Relaxers for Black Hair

Some African Americans decide never to use chemical relaxers on their hair, many choose to use relaxers for black hair to straighten their hair on a regular basis. Relaxers damage the hair when they are not properly applied.

A common mistake that people make when applying relaxers at home is that they apply them too often. Most relaxers for black hair should only be applied every 6-8 weeks. That is usually enough time to see some significant new growth. Once you relax the new growth, you will be able to really tell how much your hair has grown. The very first time that black hair is relaxed, the chemicals are applied to all of the hair, in the same way that way that hair dye is applied all over when it is initially colored. However, once the hair has been relaxed, only the new growth should be touched up every 6-8 weeks.

Applying the relaxer to the part of the hair that has already been relaxed will weaken and damage the hair. Not only will the hair look unhealthy and extremely processed, but it will make the hair more susceptible to breakage and falling out. Some relaxers have a protectant that you can apply to the ends of the hair that actually blocks the relaxer from damaging the hair.

When you are trying a new relaxer, it is crucial to perform a strand test to the hair to make sure that you are using the right relaxer for your hair. Some relaxers for black hair are too weak, and they don't fully straighten the hair, and others are too strong and can actually take the hair out and burn the scalp.

Don't get impatient, and make sure you follow the strand test instructions very carefully. Keep in mind that just because a perm is stronger, that doesn't always mean it's better. A lot of times, relaxers that are stronger are are actually more damaging to the hair.

Don't feel that your hair has to be bone straight. You don't want to risk damage just so you can have stick straight hair. Be sure to follow the directions on how long you should leave the relaxer on your hair because it's better to under relax the hair than to over relax it. If the chemicals are left on your hair too long, it can result in breakage, overall damage and severe burns. Buy a reliable timer, and place it where you can hear it when it beeps.

If you get your relaxer done in a salon, make sure it's done by someone who has done relaxers on black hair. Sometimes, in order to make extra money hair stylists will say that they know how to work with black hair, when in reality, they've never styled a black person's hair before in their life. If you allow someone who is inexperienced to relax your hair, it is possible that you could lose your hair, or suffer such severe breakage that you have to cut your hair really short to try and hide the damage. For this reason, it pays to make sure that your stylist knows what they're doing. And don't assume that just because a stylist is an African American that they know how to use relaxers for black hair. If the stylist seems hesitant when you ask them about the relaxer, it's best to find a different stylist.

Just because you are careful, that doesn't make the chemicals in the relaxer any less harsh, so remember to condition your hair after the relaxer. If you keep these things in mind, your relaxer should be successful and you will have beautiful, bouncy, straight hair.

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