Tips for Maintaining Chemically Treated Hair

Tips for Maintaining Chemically Treated Hair

Today, women have so many hair style choices! Some women have opted to rock their unprocessed natural tresses, while others choose to wear their hair chemically relaxed. Every woman's hairstyle is her choice, it is very important to make sure that women are employing the proper hair care practices to maintain healthy hair. This is especially true for women who choose to chemically relax and color their hair. 

Shade and Mane Shifters

A relaxer is used to change ones natural hair texture by chemically 'relaxing' the natural curls. Relaxers are widely used among African American women to give them sexy straight hair.

Coloring hair can add spice to dull, sun dam-aged hair, offering many women solutions for trying out different shades to fit our many moods.

There are various ways to color hair. The four most common classifications of hair dyes are permanent, demi-permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary. Permanent coloring includes the use of bleach such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonium peroxide. Demi-permanent hair dye has a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide than what is used with a permanent hair color. Semi-permanents contain no, or very low levels of peroxide or ammonia. Temporary color, also called a rinse, coats the hair strands and is easily removed with a single shampooing.

Top Four Tips for Maintaining Chemically Treated Hair

Remember that relaxed and permanently colored hair has been weakened by a chemical process. Therefore the hairstyle a woman chooses, products, and daily hair regimens should he carefully considered in order to maintain the overall health of the hair. Below are a few tips to consider ensuring that chemically processed hair remains fabulous!

1. Deep Conditioning Treatments: Keep in mind that both relaxers and permanent hair dye will strip the hair of its natural proteins and moisturizers causing hair to become dry and brittle if not properly treated. Quality deep-penetrating conditioner should be used for an intense treatment at least once per month. Protein treatments are recommended as well, but they should NEV-ER be used directly after application of a relaxer.

2. Use Semi-Permanent or Temporary Color: These coloring options are safer for chemically relaxed hair. Permanent color may be too harsh for hair that has already been weakened by a re-laxer.

3. Go Easy on Weaves, Wigs, and Braids: These are diverse and beautiful styling options which allow women to change their hair styles, seemingly 'overnight'. However, it is important that women limit the wearing of wigs, braids, sew-ins and other types of extensions with chemically processed hair as these styles place tension and pressure on hair and the hairline, therefore your customers should avoid wearing them too frequently or for too long. Braids, in particular, can be very tight, which may cause the hairline to thin over time. Also, as mentioned above, it is very important to keep hair conditioned when it is relaxed and colored. This is nearly impossible to do with hair that is covered up. Hair styles such as roller wraps, rod sets, and various up-dos allow hair to be moisturized and conditioned and are also stylish!

4. Add Natural Products to Beauty Arsenal: These products contain naturally derived ingredients that promote healthy hair, while providing hair shine, softness and manageability. Hair products containing mineral oil, petroleum oil, silicones and other harsh chemicals and preservatives should be avoided. Following these steps will help to maintain healthy and fabulous hair.

This Article is transcribed from article of Karen Wilson on BNB Magazine. 

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