Who doesn’t love curly hair? Well, we all do, especially when we don’t have it! 

However, people with curly hair know the struggle behind maintaining the curls, dealing with the curl patterns, using special hair styling tools, etc. We know it might be a problem managing the curls when the brush-it-up-and-go doesn’t work for your hair, but, instead, only makes it fluffier and tougher to manage. So, you cannot deny that curls do need extra attention, time, and care. 

While it is relatively easier to manage certain curl patterns that are somewhat loose and wavy, the coily and stubborn curls are a whole other story! To make such stubborn curls more manageable, people often go for hair relaxing treatments. 

Hair relaxing is a technique where a chemical called a hair relaxer is used to straighten or loosen up your curls. If you've been through such a treatment and are looking for specific answers, I am here to help you out. 

As a professional reviewer of hair care products, I have been asked many questions about hair relaxers, the proper care routine after a hair treatment, deep conditioning for relaxed hair, and many more. Today, I am here with some answers. Check the information below: 

Table of Contents: 

• What are hair relaxers? How do they impact your hair?
• Deep conditioning for relaxed hair: Is it necessary?
• How to deep-condition your relaxed hair?
• Conclusion 

What are hair relaxers? How do they impact your hair?

Hair relaxers are chemicals used to straighten or loosen up the tight curl patterns. As tight curls are tough to manage, people with coily or curly hair go for hair relaxing treatments. It helps straighten up their hair and make it more manageable. 

Now, how do these hair relaxers work? Are they bad for your hair? 

Well, hair relaxers are harsh chemicals. They work by penetrating your hair’s cuticle and cortex to loosen up your natural curl pattern. However, the work done by hair relaxers is not subtle or gentle on your hair. It leads to weak and brittle hair, making it prone to breakage. Thus, people often face hair damage and dullness of hair after getting a hair relaxing treatment. 

The harsh and chemical nature of hair relaxers can be confirmed by the fact that they contain sodium hydroxide (lye), which is also an active ingredient in paint thinners, cleaning solutions, etc. Hair relaxers might also end up burning your skin, damaging your scalp, and leading to excessive hair loss. It has also been studied that chemical hair relaxers have many cutaneous adverse effects.  

So, when you’re going for a hair relaxing treatment, make sure you are aware of the harmful impacts it might have on your hair and skin. Deep conditioning for relaxed hair can help with damaged hair post hair relaxing treatment, and we will learn about it in the next section. 

However, besides deep-conditioning, there are many other things you can do to save your relaxed hair from damage. These things are: 

• Avoid applying the hair relaxing treatment directly on your scalp;
• Find a treatment with a No-Lye hair relaxer;
• Avoid mixing hair treatments like hair coloring with your hair relaxing treatment. 

After your hair relaxing treatment, avoid using harsh chemicals on your hair. Instead, switch to more gentle plant-powered hair care products to treat your hair better and prevent hair damage. 

Now, let’s see if deep conditioning for relaxed hair is a good idea and how you can do it. 

Deep conditioning for relaxed hair – Is it necessary? 

Well, yes, it is! 

We just talked about the harmful impact that chemical relaxers might have on your hair. They leave your hair shaft brittle and prone to damage and breakage. So, if you don’t take care of your hair after getting a hair relaxing treatment, you are in for some serious hair damage. 

The best way to take care of relaxed hair is deep conditioning! 

The hair relaxing treatment is pretty harsh on the hair, and it strips off the natural moisture and oils, while also affecting the protective layer of your hair. It ends up making your hair weak and prone to damage

To restore the lost moisture, deep conditioning for relaxed hair is very important. Let us see now how to deep-condition your relaxed hair the right way! 

How to deep-condition your relaxed hair? 

After the chemical treatment, your hair goes through a lot of trouble. To prevent the damage after the hair relaxing treatment, you need to do a lot more than just buy a deep conditioner. 

Start by oiling your hair

Chemical relaxers can dry out your hair shaft. Oiling your hair before you wash it, however, can help it regain moisture. You can use coconut oil, olive oil, onion oil, almond oil, or a combination of hair oils for this. You can also add a few drops of essential oils. 

Choose a mild shampoo

Deep-conditioning is all about regaining the moisture that your hair has lost after a hair relaxing treatment. So, all your efforts can go in vain if you are using a harsh shampoo.

After such a chemical-based treatment, your hair needs some extra love and care. So, say goodbye to harsh and chemical-based shampoos as they will only add to the hair damage. Instead, go for more gentle shampoos and conditioners that come with the goodness of pure and natural ingredients. These products will help prevent further damage and nourish your hair shaft, restoring the damage caused by chemical relaxers and helping you obtain healthy hair.

Deep-condition your hair 

After the shampoo, don’t forget to deep-condition your hair. There are many deep conditioners available out there that provide extra conditioning and hydration to your hair. Such deep conditioners are godsent for chemically treated hair as they bring back the lost moisture and flexibility of your hair. 

Thus, to reverse the damage caused by hair relaxers or prevent hair damage after such treatments, go for regular deep conditioning for relaxed hair. You can also use a leave-in conditioner on days when your hair feels like it can use the extra love, but you don’t necessarily have the time for it. 

In closing

Relaxed hair may become weak, brittle and prone to damage. So, deep conditioning your hair becomes essential. I have suggested the best ways to deep-condition your relaxed hair. If you’re looking for the best chemical-free products to condition your hair and reverse the damage, check out the WOW hair care range for some amazing plant-powered, vegan products that will help you on your journey towards achieving healthy hair.