how often should you relax your hair

You should typically relax your hair every 6 to 8 weeks to maintain a smooth texture while keeping your hair strong and healthy. Some people prefer to stretch their relaxers to 10 to 12 weeks or even longer as long as the hair remains manageable and healthy between treatments. Factors like your hair growth rate, texture, and overall hair health influence how often you should relax your hair. Relaxing too soon risks over-processing and weakening your hair, while waiting too long can cause breakage at the new growth line. Many stylists recommend relaxing every 2 to 3 months (around 8 to 12 weeks) for a safe and effective relaxer treatment. It is important to have at least about one inch of new growth before relaxing again to avoid damaging already relaxed hair. Some people stretch their relaxer duration even further, but signs it's time for a touch-up include 1-2 inches of new growth, difficulty styling due to different textures, tangling, or breakage at the line where natural and relaxed hair meet. Overall, relaxation frequency can be about 3-4 times per year, depending on hair type and personal preference, with some choosing every 12 to 14 weeks and not stretching beyond 16 weeks. In summary, a good general guideline is to relax your hair every 6 to 12 weeks, adjusting based on your hair's health and growth patterns to avoid damage and maintain manageability.