My Relaxer Routine: Relaxer Day Prep!
It’s almost that time, Relaxer day! You may remember me mentioning I relax my hair 3 times a year, roughly every 17 weeks. I stretch my relaxers to ensure there is no overlapping of relaxer & my previously relaxed hair is not processed again as this can weaken your hair over time & lead to breakage. Once I’m ready to end my relaxer stretch, I follow this regime to ensure my hair is prepped for relaxer day!
Keep reading to see what I do in the lead up to each relaxer.
One Week Before…
Clarify
My pre-relaxer wash day takes place no more than 3-5 days before my relaxer day.
I start by washing my hair, in sections, with a clarifying shampoo. This ensures that there is no product buildup that will disrupt the straightening process.
For this step, I use ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo.
Protein Treatment
I follow up with a protein treatment to strengthen my hair before relaxing. I like to use a hard protein conditioner during this process and usually, I opt for ORS Hair Mayonnaise or Aphogee Keratin 2 minute-reconstructor.
Deep Condition
As always, I follow up a protein treatment with a moisturising deep conditioner. I add lots of moisturising oils to one of my favourite moisturising conditioners.
Low manipulation
In the days leading up to my relaxer, I keep contact with my hair to a minimum. That means, no washing, minimal combing and most importantly, NO SCRATCHING! I don’t know about you, but in the lead up to my relaxer my scalp goes from 0-100 real quick and all I want to do is scratch! Try to keep your hands out of your hair as stimulating your scalp close to your relaxer can lead to chemical burns. So master that head tap & keep your nails out of your scalp!
Some people choose to blow dry their hair at this point to reduce tangling and any strain on their new growth.
I also avoid using essential oils on my scalp and no scalp massages either!
I keep my hairstyles simple with low buns or ponytails and keep my hair well moisturised.
The Night Before…
Oil your ends
The night before my relaxer I give my hair some TLC by oiling the full length of my hair with either coconut oil or olive oil. This is to create a barrier between the relaxer and my previously relaxed hair.
Relaxer Day!
Repeat
On the day of my relaxer, I repeat the previous step & oil the full length of my hair again. If you are having your hair relaxed at a salon then make sure you pick a salon & stylist you trust. If you are self-relaxing at home like I do, then look out for my DIY relaxer post.
So I’d love to know what you will be doing in the lead up to your next relaxer?
~Healthy Hair Junkie~
5 comments
Lexie
18th January 2018 at 6:48 am
This is soooo helpful! I’ve been looking all over the internet to see what other people do to prep their hair for relaxers and I love how thorough this was. I haven’t used Aphogee in such a long time that it’s a great reminder to check out their products. I used to love them. <3
Thanks for this! I'm definitely planning to tweak mine to include some of your tips!
Nagesty Rensch
2nd September 2018 at 8:44 pm
Do you have a post or video about your diy relaxer routine?
Healthy Hair junkie
19th September 2018 at 4:18 pm
I’m afraid I don’t. I may do a post on it but I’ve started going to the salon for my relaxers.
xx
Cjay
3rd March 2019 at 8:47 pm
Great info, do you oil from root to tip? Some people say not to oil the regrowth
Healthy Hair junkie
16th July 2019 at 6:28 pm
As the oil acts as a barrier to the relaxer, I avoid my new growth and only coat the length of my already processed hair to avoid under processing my new growth.
Ayesha x