probably the most crucial on the list.

Relaxed hair is more susceptible to drying because the chemicals in the relaxers strip away natural oils. They also lift hair cuticles which can result in high porosity hair.

High porosity hair is hair that has raised cuticles. This type of hair is more likely to absorb moisture, but it can also be difficult to retain moisture.

That’s why it’s so important to moisturize your relaxed hair regularly. Do this every day, or at least every other day.

Pay special attention to the ends of your hair, which are more prone to damage.

There are several ways to moisturize your hair to grow healthy relaxed hair.

Deep condition regularly

Another important tip for growing healthy relaxed hair is to deep condition regularly.

Deep conditioners contain more humectants and emollients than regular conditioners. They penetrate the hair shaft to provide much-needed hydration, making it less likely to break or become damaged.

We recommend deep conditioning at least once a week, but you can do it more often if you feel your hair needs it.

Also, cover your hair with a plastic cap and apply heat (hooded dryer, steamer, or blow dryer) when deep conditioning. Heat opens the cuticle and allows the product to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft.

Our favourite moisturizing deep conditioners include:

Moisturize and seal with an oil

After you shampoo and condition your hair, it’s essential to lock in that moisture by sealing with an oil or butter.

Sealing will help to keep your hair hydrated and prevent breakage.

You can use a light oil such as grapeseed oil or jojoba oil. You can also use products that contain these ingredients to help seal in moisture.

Just apply a small amount to your damp hair, focusing on the ends. Then style as usual.

Also, remember to re-moisturize regularly in between washes, daily, or every other day as needed. Use a water-based leave-in conditioner or moisturizer and seal with an oil.

Use sulphate-free shampoos

Sulphates are harsh detergents that can strip away natural oils, leading to dryness and breakage. That’s why it’s important to use sulphate-free shampoos when washing your hair.

There are several sulphate-free shampoos on the market designed for relaxed hair.

Some of our favourite sulphate-free shampoos include:

Baggy your ends

Another great tip for growing healthy relaxed hair is to baggy your ends.

Bagging means wrapping your moisturized, and sealed hair ends in a plastic bag for a few hours or overnight. The plastic bag helps to lock in moisture and prevent breakage.

The ends are the oldest part of your hair and the most prone to damage, so it’s essential to take extra care of them.

You can baggy your hair once a week or as needed.

2. Maintain a healthy moisture-protein balance

Relaxed hair needs a healthy balance of moisture and protein to prevent breakage and promote growth.

If your hair is stringy, limp, or feels mushy when wet, it may be because it lacks protein. Protein strengthens the hair shaft and prevents breakage.

But too much protein can also lead to dryness and breakage. A protein overload will leave hair feeling hard, straw-like, and challenging to manage.

So how do you know if your hair needs more protein or moisture?

A simple strand test can help you figure it out. Take a clean, dry hair strand and stretch it out. If it the strand:

Stretches out more than usual and then snaps; your hair needs protein
Breaks before it stretches, then your hair needs more moisture

We recommend using a protein treatment once a month or as needed. And be sure to follow up with a deep conditioner to add moisture back into the hair.

You can find a variety of protein treatments and moisturizing products on the market to help balance your hair’s moisture-protein levels.

Our favourite protein deep conditioners include:

3. Trim/dust your ends regularly

Another important tip for growing healthy relaxed hair is to trim/dust your hair regularly to get rid of split ends.

Dusting means trimming off the very ends of your hair, about less than a quarter of an inch.

Split ends can travel up the hair shaft and cause breakage. By trimming your hair, you can get rid of split ends before they have a chance to do any damage.

Trimming will also help keep your hair looking healthy and prevent it from becoming dull.

We recommend trimming/dusting your hair every eight to twelve weeks or whenever you get a touchup done/

4. Have a consistent relaxing schedule

One of the best things you can do to grow healthy relaxed hair is to have a consistent, relaxing schedule.

Consistency means getting your relaxer touchups done on time, every ten to twelve weeks.

If you wait too long between relaxer treatments, you may experience more breakage at the line of demarcation. The line of demarcation is the point where your natural hair (new growth) meets your relaxed hair.

But if you relax your hair too often, it is more challenging to see the demarcation line, thus resulting in over-processing of previously relaxed hair.

So it’s crucial to find a happy medium and stick to a consistent schedule.

If you’re not sure how often to relax your hair, we recommend talking to a professional hairstylist.

They can help you develop a relaxing schedule that’s right for you and your hair type.

5. Avoid relaxer run-off

Relaxer run-off happens when you or your hairdresser rinses out the relaxer, and the relaxer touches previously relaxed hair.

It can lead to over-processing, which results in irreversible damage, like breakage, bald spots, and thinning.

So it’s vital to avoid over-processing your hair at all costs.

To avoid relaxer run-off, be sure to:

Coat previously-relaxed hair with a petroleum-based product, like Vaseline, before applying the relaxer to new growth
Consider a protein treatment a week before your relaxer day. Protein will help to strengthen your hair and make it more resistant to over-processing
On relaxer day, be sure to rinse out the relaxer thoroughly before shampooing

6. Find a good relaxer and stick to it

When it comes to finding a good relaxer, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.

First, you’ll want to find the right relaxer for your hair type.

