How to prepare virgin hair for relaxer: The week / day before getting a relaxer

How do I prepare my hair for my very first relaxer? What is a "virgin relaxer"? What do I need to do before getting a "virgin relaxer"?

A virgin relaxer is when your hair is 100% completely natural and you will be getting it relaxed or texlaxed for the first time. Basically your hair is a complete virgin to the relaxing process.


It is important to prepare your hair properly before getting a relaxer regardless of whether or not you're getting a virgin relaxer. Your preparation process will be slightly different for touch ups verses a virgin relaxer though.

My 4C hair before my 'virgin relaxer'

What to do the week before

• Give your hair ONE LAST was before the relaxing process.
  It is advisable that you try and space your wash before your relaxer and avoid washing your hair too close to your relaxer day. 1 week should be a decent space.
  The relaxing process, due to the chemicals involved, is very stripping to your hair. Washing your hair removes the natural oils from your scalp. Having all of the oils removed from your scalp close to your relaxer day where there isn't enough time to build up more results in less protection for your scalp. The oils protect your scalp so without them you will be more susceptible to get scalp burns. An unhealthy scalp will not be conducive for healthy hair or good hair growth.
• Do a protein treatment.
  Relaxing your hair, as mentioned is stripping to the hair and may weaken it. Protein treatments strengthen the hair and may help protect it from excursive breakage and ultimately prepare it a little better for the relaxer.
• Moisturize and seal.
  This sis something you should be doing regardless (just like deep conditioning) but it is even more important leading up to your relaxer. Moisture is also lost during the relaxing process so you need to infuse as much moisture into your hair as possible. PLEASE limit or stop adding heavy oils or moisturizer to your hair 1 - 3 days before your relaxer so that you don't end up with UNDER PROCESSED hair. If you'd like to texlax your hair then this shouldn't be a problem.
  Excessive oils and lotions in your hair right before your relaxer or on relaxer day would slow down the relaxer resulting in more of a texlaxed then bone-straight look.
• Stop scratching!!!
  Try to avoid scratching your head / scalp in any way. You do not want any scratches or scabs on your scalp when you get your relaxer. This would seriously result in burns. Also avoid tension - tight ponytails or braids etc. You want to be as delicate with your scalp as possible at least for the week leading up to your relaxer.
• Don't comb your hair if at all possible or limit it as much as you can.
  This is for the same reasons as avoiding scratching.

What to do the day before

• The day before it may be a good idea to avoid any oils or lotions in your hair at all.
  You may want to do this from 2 or 3 days before as well.
• Another idea may be to separate your hair into four sections.
  It's usually easier to relax your hair this way. Separating and sectioning your hair the day before will reduce the amount of tension and manipulation on your hair on the day of your relaxer which is always a good thing.
• Don't comb your hair if at all possible or limit it as much as you can.

What to do on your relaxer day

Doing the right thing on the day of your relaxer is extremely important.

• Base your scalp, forehead, ears, etc with petroleum jelly, grease or castor oil (because it's thick).
  This will help avoid burns and scabbing.
• Get everything you will need ready beforehand (towels, combs, clips or bands, etc). This will avoid running around and delays. You want to get the process sorted out as soon as possible especially if you are self-relaxing or getting it done at home.
• Don't comb your hair if at all possible or limit it as much as you can. You do not want to injure or scratch your scalp.
• DO NOT comb the relaxer through your hair!
  Combing through the relaxer is more likely to result in damage and breakage than straighter hair. Smoothing the relaxer over the hair with the back of the comb or something similar straightens the hair. Also using your hands in a smoothing manner (while wearing gloves of course) does a lot of the straightening.
• Do not leave the relaxer on longer than the suggested time on the box / in the packaging.
• NO THE BURNING SENSATION DOES NOT MEAN ITS WORKING!
  It usually means your scalp is BURNING. 

The video below contains some useful and helpful tips on prepping your hair for relaxer.

Quick Tips on Preparing Your Hair for a Relaxer

Good luck!!