This post will highlight the steps taken to prepare for relaxer touch up.
Relaxer Touch Up Prep
The pores of our scalp stay open for 2 to 3 days after washing our hair. When our pores are open, our scalp is susceptible to irritation and burning during relaxer touch up. Therefore, I wash my scalp at least 5 to 7 days before relaxer touch up to give my scalp time to rest and allow my pores to close.
Wash Day Regimen
My relaxer touch up regimen includes the following steps: shampoo, protein treatment, deep condition and leave-in conditioner. I clarify and chelate my hair to remove product and hard water buildup. This takes my hair back to a blank canvas to allow the protein treatment and deep conditioner to fully penetrate my hair. Removing buildup also allows the relaxer to properly penetrate my hair to achieve my desired outcome. I complete wash day with using moisturizing leave-ins to keep my hair nicely hydrated.
Related: Understanding the Difference Between Clarify vs Chelate
Prepping New Growth and Scalp
My new growth is tightly coiled, thick and coarse. As a result, I’ve had several bad experiences with stylists being unable to part through my new growth without causing breakage. Therefore, I started flat ironing the roots a week before relaxer touch up. I use a very low temperature setting. The goal is simply loosen shed hair and soften some of the kink to make my hair easier to part.
Recommended Product: Babyliss Pro Titanium Nano Flat Iron
Basing the Scalp
I’ve had too many instances where stylists barely base my scalp before laying the relaxer. The result, burning and irritation. Therefore, I use the Summit Sensitive Scalp Base Creme to protect my scalp the night before my relaxer. This provides an added level of protection to my scalp. Since using it, I’ve not had any issues with relaxer irritation. Additionally, having a thick barrier on my scalp slows down processing time so that my new growth isn’t over-processed.
Recommended Product: Summit Sensitive Scalp Creme
Protecting the Length
Previously relaxed hair can become over-processed from relaxer runoff.
When relaxer is washed from the hair, it makes contact with previously relaxed hair and hair can easily become over-processed. For those with long hair, the length of our hair sits in the shampoo bowl with relaxer polluted water as relaxer is washed from the hair. This is yet another way for the hair to become over-processed. To combat this issue, applying a thick layer of oil, grease or hair butter over the length of the hair keeps the hair protected during the relaxer process.
What’s Your Relaxer Touch Up Regimen?
I have been considering bringing tea rinsing into my regimen. But…..I cannot have caffine. I know that it will seap though the pores in my scalp. Does non-caffinated tea work as well? Mande30
Hey Mande30, I would have to research this to know for sure. However, give it a try and see if it works. If so, awesome!!! :-). Please let us know. Without having to disclose too much, is it possible to dilute the tea / water ratio to lessen the caffeine to a point where you can use caffeinated tea? It’s the caffeine that is said to block DHT, the hormone responsible for shedding. Without the caffeine, I would think benefits would differ.
Your hair and edges look so smooth even though you are 11 weeks post! Get it!
http://www.savingourstrands.blogspot.com
TY KLP! I tie a scarf around my crown and nape while air drying. If I want to really sleek it out, I will use aloe vera gel to lay things down.
Just found your blog while researching low porosity RELAXED hair. and I am in love!!.
Can you please do separate post about your tea concoction cause i tried to search for it on your blog and i couldn’t find a search bar ( would be helpful to have one 🙂 )
Your hair is awesome!!
Hey Sylvia, thanks for visiting. Sure thing, I will definitely do a separate post — it’s long overdue and I need to get that one done.
I have a search bar. It’s title “Search this blog” and is under the YouTube video strip at the top right hand side of the blog. Perhaps I can move the search bar to the very top of the blog to make it a little more visible. Would that help?