My Relaxed Hair Routine: Every Product On My Shelf and Why It Is There
I want to say something before we get into the products. When I was trying to figure out my hair routine, finding content that was actually relevant to relaxed hair was an exercise in frustration. The natural hair community is enormous and wonderful and completely unhelpful when you have chemically relaxed hair and specific needs that are not the same as someone who is natural. The product recommendations were different. The routines were different. The advice was aimed at someone whose hair journey looked nothing like mine.
So this is the post I wanted to find and could not. Every product in this routine is something I actually own, actually use, and actually reach for without hesitation. No gifted products, no sponsorships, no padding out a list with things I tried once and forgot about. Just what is on my shelf right now and why it is there.
A Note on Relaxed Hair
Relaxed hair has specific needs that do not always get talked about honestly. It is chemically processed which means the protein structure of the hair has been permanently altered. That is not a bad thing, it is just a fact that changes what your hair needs to stay healthy. Moisture is everything. Protein balance matters. Heat protection is non negotiable because relaxed hair is already more fragile than natural hair and heat damage on top of chemical processing is a combination your hair will not thank you for. Everything in this routine exists because it addresses at least one of those things.
Shampoo: Matrix Food for Soft
I use the Matrix Food for Soft Hydrating Shampoo as my everyday wash. It is infused with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid which sounds like marketing language until you actually use it and your hair does not feel stripped after washing. That is the thing most shampoos get catastrophically wrong for relaxed hair. They clean the hair and simultaneously remove every trace of moisture your strands were holding onto. Matrix Food for Soft does not do that. It cleans thoroughly and leaves the hair feeling like it has actually been looked after rather than just processed. The 300ml bottle is the retail size but I would buy the litre if you go through it quickly because you will.
Monthly Clarify: Ouai Detox Shampoo
Once a month, I use the Ouai Detox Shampoo. Clarifying is not optional if you use styling products, dry shampoo, or live somewhere with hard water, which in London means all of us. Product buildup sits on the hair shaft and stops everything else you apply from actually penetrating. The Ouai Detox uses apple cider vinegar and keratin to lift that buildup without stripping the hair of what it needs. It does its job and then gets out of the way. I follow it immediately with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner because clarifying shampoo without hydration on relaxed hair is a decision you will regret.
Conditioner: Matrix Food for Soft
I stay in the same range for the conditioner because the system was designed to work together and my hair responds well to consistency. The Matrix Food for Soft conditioner gives you the same avocado oil and hyaluronic acid combination as the shampoo, adding moisture back to hair that has just been cleansed. I leave it on for a few minutes rather than rinsing immediately because relaxed hair needs every second of contact time it can get. This is not a deep conditioner so I do not use it as one, but as a daily wash day conditioner it is reliable and effective and does not leave my hair feeling coated or weighed down.
Hair Mask: Matrix Food for Soft Rich Hydrating Treatment Mask
On proper wash days when I have time to actually treat my hair rather than just wash it, the Matrix Food for Soft hair mask replaces the conditioner. I apply it from mid lengths to ends, leave it on for five minutes minimum, and the difference in how my hair feels afterwards is not subtle. Softer, more manageable, genuinely smoother in a way that lasts through the week. The avocado oil and hyaluronic acid formula works on even very dry and porous hair which is exactly what relaxed hair tends to be. I use this once or twice a week depending on how my hair is feeling and I have not found anything in a similar price range that does what this does.
Leave In Conditioner: Ouai
After washing and before any heat, the Ouai Leave In Conditioner goes in on damp hair. This is the step that most people skip and it is one of the most important steps in the entire routine. A leave in adds a layer of moisture and protection that sits in the hair shaft rather than rinsing away, and for relaxed hair that layer is what stands between your hair and the damage that cumulative heat styling causes over time. The Ouai formula is lightweight enough that it does not feel heavy or greasy even after it dries, and it detangles beautifully which makes the post wash combing process significantly less traumatic. The scent is also genuinely wonderful in a way that feels like a small luxury every single wash day.
Hair Oil: Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
Two drops. I mean that literally. The Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil is so concentrated that two to three drops is genuinely all you need for the whole head and anything more starts to look like you have not washed your hair in several days. Applied to damp or dry hair before heat styling, it protects up to 232 degrees, boosts shine immediately, and controls frizz for up to 72 hours. For relaxed hair that sees a blow dryer and flat iron regularly, a proper heat protectant is not a nice to have. It is the difference between your hair retaining length and your hair breaking off at the ends. The Olaplex oil is the best one I have found at any price point and I have tried enough alternatives to say that with full confidence.
