A good rule of thumb: There should be enough new hair growth for the relaxer to adhere to, and you should be able to see a clear line of where the relaxed hair begins and where the new hair growth ends. Often, this means you'll need a 1/2 inch to one inch of new hair growth, which usually occurs every eight weeks.
Since chemical processing is known to have long-term effects, you're probably wondering if hair relaxers are permanent. The simple answer is no. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, curly hair relaxers should be repeated every two to three months to keep strands straight, and only to new growth.
Once you relax your hair, it is ideal to relax new growth every 8-10 weeks. Wait too long and hair can start breaking at the line of demarcation (where new growth meets old growth). Relax too soon and you run the risk of overprocessing your hair.
On average, perms can last between 3-6 months, depending on the starting condition of your hair, how you treat it after it's permed, and how quickly your hair grows out. Virgin, unprocessed hair will 'hold' its perm pattern longer than thinner, drier hair which has been chemically-treated before.
Most people do retouch roots every 4 to 6 weeks, and it's a good rule of thumb to make sure you don't go more than 8 weeks between sessions. This is because you want to make sure that your roots don't get any longer than an inch, and according to All Things Hair, hair grows about half an inch every month.
The answer to this age-old question requires considering many factors. But the short answer is about every 4 to 8 weeks to touch up the roots from an overall hair coloring job.
This is because your roots develop faster than the rest of your hair. It's all thanks to the heat on your head. But that doesn't reach much farther, so if you let your roots grow out a few inches, you may open up your hair to some inconsistencies in color even with a fresh batch of color.
I always recommend sticking to a relaxer schedule of every two to three months, but you really must pay attention to your hair health in between relaxers. You need at least an inch of new growth to relax safely or you risk relaxing already relaxed hair. Hair grows on average 0.5 inches a month/six inches a year.
Cold perms, also known as acid perms, are often considered gentler on the hair compared to traditional heat-based methods. The process uses a milder acidic solution, which is less damaging to the hair's structure.
Trim as Needed
"Trim every eight to 10 weeks," says Sturdivant-Drew. If not properly cared for, the ends of hair may become excessively dry. They're the oldest and most fragile parts of hair, and they need to be treated with extreme care.
Healthy relaxed hair types require regular touch-ups—reapplications of relaxers to newly grown hair. Without touch-ups, hair is prone to breakage. Ask your stylist how frequently you should get touch-ups. The need can range from two weeks to three months, depending on your hair type.
If you have fine or thin strands, a root perm should last two to three months. A root perm can last up to six months for other coarser or thicker hair types.
Frequent conditioning is key for relaxed hair so it's possible that the fuzziness is due to a lack of moisture in the hair. Plus, don't forget about protein. Hair that needs strengthening from protein tends to frizz because the hair cuticles don't lie flat, but have lifted scales due to chemical and/or heat abuse.
If the chemical burn caused by your hair relaxer was severe, it may also leave scars across the scalp. In this instance, the burnt areas are unlikely to fully regrow hair and may result in areas of permanent baldness where the follicles have been destroyed.
As a general rule, you should aim to wash your relaxed hair once a week. This frequency allows for the removal of product build-up and the maintenance of a clean, healthy scalp without over-drying your hair.
Ongoing Perm Maintenance
Don't use products that contain parabens, sulphates, or alcohol as these can ruin your perm.
Tip 1 - Bleached/Pre Lightened hair cannot be permed
Thus before each color, always be sure to ask your stylist what goes into your hair. Inform your stylist that you intend to perm your hair in the near future, thus your hair cannot be bleached or pre lightened.
All-Natural Perms are better for you, your hair and the environment, since they are void of toxic and harmful chemicals and toxins. Caring for the environment while caring for your hair will leave you feeling great and looking just as stunning with your Natural Perm look.
Relaxing your hair every 6 weeks is one reason why your relaxed hair may be damaged. If you want your relaxed hair to be healthy, stretch to 16 weeks, or until you see two inches of new growth.
Once you fully transition, you will find your natural curls may become drier much faster than your straight relaxed hair. Even though your relaxed ends will eventually go, it is still important to keep your strands from top to bottom moisturised. After all, your hair is still on your head.
Usually, the time between touching up your roots is about four to six weeks. However, that's primarily the case for permanent hair color.
Premature graying may be reversed with vitamin B12 supplementation only if vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause. If you are graying due to other factors, such as genetics, zinc deficiency, and medications, your gray hair cannot be reversed.
That said, certain conditions may temporarily restore pigmentation. For example, if greying is caused by a vitamin deficiency, stress, or an underlying medical condition, addressing these issues may slow or even partially reverse greying. However, the complete reversal of naturally aged hair remains a challenge.