Dealing with Damaged Relaxed Hair? Try These 8 Steps

Relaxed hair can look sleek, smooth, and effortlessly shiny, but as with any chemical treatment, it thrives with a consistent hair care routine. So, to prevent your super-sleek mane from turning super-stressed, let's look at the best ways to prevent and repair damaged relaxed hair. After your treatment, these are the steps and professional-grade products to try...

Why Might Hair Relaxers Be Damaging?

It's important to note that relaxing hair doesn't always lead to damage. With the correct aftercare, you can enjoy the treatment's famously sleek results while keeping hair health in check. But the reason some people experience hair damage comes down to the treatment's combination of heat and chemicals. Put simply, the relaxant breaks down the disulfide bonds deep within the hair fiber, and they're then reformed while the hair is held straight with high heat to reshape your strands.

But, by focusing on moisture, nourishment and strengthening the internal bonds – both before and after treatment – you'll avoid chemical damage and the symptoms that go along with it. Plus, you'll help your relaxed hair appear even smoother and shinier – and who wouldn't want that?

What Does Damaged Relaxed Hair Look Like?

Early intervention is key, so whether you've had your hair relaxed or you're still thinking about it, knowing the first signs of damage will make your route to repair much simpler.

Look out for these damage signs:

• Brittle, dry hair that's lost its elasticity;
• Snapping, split ends and hair breakage through the lengths;
• Frizz, dullness and a rough texture;
• Resistance to nourishing products;
• Thinning and shedding;
• Limpness and a 'mushy' texture when hair is wet.

Can Damaged Relaxed Hair Be Repaired?

Yes, damaged relaxed hair can be repaired. Your goal is to restore nourishment and rebuild broken bonds, so a routine that incorporates hair masks and deep treatments will be essential. Sometimes, damage may be more severe and require cutting off broken, weakened ends. Whatever the approach for you, rest assured that, with a consistent approach, you can get your hair health back on track.

How to Repair Damaged Relaxed Hair

1. Book in for a Cut or Trim

Breakage typically starts at the fragile tips and can slowly travel up the hair shaft, which is why damage is often most visible at the ends (delicate edges can be affected too). This is why a trim or cut is always our first recommendation when repairing relaxed hair – ideally every 6-8 weeks. But how much needs to come off? That depends entirely on how stressed your hair is.

You can have a trim if: you're seeing the first signs of split ends, concentrated through the tips, while the mid-lengths of your relaxed hair still feel strong.

You should book a cut if: damage has moved beyond the ends, up to the mid-lengths, resulting in breakage, snapping and an overall thinner appearance.

Ultimately, your Wella stylist will be able to determine what level of cutting your hair needs. Head to your nearest Wella salon to start fresh and set your relaxed hair up for healthier growth.

2. Wash with a Mild, Reparative Shampoo

Step away from harsh shampoos. Your hair doesn't need them to feel extra clean and fresh; what it needs is a gentle, comforting cleanser that preps relaxed strands for deep conditioning. ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo is the perfect wash, with a luxurious lather infused with AHA and Omega-9. It gently cleanses, removes damage-causing impurities, and kick-starts the bond-rebuilding process in one. Massage it into wet hair instead of rubbing or scrubbing strands, then rinse with lukewarm water – never hot or cold – for the gentlest wash routine.

Image Credit: @jhair_stylist

3. Alternate Conditioners and Hair Masks

To get the treatment balance just right after relaxing hair, you'll need both a creamy conditioner for lightweight conditioning and a hydrating mask for days when you want to treat deeper. Here are our pro-approved picks:

For your conditioner, try: ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner. It's intensely rich yet it rinses completely clean, so it won't weigh down fine, stressed strands after relaxing your hair. Typically, hair that's been through chemical damage will be highly porous, due to gaps and tears along the cuticle, so a creamier formula like this is ideal for sealing in nourishment, and helping to 'plug' the holes.

For your hair mask, try: ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask. It's an even harder-working version of ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner, combining heavy-duty repair with smart conditioning agents that identify and treat the areas that need it most. Why? Because damage is rarely consistent from root to tip – some areas will need more help than others. This bespoke approach balances your hair so it gets exactly what it needs, where it needs it most.

4. Repair Relaxed Hair From the Inside Out

After washing, it's time to work on those broken hair bonds. ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue will help, as it contains AHA, an acid so tiny it's able to penetrate the inner cortex and rebuild bonds. This, combined with Omega-9 and its nourishing effects on hair's outer layer, helps you repair hair damage in 90 seconds*, while also giving you up to 99% less breakage**. Simply mist generously through your clean, damp hair, allow it to absorb for the full 90 seconds, and then style as usual – preferably with the next nourishing step.

5. Seal in Nourishment with a Hair Serum

The 'treat and seal method' is one of the most famous care techniques for relaxed hair. It's a two-step process that sees you treat your hair to a water-based leave-in treatment, before sealing with a nourishing hair oil. ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue has the first step covered. Then, follow it with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, applied just to the ends of hair. You can repeat this ‘sealing' step nightly, so the oil has the chance to absorb into brittle strands overnight, without the stress of daily wear and tear.

6. Wait Before You Blow-Dry Hair

After washing, let your relaxed hair air-dry part of the way before reaching for the blow-dryer. Hair is most fragile when soaking wet, so allowing it to air-dry for a while reduces stress and breakage. Once your hair is around 60–70% dry, you can finish with a blow-dryer on a low heat and low airflow setting. This gentler approach still gives you a smooth result – just with less damage along the way.

7. Limit Heat Styling Where Possible

You might find your relaxed hair doesn't need much heat styling to look its best, but if the flat iron is beckoning after your treatment, try to limit how often you use it. And when you do turn to heat styling, make sure you have a good heat protectant on your side. For damaged hair, we recommend ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In, which conditions and protects your hair in one. It's a delicate cream that goes four steps further than regular heat protection, working to shield your hair against breakage, frizz, mechanical damage and UV exposure.

8. Upgrade Your Hair Tools and Accessories

Dry hair with a microfiber towel. Regular towels may be too rough for your compromised hair, while the moisture-wicking properties of microfiber gently removes water minus friction. Use it to blot hair dry instead of rubbing.

Detangle damp or dry lengths with a wide-tooth comb – and avoid paddle brushes, round brushes and fine-tooth combs. Work through knots in small sections, starting at the ends first, so you're not dragging the teeth from root to tip, which can cause breakage.

Sleep on silk. We're talking silk pillowcases and a silk scarf, which will protect your hair from mechanical damage while you sleep. Smooth ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum through your hair first for added shielding and frizz-free styling when you wake up.

9. Trim Away Broken Ends

Breakage typically starts from the fragile tips and moves its way up the hair shaft, so it's the ends where most of your client's damage will be visible. The good news is, that means there's an easy fix that instantly makes relaxed hair look healthier: trimming it off. You can take away the worst of the breakage with a simple cut. How much you need to take off depends on just how split the ends of hair are, but even an inch or two can make the hair look fuller and tidier, instantly.

Looking for more ways to care for your hair? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring tips for every hair type and concern.

* When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.