Few things are as heartbreaking as watching your hair fall out in clumps after what was supposed to be a routine beauty treatment. One minute, you’re admiring your freshly relaxed, perfectly straight strands, and the next, you’re standing in front of the mirror, horrified as handfuls of hair come off with every touch. If you’ve ever gone through this nightmare after relaxing natural hair that was tinted, you’re not alone.
It seems harmless at first—after all, relaxing natural hair gives it that sleek, smooth finish, and tinting adds that extra touch of personality. What could go wrong? Well, a lot. What most people don’t realize is that these two processes—tinting or dyeing and relaxing—are not best friends. In fact, they’re more like enemies forced to share the same head, constantly working against each other until one of them (spoiler alert: your hair) gives up.
For example, a TikTok user, after relaxing her dyed hair, expressed utter disappointment, describing the result as an ‘abomination’.
The science behind this disaster is simple. Both hair dye and relaxers involve powerful chemical reactions that alter the structure of your hair. When done separately, each of these treatments weakens the hair slightly. But when done together? That’s a one-way ticket to breakage, thinning, and in some cases, full-blown hair loss. Understanding why relaxing natural hair after tinting causes so much damage is key to avoiding this tragic fate. So, let’s break it down and see why your strands can’t handle the heat of both treatments at once.
What Happens to Hair When It’s Tinted?
Before we even talk about relaxers, let’s start with the first culprit—tinting. Whether it’s a permanent dye, semi-permanent color, or even a rinse, the moment you add any form of color to your hair, you’re changing its natural structure.
Hair dye works by opening up the cuticle—the outermost layer of your hair—to allow color molecules to penetrate the strand. In the case of permanent dyes, this process involves ammonia or other alkaline agents to lift the hair’s natural pigment, while peroxide helps deposit the new shade. Semi-permanent dyes don’t open the cuticle as much, but they still alter the porosity of the hair.
Now, here’s the problem. Once the cuticle is lifted, it never fully closes the way it was before. This means tinted hair is already weaker, more porous, and more prone to moisture loss than untinted hair. It may look shiny and vibrant, but deep down, it’s more fragile than you think. When you add another harsh chemical process—like relaxing natural hair—on top of that, things go downhill fast.
1. Too Many Harsh Chemicals at Once
Hair is made up of keratin and protein bonds, which give it strength, elasticity, and resilience. When you tint your hair, the dye opens the cuticle—the protective outer layer—allowing color molecules to penetrate. This process alters the structure of your hair, making it more porous and slightly weaker.
Now, enter the relaxer. Relaxers work by breaking down the disulfide bonds in the hair, the same bonds that give it its natural curl and texture. By chemically restructuring these bonds, a relaxer forces your strands to lay straight. But this process is extremely harsh, stripping the hair of moisture, protein, and elasticity.
When relaxing natural hair that has already been tinted, the hair is hit with a double dose of chemicals that weaken it beyond repair. The relaxer doesn’t just work on virgin hair—it also affects the already-processed sections, leading to overprocessing, extreme dryness, and eventual breakage.
2. The Hair Cuticle Stays Open
When you tint your hair, the cuticle opens up to allow the color to enter. Ideally, conditioning treatments and hair care help smooth it back down, but in reality, the cuticle never fully closes the way it did before. This leaves your hair more fragile and vulnerable to further damage.
Now, imagine putting a relaxer on top of that. Relaxers also force the cuticle open and change the internal structure of the hair. The problem? Your cuticle was already compromised from the tinting process. This results in permanent porosity, where the hair struggles to retain moisture, becomes brittle, and eventually snaps off under the slightest tension.
This is why, after relaxing natural hair that was tinted, many people notice their hair breaking off in short, uneven pieces, particularly at the mid-lengths and ends.
3. Severe Moisture Loss
Both tinting and relaxing strip hair of moisture. While tinting alters the porosity of the hair, making it harder to retain hydration, relaxing takes it a step further by depleting natural oils and moisture reserves.
Without moisture, the hair becomes dry, stiff, and prone to breakage. The strands lose their flexibility, meaning instead of bending under pressure, they snap at the slightest tension. This explains why relaxing natural hair that was tinted often leads to shedding, thinning, and excessive hair loss.
Even routine activities—like combing, styling, or simply running your fingers through your hair—can cause sections of hair to break off. And once this level of moisture loss occurs, no amount of deep conditioning can fully reverse the damage.
4. Scalp Damage Leading To Hair Loss
Another major risk when relaxing natural hair that has been tinted is scalp damage. Relaxers are already known to be harsh on the scalp, and if left on too long, they can cause burns, irritation, and inflammation.
When the scalp has been exposed to tinting chemicals first, it becomes more sensitive and prone to chemical burns. If a relaxer burns the scalp, it doesn’t just cause temporary irritation—it can damage the hair follicles. Damaged follicles may stop producing hair altogether, leading to bald spots, thinning, or even permanent hair loss.
If you’ve ever noticed your edges thinning out or sections of your scalp feeling tender after relaxing natural hair, this could be the reason. Once the follicles are damaged, hair regrowth in those areas can take months—or might never happen at all.
5. Weak Strands Can’t Handle Styling or Daily Wear
Even if your hair survives the relaxer process after being tinted, it will still be in a severely weakened state. That means any additional stress—like combing, heat styling, tight hairstyles, or even just friction from a pillowcase—can cause breakage.
Over time, hair that has been tinted and then relaxed struggles to hold length. It may feel thinner, appear more fragile, and break off easily, making it difficult to maintain a full, healthy look.
This is why some people feel like their hair “won’t grow” after relaxing natural hair that was tinted. The truth is, the hair is growing—but it’s breaking off at the same rate, making it impossible to see progress.
How to Prevent Hair Loss from Chemical Overload
If you’re thinking about relaxing natural hair after tinting, the best way to prevent extreme damage is to give your hair time to recover between treatments. Waiting at least six to eight weeks allows the hair to regain some of its lost strength.
Deep conditioning and protein treatments should be a regular part of your routine before and after any chemical service. These treatments help restore protein bonds and improve elasticity, making your hair more resistant to breakage.
When relaxing natural hair that has been tinted, it’s crucial to only apply the relaxer to new growth. Overlapping onto previously tinted sections increases the risk of severe breakage and thinning. It’s always best to have a professional handle this process rather than attempting it at home.
If you’re looking for a way to achieve both color and straightness without the risks of breakage, consider alternatives like keratin treatments, heat styling, or semi-permanent color that don’t require harsh chemical alterations.
