I have been trying to stretch out my relaxer for at least 12 weeks. I wear my hair in protective styles most of the time but I notice breakage. My stylist keeps pressuring me to touchup but I think the touchup is what’s causing the damage. What do yout hink? How often do you get a touch up?

I have been asked this question a few times, figured it’s worth addressing.

First, I’m not familiar with a protective style. If you could clarify, I might be able to answer your question better, but given the information you have provided, I’d like to just offer my two pence.

I personally, get my hair relaxed based on my need at the current time. I usually relax my hair at the beginning of June and then again at the beginning of September. I sweat a lot during the summer months, and most of us experience a surge in growth during the summer months, so once the summer if over, I relax my hair. Depending on how much I work out, my relaxer may last until December, even January, but again it depends on how much I sweat. Then I may possibly get another one in February or March.

As for how often you should be getting a relaxer, that is something that a trusted stylist should  be able to tell you. However, the fact that you are experiencing  breakage could possibly be due to damaged hair, or simply that you do need a touch up.

My cousin has very thick, coarse hair. She cannot go past 8 weeks without a touch up, the very most is 9 weeks. If she waits longer than 8 or 9 weeks, she starts to see  significant breakage. She gets her hair relaxed to the max, very straight, so when she has a good amount of new growth, she has to put some muscle into combing the roots, while the relaxed ends are more delicate. The two textures don’t always get along, if you know what I mean.

With that said, if you have a good relationship with your stylist, you may want to ask her how long she recommends you wait. In my opinion, unless you itend to grow out your relaxer, you may want to consider following the advice of your profession hair care provider.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating that you over process your hair, put unnecessary chemicals in,  but too long may have an adverse effect.

Good luck!

LaNegra

EDITED: Melanie explained what “protective styles” are. I would have to say that I try to minimize wearing my hair in any style that requires pulling, or manipulating too frequently. I used to throw my hair in a ponytail with ouchless bands, thinking that I was preventing damage, but I noticed that my hair was thinner in the back from pulling it up and my friend lost hair around the hairline from wearing ponytails.

Use your discretion when wearing your hair up often and remember that you need to work with your hair type when deciding how frequently to get a touch up.

Thanks again, Melanie