If you have fine hair, you’ll want to use a mild or no-lye relaxer. You can use a lye or no-lye relaxer if you have coarse hair.

A lye relaxer is a more potent formula to straighten your hair faster. But it can also be harsher on your hair.
No-lye relaxers are a gentler option but may not straighten your hair as quickly or effectively.

Second, you’ll want to find the right relaxer for your scalp type. If you have a sensitive scalp, you’ll want to use a no-lye relaxer as it’s gentler on the scalp.

Remember to follow a no-lye relaxer with a chelating shampoo. No-lye relaxers leave calcium deposits on hair that prevent absorption of products. A chelating shampoo will remove these deposits.

You can use either lye or no-lye relaxer if you have a normal scalp.

And lastly, you’ll want to find a relaxer containing moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, oils, and butters. These ingredients will help to keep your hair hydrated and prevent damage.

Once you find a good relaxer, stick to it and don’t switch formulas too often.

Using the same relaxer will help minimize damage and keep your hair healthy.

7. Embrace texture and avoid relaxing hair bone straight

One of the most common mistakes people make when relaxing their hair is trying to achieve bone-straight hair.

While there’s nothing wrong with straight hair, relaxers simply loosen the curl pattern, not altogether remove it.

Trying to achieve bone-straight hair can lead to over-processing and damage.

So instead of straightening your hair, embrace your natural texture and loosen the curl pattern.

You’ll be surprised at how much healthier and easier to manage your hair will be.

8. Use a clarifying shampoo once a month

Various hair products can leave behind buildup, leading to dryness, tangles, and breakage.

Buildup can also make it difficult for hair products to penetrate the hair shaft. It can further block follicles, leading to scalp problems, like itching and dandruff.

To avoid buildup and grow healthy relaxed hair, we recommend using a clarifying shampoo once a month.

Clarifying shampoos remove buildup and leave your hair feeling clean and refreshed.

Just be sure to follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to avoid dryness.

Some of our favourite clarifying shampoos include:

9. Minimize hair manipulation

One of the best things you can do for your hair is to minimize hair manipulation.

Hair manipulation includes any time you touch, comb, brush, or style your hair.

Too much hair manipulation can lead to breakage and damage.

So if you want to grow healthy relaxed hair, be sure to handle it with care.

Some of our best tips to minimize hair manipulation include:

Wear Protective Styles

Protective hairstyles keep your hair away from your face and off your neck.

They can help reduce the amount of time you spend manipulating your hair. It also helps avoid friction between your hair and your clothing items.

Some great protective styles include:

Twists and braids
Buns and updos
Weaves and wigs

Use a Wide-Tooth Comb

When you need to comb your hair, use a wide-tooth comb.

Wide-tooth combs help to avoid breakage and minimize friction. They’re also less likely to snag on tangles.

Start at the Ends

When brushing or combing your hair, always start at the ends and work your way up to the roots.

You’re more likely to cause breakage if you start at the roots.

But if you start at the ends, you can gently loosen any tangles before they become a problem.

Use silk/satin hair accessories.

If you want to grow healthy relaxed hair, it’s crucial to minimize damage.

One way to do this is by using silk or satin hair accessories.

Hair accessories made from these materials are less likely to cause friction and breakage than those made from other materials, like cotton.

Some great silk/satin hair accessories include:

Headbands, scrunchies & hair ties
Bonnets and scarfs
Pillowcases

Wrapping your hair in a silk/satin scarf before bed helps to minimize friction and breakage while you sleep.

Be Gentle

Finally, always be gentle when handling your hair. Avoid yanking or pulling on your hair, which can lead to breakage.

When your hair is wet, it is more fragile and prone to breakage. So be extra careful when combing or brushing it in this state.

Take your time and be gentle when styling your hair. Your hair will thank you for it in the long run!

10. Avoid direct heat as much as possible

Direct heat can dry your hair’s natural oils and lead to breakage. So if you want to grow healthy relaxed hair, it’s essential to avoid it as much as possible.

There are a few ways you can do this:

Air-dry your hair whenever possible since wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage
If you must use heat, be sure to use a heat protectant spray
Also, if using heat styling tools, be sure to use them at the lowest heat setting possible

Bonus Tips

Use a trained professional for relaxer applications.

If you’re going to use a relaxer, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.

Trained professionals know how to apply relaxers safely and minimize damage.

Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle

Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential for overall health, including hair health.

Make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. And stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day.

Use scalp massage to stimulate growth

Scalp massage can help to stimulate hair growth.

It’s also a great way to reduce stress, benefiting overall health.

To do a scalp massage, simply use your fingers to massage your scalp in a circular motion.

Do this for several minutes each day.

Listen to your hair

Your hair will let you know what it needs.

Always pay attention to how it looks and feels, and adjust your care routine accordingly.

If your hair looks dry and brittle, try using a moisturizing deep conditioner. If it looks limp and lifeless, try using a protein deep conditioner.

You can figure out what it needs to be healthy and grow by listening to your hair.

Conclusion

If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to growing healthy relaxed hair! Just be sure to be patient. Growing healthy relaxed hair takes time, patience, and effort! So don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Stick with it, and you’ll see the results you want in no time. Thanks for reading!