How to Moisturize Relaxed Hair Without Weighing It Down

Have you recently gotten your curly, kinky, or wavy hair relaxed? Then you might now be worried about how to moisturize relaxed hair without weighing it down.

While relaxers have a lotion consistency, the hair doesn’t maintain it for long after. It can be difficult to moisturize without sacrificing the light texture of your hair. 

There’s nothing more frustrating than having your light hair suddenly feel heavy. Read on to learn how to keep your relaxed hair nice and healthy without sacrificing the nice, light, airy feeling. 

How to Tell if My Relaxed Hair Needs Moisture or Protein

All hair needs moisture and protein to keep it healthy. Hair is made up of protein naturally, but sometimes you need an extra boost. And keeping your hair moisturized between putting heat and styling is crucial to keep it bouncy and silky. 

It can be a tricky affair though because while protein treatments are available, they tend to strip the hair of moisture simultaneously. So if your hair is off, it’s vital to determine if you need moisture in your hair or protein because you wouldn’t want to worsen conditions. 

If you brush your hair and notice a lot of hair falling out, that is a sign that you need more protein. You might also have weak nails or itchy, red skin; these are other signs from your body signaling a decrease in protein. 

To test for moisture, pull a hair strand gently. Moisturized hair should stretch and bounce back; if your hair snaps or breaks instead, this is a sign that there is too much protein and not enough moisture. 

If you have too much moisture, you’ll notice a lack of volume, and your hair will almost be too soft. It will probably feel heavier than it had before as well. 

How to Moisturize Relaxed Hair without Weighing It Down

A common issue that leads to heavy hair is over-moisturizing. While we know that relaxing the hair can cause damage, sometimes we try to overcompensate with too much moisturizer. 

Thick creams, too many products, and over-applying moisturizers can do more harm than good and cause your relaxed hair to be too heavy. So, if you’re guilty of any of these things, take a step back and cut something out to see if there’s any difference. 

So now that we’ve told you what not to do, here are some things you can do! 

Moisturizer and Oil 

One of the best ways to moisturize relaxed hair is by approaching a two-step method, including a moisturizer and oil to help seal moisture.  

You’ll start by sectioning your hair off; you can braid it or use clips to hold it out of the way, whichever you prefer. Then, you’ll take each section and gently rub a small amount of moisturizer into the hair. It’s best to focus more on the ends since they are the driest. 

Then, with an oil specially designated for hair massage it in but be more generous at the ends. After, you’ll gently bunch your hair in a loose bun and use a satin covering. You can do it day or night, whichever is most convenient for your schedule. 

Take Care of Your Scalp 

It can be easy to forget about but looking after your scalp and making sure it has some love is another important thing, regardless of any hair type.  

Making sure to moisturize and properly wrapping your scalp can prevent dandruff and product buildup which contributes to hair feeling heavy. 

Hair Oil Rather Than Moisturizer

Hair oil is the unsung hero for hair care. If your relaxed hair has been feeling too heavy lately, consider swapping out your current conditioner for a hair oil instead. The oils are light, and it takes less to moisturize your stands. 

There are many different kinds to choose from, so you can pick what you think would be best for you. 

Skip Out on Heat

Relaxed hair has already been through some harsh conditions, so it’s important to stay away from unleashing more on it. 

While you may be tempted to fix your hair with heating products, it’s best to stay away from them if possible. While heat protection products are available, you might risk adding another product to your rotation which could make your relaxed hair feel even heavier. 

So, as a rule of thumb, skipping heat altogether for a while is your best bet. 

Wash Your Hair Less 

While everyone has different hair types, those with relaxed hair mustn’t wash their hair too much. 

Doing so can irritate your scalp and can help dry out your hair even more. And if you are also shampooing and conditioning every time, that adds more product than you need. 

Brush Your Hair 

Sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes running a brush through your hair helps transfer those helpful oils and moisturizers, down to the rest of your head. 

While finger combing and simply massaging the product may feel too simple to pass up, using a real hairbrush can help spread those oils around. 

Switch Up Your Products 

This is something we tend to forget about! After we get our hair relaxed, we fail to remember that the relaxer has chemically changed our hair and how it reacts to certain products. 

This means that certain products like our shampoos and conditioners won’t work the same way as they did before because they work for different hair types. So if your shampoo and conditioner for curly hair aren’t working how it’s supposed to because of your new relaxed ‘do, it’s time to retire them and find different products to use. 

After getting our hair relaxed, we’ll need to find a new product that is lighter and adheres closer to properly caring for relaxed hair. 

Say Goodbye to Strong-Hold Products 

Shy away from those strong-hold products you use to spray your hair in place. Since your hair is relaxed, it shouldn’t need too much. These products also take more chemicals, which means more stress on your hair. It’s best to avoid them altogether. 

Cover Your Hair Following a Treatment

Anytime you go to sleep, don’t hesitate to put your satin covering on your head! Doing so helps keep all those nutrients in and helps your hair absorb them, letting it maintain that silkiness a little bit longer. 

For the days you aren’t using a treatment, using a satin or silk pillowcase can help reduce frizziness and keep your hair hydrated in between those moisturizing days.

Don’t Use too Many Products

This one probably feels too obvious, but it’s true! While many products are available, it’s best to stick to what you know. You can try things, but don’t try too many at once.  

You don’t want to overstimulate your hair, and you also don’t want to wreak havoc on your wallet either. So if you have too many products in the shower or your hair routine, it’s time to clean them out. 

Pay attention to the hair type and the types of ingredients to help you weed things out. 

How Often to Moisturize and Seal Relaxed Hair 

Unfortunately, there is no direct answer to this because everyone’s hair is different. While we can tell you it’s unhealthy to wash your hair every day, that doesn’t give you a clue about how often you should do it. 

It just depends on what works for you! Experimenting and testing can help you find the results you want, or it can help you learn more instances of what not to do, which can help you in the future. 

Just don’t be afraid to test out different things to get the results you want; it might take some time, but once you know, you’ll never have trouble with it again. 

Summary

The best way to moisturize relaxed hair without weighing it down is to reduce the frequency with which you moisturize your hair, avoid using too many products, and refrain from products with a thick consistency. 

We tend to over-moisturize to make up for when our hair is dry, which can result in more damage than we think. Instead, it’s best to slow down and limit the number of different products we expose to our hair to track the best results. 

So go ahead and develop a new routine for treating your relaxed hair; you’ll be surprised by the incredible results.

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