After a relaxer, what's best to use: protein or moisturizing conditioner? I'm going to self-relax soon, and I'm wondering if I should follow-up with a protein con or a moisturizing con?

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Depends on your hair, but moisturizing cons are necessary b/c relaxers strip your hair of it's natural oils. Add a few drops of jojoba oil to your cond and sit under a hooded drier w/ a cap for 15-20 mins.

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You should alternate between a protein con and a moisturising con.

Too much protein without moisture can make the hair brittle, yet not enough protein can make it limp.

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Personally, I don't like putting in a hardcore protien treatment right after relaxing...I tend to wait a week or 2. I use a moisturizing cond or something with a mild protien in it (like wheat protien or even silk protien).

But a treatment is different from a conditioner anyhow IMO and you still should use a moisturizing conditioner after a protein treatment.

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After I relax I do a deep conditioning treatment, if i don't my hair is very dry

^^ what treatment do you use?

Protein is best. Relaxers break down the hair and proteins build it back up. After you use a protein follow with a moisturizing conditioner to avoid toughness. Sometim proteins, depending on the strength can make your hair hard.

too much protein can make your hair break
mositurize after..
i actually mix my conditioners after relaxing... then i do treatments every other week

ITA.

What are the best brands to use?

Best protein conditioner?

Best moisturizing conditioner?

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You need something that will do both, ORS Replenishing pak is good for that.

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K, well I guess I should update...

I self-relaxed about two weeks ago...

After rinsing the relaxer out and neutralizing, I applied some ORS Hair Mayo to my hair, it's a moderate protein...so I heard. I let that sit for 30 mins and rinsed. Then I applied my conditioner...I used Neutrogena Triple Moisture--my old faithful. I let that sit for 45 min (15 mins under dryer with cap, 30 min without heat).

Next time I think I'll apply the protein before I neutralize.


Thanks guys.

Well since you just broke the bonds in you hair, I would do a protein treatment, followed by a conditioning treatment to combat the dryness that protein can give off.

I do both. I follow up with Aphogee 2 min Keratin Reconstructor (LOVE this stuff!!!) for 5 mins. Afterwards I deep condition with a moisturizing deep conditioner.

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Moisturizer is the most important right after a relaxer. The hair is stripped of moisture after relaxing. My stylist always give me an intense moisturizing treatment because I also have color treated hair (highlights)