Hairline Treatment: Cecred Edge Drops
Edges are often the first casualty of relaxed hair and the last thing to recover. The hairline is more fragile than the rest of the hair, more exposed to tension, more prone to thinning over time, and most products aimed at that area are focused on laying the hair down rather than actually helping it grow. The Cecred Edge Drops are different. This is a targeted scalp treatment designed to support hair growth specifically along the hairline rather than just sitting on top of it. I use them as part of my routine for that reason and the results over time have been worth it.
The Dyson Airwrap
I got my Dyson Airwrap in 2020 when salons closed and I had no choice but to figure my hair out myself. Before that I was entirely salon dependent for anything beyond the basics and the idea of doing a proper blowout at home felt genuinely out of reach. The Airwrap changed that completely. It took some practice and I will not pretend the first few attempts were anything worth photographing, but once I found my rhythm it became the thing that made home hair maintenance not just possible but actually enjoyable. What it changed practically is significant. I now only go to the salon to relax, treat, and trim. Everything else I do myself. The money I have saved since 2020 by not needing a blowout appointment every few weeks is the kind of number that makes you slightly emotional when you actually add it up. My Airwrap is due an upgrade and I am currently saving my Boots Advantage Card points for the newest version the same way I saved for my Shark CryoGlow mask. I wrote the full breakdown of how that Boots points system works and how I got a £299.99 device for absolutely nothing, which is linked below if you want the details. The Airwrap will be next and when I get it I will report back.
The Routine in Order
Brush before getting in the shower to remove tangles. Clarify with Ouai Detox Shampoo monthly, Matrix Food for Soft on other wash days. Conditioner or hair mask from mid lengths to ends, leave for three to five minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Apply Ouai Leave In Conditioner to damp hair. Two drops of Olaplex No.7 oil worked through mid lengths and ends. Blow dry and style with the Dyson Airwrap. Apply Cecred Edge Drops to the hairline as a targeted growth treatment. That is the whole thing. Nothing complicated, nothing that requires a two hour window. Just products that work and a routine that your hair will actually thank you for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between relaxed hair and natural hair care?
Relaxed hair has been chemically processed to permanently straighten the curl pattern, which changes the structure of the hair. It tends to be more fragile and more prone to dryness than natural hair, and benefits from a routine that focuses heavily on moisture, protein balance, and heat protection. Many products and routines designed for natural hair are not always appropriate for relaxed hair so finding resources specifically aimed at relaxed hair is worth doing.
How often should you wash relaxed hair?
Most relaxed hair does well with washing once a week or every ten days. Washing too frequently can strip the moisture that relaxed hair needs to stay healthy. Using a clarifying shampoo like the Ouai Detox once a month or more frequently depending on lifestyle and products used, followed by a hydrating shampoo on other wash days is a good balance.
Do you need a leave in conditioner for relaxed hair?
Yes, genuinely yes. A leave in conditioner adds a layer of moisture and protection that stays in the hair rather than rinsing away. For relaxed hair that is regularly exposed to heat styling it is one of the most important steps in the routine.
Is Olaplex No.7 good for relaxed hair?
Yes. The weightless formula means it does not weigh relaxed hair down and the heat protection up to 232 degrees is appropriate for the temperatures most people use when blow drying and flat ironing. It also has bond repair, which is important for relaxed hair. Two to three drops is all you need.
What can you use to help grow edges on relaxed hair?
Cecred Edge Drops are a targeted scalp treatment specifically designed to support hair growth along the hairline rather than just laying hair down. For relaxed hair where the edges are often the most fragile and most prone to thinning, a product that addresses the growth rather than just the appearance is worth adding to your routine.
How do I get the Dyson Airwrap for free?
I got my original Airwrap in 2020 and it permanently changed my relationship with the salon. I now only go to relax, treat, and trim. Everything else I do at home. I am currently saving my Boots Advantage Card points for the upgrade the same way I saved for my Shark CryoGlow mask. Maximising every double and triple points event, using the app offers before every shop, and using the Scan to Recycle scheme on every empty product. I wrote the full breakdown of how that system works in my post on how I got £695 worth of products for free.
