Tutorial on How To Give Relaxed Hair Movement. Yes even short Relaxed Hair!
Beat the dryness and get your hair moving!
If you have read the previous article, you will already know why your relaxed hair is straight but stiff. Below is a step by step tutorial on how to get your hair to fall through your fingers.
Here’s what you will need:
▶︎ A moisturizing deep conditioner
▶︎ ½ cup of Apple cider Vinegar*
▶︎ A heat protecting serum like Fantasia IC (Pink Bottle) is an inexpensive but brilliant choice. Make sure you get one with Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone.
▶︎ A Leave in conditioner*
▶︎ Hair dryer with concentrator nozzle
▶︎ Brush
▶︎ Flat iron (Straightener)
▶︎ Hooded dryer
▶︎ Rat tail comb
▶︎ Duck bill clips*
▶︎ Wide tooth comb*
▶︎ Saran Wrap (Cling Film)
How to do it
▶︎ Begin by washing hair with a clarifying shampoo, lather and let it sit in your hair for a couple of minutes. Rinse out.
▶︎ Towel-blot and apply a generous amount of your chosen deep conditioner from root to tip of your strands and pile on top of your head. Cover with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for 20-30 minutes. You may also use a steam cap.
▶︎ Rinse the conditioner out thoroughly with warm water. Mix the apple cider vinegar* with about 2 cups of water, stream this through the hair and work in well. This is to remove any residue left behind by the conditioner. Finally rinse thoroughly with cold water. This is to close the cuticle of the hair hence locking all that precious moisture in. You may want to do this with a shower attachment over the sink unless you are brave enough to do it in the shower!
▶︎ Towel-blot the hair gently to get most of the moisture out. Never rub wet hair as this causes breakage. Spray your leave in conditioner* concentrating on the ends. Add a dime size amount of the heat protecting serum to your hands and rub. Apply over the damp hair. This amount is enough if your hair is chin to nape length. You may need a touch more if your hair is longer and make sure that you lightly coat all the strands. It is a good idea to then comb the hair lightly with a wide tooth comb* to be sure that the product is evenly applied. The idea is to have as little product in the hair as you can get away with without compromising the health of your hair!
▶︎ Now starting from the back, using a hair dryer with a concentrator nozzle and brush, dry your hair in little sections to get the hair pretty straight, especially if you have a lot of new growth.
▶︎ Once all the hair is dry you can move on to flat ironing. You want to take small 1 inch sections of hair at a time and run the flat iron over it twice or to your desired degree of straightness. At this point you should notice that your hair is already falling quite readily and remains smooth and soft after it is flat ironed. If you notice any dryness after its flat ironed, simply spray a touch of leave in to the section and apply a bit more heat protecting serum.
▶︎ Once all your hair is done, you are ready for the final step. Wrap your hair around your head in a clockwise or anticlockwise manner making sure that the ends lie smooth and flat. You can find various tutorials online on how to wrap hair. If your hair is particularly light then you may need a couple of bobby pins to keep it up. Wrap tightly with 1 layer of the saran wrap (cling film). Remember to cover the top section as well! Get back under the dryer for another 10-15 minutes and voila! Un-wrap your gorgeous locks and shake your head in amazement. Yes, your hair can move too!
To keep this style, it is important not to overload the hair with products, you will lose the movement! The heat protection serum, if it has plenty of silicones should prevent your hair from reverting too quickly in humid weather and should keep your hair moisturized enough until your next wash that is if you wash your hair twice per week. If you wash it once per week then it may be necessary to moisturize the ends of your hair with a small amount of oil-free moisturizer.
Wrap your hair at night and tie with a satin scarf to keep it smooth and it should be ready to fall and swing around for you again the next day!
