How to Maintain Healthy Relaxed Hair Between Salon Visits

The decision to relax your hair can make your gym routine, everyday styling or wash day easier and less time consuming. However, caring for your relaxed hair at home can sometimes feel challenging, especially when it comes to maintaining the health of your hair. Aside from the basics of a balanced diet and regular exercise, a solid and consistent at home hair care routine in between visits will definitely help you achieve your relaxed hair goals.

Here is your stylist-approved guide to keeping your relaxed hair healthy, moisturized, and breakage-free until your next visit.

Cleanse and Deep Condition Regularly

Shampooing your hair regularly prevents product buildup and keeps your scalp healthy, especially if you use styling products or sweat from workouts. You can shampoo your hair weekly or fortnightly depending on your activity level during the week and if your scalp is itchy or flaky.

How To:

• Use a sulfate-free shampoo or gentle cleanser once a week.

• Follow with a moisturizing deep conditioner and a leave-in conditioner to restore moisture to the hair.

  
  

Schedule Professional Hair Treatments

Professional moisture and protein treatments are essential for maintaining the health and integrity of relaxed hair. These in-salon treatments go far beyond what typical at-home conditioners can achieve. Moisture treatments deeply hydrate the hair shaft, improving elasticity, softness, and manageability which is key to preventing dryness and breakage.

Protein treatments strengthen the hair’s internal structure by replenishing lost keratin, which is often weakened during the relaxing process. When applied by a trained stylist, these treatments are carefully balanced based on your hair’s unique needs, ensuring you receive the right level of hydration and reinforcement without overloading your strands. This results in healthier, stronger, more resilient hair between relaxer touch-ups.

Pro Tip: Protein and moisture must stay balanced. Too much protein can make hair brittle, while too much moisture can make it mushy.

Moisturize Like It’s a Ritual

Relaxed hair tends to get dry faster because the chemical process makes your hair more porous. High porosity hair has a harder time retaining moisture since the hair's cuticle layer is slightly raised, causing water to leave the hair faster. Hydration is key to preventing breakage.

What To Do:

• Use a water-based leave-in conditioner 2–3 times a week.

• Seal in moisture with a light oil like jojoba, grapeseed, or olive oil.

• Look for moisturizers with ingredients like glycerin, aloe vera, and panthenol.

  
  

Pro Tip: Don’t skip moisturizing, even if your hair feels soft. Hydration is what keeps relaxed hair flexible and prevents split ends.

Minimize Heat and Manipulation

Flat irons and curling irons can weaken relaxed hair if used too often. Instead, opt for heat free or low heat styles that protect your ends and cut down on styling time.

What To Do:

• Roller set or flexi rod hair without heat or use a hooded dryer

• Style hair in low buns or ponytails with satin scrunchies, or tuck your ends up with a claw clip

Protect Your Hair While You Sleep

Nighttime protection is equally as important as daytime styling. Cotton pillowcases absorb moisture and can cause friction, which leads to breakage.

What To Do:

• Satin or silk bonnet, scarf, or pillowcase

• Wrap your hair to maintain straight styles before bed

• Pin-curl hair to maintain curls

• Moisturize lightly before bed if hair feels dry

Trim Hair Regularly

Split ends travel upward and lead to more breakage if they are not removed. Pay attention to your ends and schedule trims every 3-4 months with your hairstylist. Your trims may occur more often at first, especially if you have lots of split ends. Once your ends are in a healthy state, trims may not be necessary as often.

Pro Tip: Try to avoid trimming your own ends since it can lead to your hair becoming uneven, which will require more of your hair to be cut at your next appointment.

Get Salon Treatments

Be Consistent with Your Routine

Relaxed hair thrives on consistency. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just effective.

Simple Weekly Routine:

• Moisturize 2–3x/week

• Shampoo and deep condition weekly or fortnightly

• Incorporate low manipulation hairstyles

• Use Satin/silk protection at night

  
  

Consistency is the secret to long, healthy relaxed hair.

Relaxed hair can absolutely be healthy hair, but it can definitely be achieved with a combination of gentle care and the right products. If you ever feel unsure about what your hair needs, don’t guess—ask your stylist. A quick chat at your next appointment or a virtual consultation can make all the difference.

Ready to book your next relaxer or trim? Click here to schedule and let us help you stay on track with your hair goals.