My hair is now relaxed..

Ok, that is a bad pun. The point is I got my hair relaxed, aka chemically straightened. My cousin had the procedure done last September, & I loved the results. Her hair was so smooth, soft, shiny. I finally took the plunge this Monday.

The procedure goes something like this:

1.       Show up with freshly washed hair. Ensure that you have not applied any product post shampoo.

2.       The technician will section the hair & apply a relaxing chemical (I used a Wella product). It stays for 20 – 30 minutes.

3.       Wash off the relaxant with lukewarm water. Rinse thoroughly.

4.       Straighten hair using a iron

5.       Apply a neutralizer (this again was a Wella product) for 20-30 minutes. This stops the relaxing process.

6.       Wash off using warm water.

7.       Deep condition the hair.

8.       Blow dry.

The entire process takes upto 3 hours (I have shoulder length hair) & it cost me 6000/-.  

Precautions:

1.       For the first 3 (72 hours) days – one needs to ensure that the hair don’t get wet at all. Even sweating is not good. It makes the hair kinky again.

2.       Hair needs to be left loose for the first 3 days. No bobby pins or hair bands, no clips, no tucking behind the ear. Hair, if bent in any way, will retain the shape.

3.       Now put points 1&2 together – it gets tough, no wetting & no tying! I managed with a cloth alice band for these 3 days.

4.       Post the 3 day period, you can either go for a hair spa at a salon or follow the following procedure at home (that’s what I did)

a.       Wash with a moisturizing salon quality shampoo – I used Schwarzkopf sulfate free shampoo

b.       Deep condition: I used L’oreal Hair Spa Conditioner (you must have seen these huge tubs at salons – they are more like creamy masks) – apply only to hair (not scalp). Leave it in for 10 mins. Rinse with cold water.

c.       Air dry, remove tangles with wide tooth comb.

d.       Apply serum to hair that is 80% dry. I used Organix coconut milk serum

e.       Once it was completely dry, I sprayed some Schwarzkopf Moisture Kick Leave in conditioner.

5.       Deep conditioning once a week is essential

6.       No oiling of hair for 6 to 8 months.

As for now, I am pretty happy with my hair. It is extremely manageable – a brush through for a few seconds, & it looks like I spent hours blow-drying it. It is rather perfect for office, where it always looks polished & well groomed. Does it have personality like beachy or curly hair – no, but it makes me look better & is so, so soft! I love running my fingers through it.  J

Have any of you got your hair relaxed? Any tips??