Pros And Cons Of Texlaxed Hair

Call me greedy, but when it comes to my hair I’ve always wanted the best of both worlds. There’s nothing better than hair versatility.

I’ve been caught plenty of times lustfully salivating over perfectly defined coils in great styles that could just as easily be straightened into silky straight locks.

My wishful daydreaming eventually led me to wondering how I could gain that versatility as someone without the guts to transition back to natural. Then I discovered texlaxing: the answer to my dreams.

After discovering what it was and how it was achieved I was still on the fence about it.

This indecisiveness has prevented (or saved depending on how you look at it) me from a lot of major hair changes including a deep burgundy dye job and Rihanna’s infamous pixie cut.

Needless to say I spent weeks reading up on texlaxing before finally deciding to take the plunge.

What Is Texlaxing?

Texlaxed hair is still relaxed hair of course; it is hair that has been deliberately under processed so that it maintains some of its texture and curl. There are lots of ways that ladies achieve this result, whether it be adding some type of carrier oil (ex: olive oil*) into the relaxer mixture to weaken it or just not leaving the relaxer in for its full recommended time.

If you’re on the fence about whether or not being texlaxed will work for you and your hair goals, there are lots of factors to consider. It’s certainly not a walk in the park, but no aspect of anyone’s hair journey is.

So before deciding what you want to do here are some pros and cons of texlaxed hair:

Pro: Thickness

Since texlaxed hair is under processed it retains some of the thickness from your natural texture that you would ordinarily lose going bone straight. If your hair is already thin, like mine, this is a huge plus. Besides, who doesn’t love thick full bodied hair?

Con: Consistency

It’s hard to get the same texlaxed texture with every touch up and it will take a couple of tries to get your system nailed down. Plus, if you accidentally go bone straight for one touch-up you basically have to start over (yes, this has happened to me…don’t ask).

Pro: Healthier Hair

Personally, I’ve seen a lot less breakage with my own hair and you will also find that it is able to take a little more abuse than bone straight hair would. According, to some of my natural haired friends this is also true of their hair.

Picture it like this, black hair requires a bit more TLC in general despite what you do to it, then add in a relaxer which chemically breaks down hair to make it straight and it becomes a bit more needy.

Texlaxed hair falls somewhere in the middle; it’s not completely relaxed so you can baby your tresses a little less, but there is still some chemical breakdown.

Compared to bone straight hair, for me, it’s a lot less work to keep your mane in tip top shape when you are texlaxed.

Con: Demarcation Line Breakage

If you should decide to transition to texlaxed, it will be a long road before you are done (unless you’re bold and decide to big chop).

Just as with transitioning to natural you have to pay extra attention to your hair’s moisture levels, especially at the line of demarcation (where your texlaxed hair meets your bone straight hair). This area is more susceptible to damage and it is no cake-walk managing the two different textures.

Pro: Style Versatility

Your hair will be more full bodied and have a little texture making it a playground for all sorts of styles. Defined twist outs, bantu knots, braid outs, whatever your hair desires.

Plus, on the days when bone straight hair is calling your name, you’re only a flat iron* away. It’s the best of both worlds really.

Con: Reversion

This definitely brought me back to my natural hair days when my mother would give me a nice press out and I’d go outside to be met with frizz and a full afro.

Of course it’s not as bad with texlaxed hair, but if you’re a weave* or extension wearer and you’d like to keep your hair straight blending is an extra challenge. In the warmer months the flat iron* will beckon you and you’ll probably fall for it trying to get that leave out hair straight.

Unfortunately once humidity gets to your hair that leave out will start looking more kinky* straight that sleek straight and there is nothing worse than terrible blending.

My advice is ultimately to steer clear of weaves* unless you opt for a curly style or find a texture that matches your hair even when reverted.

Conclusion

Texlaxing can be a happy medium for those of us who don’t want to be completely natural, but also aren’t completely committed to their bone straight hair and the limited length potential that goes along with it. Plus, there can be added style versatility that comes with your thicker, semi-curly strands.

If you think texlaxing will give you the same benefits you want from your relaxer with a little less work you’d be right…almost; healthy hair always requires work and a steady regimen regardless of what state it’s in. Ultimately, healthy hair is happy hair.