Affirm Relaxer Instructions – For Me Anyway

I have not done a hair or beauty post on this Christian Lifestyle Blog in forever! It seems the topics in my heart are more about faith and growth. Maybe I need that more in my life than I do hair and crochet braids – so that is what I focus on these days. Well, at any rate, I want to talk about Affirm relaxer instructions and chronicle my steps for the relaxer application so that I will have them listed on my blog anytime I need them! Yes, I’m a mess!

Let me start at the beginning. Affirm is a hair relaxer owned by Avalon that smoothes wavy and curly hair’s natural bend or curl.

I learned about it from a Canadian YouTuber named with the handle of ‘Hairlicious.’

After researching and researching, I wanted a relaxer that would be reasonably safe.

Why did I relax my natural hair?

During the depths of my journey through grief, even the simplest tasks felt overwhelming and challenging – like managing to do my hair. After my brother died a few months later, my grief was compounded.

Don’t believe the hype. Natural African American hair is work. Wash and Go is not that. It’s wash, style, shingle, twirl, pray, and then, maybe go.

My hair was no different.

It was naturally curly and needed quite a bit of styling to get the look I liked.

I didn’t have it in me.

Getting out of bed was enough of a struggle on some days.

So, my hair was suffering as much as I was.

I needed simple. I needed easy.

After almost ten years, a relaxer was the way to go.

Hence, the search and the search for Affirm relaxer instructions

For years, I used a relaxer called Gentle Treatment. While my hair was on my head, I recalled it didn’t thrive. It felt stiff and didn’t have the movement or body I liked.

Being a no-lye product, I think, is the cause.

Some sources say No-lye relaxers can make hair feel stiff or dry because they leave behind calcium buildup.

These relaxers contain calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate, which combine to form guanidine hydroxide—the active ingredient that straightens hair. However, this process can leave excess calcium deposits on the hair shaft, making it feel stiff, dry, or brittle. This is precisely what I remember!!!!

To combat this, a YouTuber (below) recommended people use a chelating shampoo (different from a regular clarifying shampoo) to remove the calcium buildup.

Who has time for all that? Affirm was worth a gamble.

Whatever I put on my hair, I knew I would be using deep conditioning treatments and moisture-rich hair masks for softness and elasticity.

My Sources for All This Brilliance

I learned this from a video from a popular hair YouTuber named Linwood on a channel called GlamFam. His channel is like a mini-university for the hair. He’s a cosmetology instructor and speaks science, so I like that.

I found another Youtuber, Alexis Kimberlyy, with whom I am less family, but she confirms this theory. See her video below.

Hairliscious also explains it here.

Visit my YouTube Channel to
Watch My Progress and Experience

Affirm won!

After watching some of the videos Hairlicious recorded, I liked the steps Affirm relaxers take for the hair. They are intentionally about conditioning the hair—or at least that is how they seem.

Also, I liked Affirm because everyone knows Canada seems to be a bit more health-conscious than other parts of the world.

I could be way off, but somehow, it made me a bit more comfortable with the relaxer because Hairliscious is in Canada.

I know that makes no sense, but that’s how I felt.

Either way, I ordered the Affirm system on Amazon, and Hairlicious recommended many moisturizing products.

I think I spent a few hundred dollars, but I felt armed and ready.

Enter Dolce Dawn – Par Excellence

I pulled the relaxer from the YouTuber Hairlicious.

But I pulled everything else from another popular YouTuber called Dolce Dawn.

This woman is brilliant. She has simplified haircare to make caring for my hair stress-free and liberating.

After being natural for so long, I was used to piling all these oils on my hair. I don’t need that anymore.

We may be hair twins!

One of the things that drew me to her channel is I think she and I may have similar hair types.

Hairlicious has juicy, thick hair.

Mine is not thin; it just has a thinner texture. It’s not kinky, and my hair is softer.

Binge-watching Dolce’s videos became my evening ritual.

I took notes and cross-referenced almost everything she said with her other videos.

Her hair is now waist-length, and you can see the proof is in the pudding if you watch her older videos.

She was consistent, which I liked, and she was not trying to sell me anything other than healthy hair and a giggle from time to time.

Her hair arsenal of products was the same all the time, and so were her routines.

I liked that simplicity.

She’s a big fan of Theorie products, and I am, too now. That’s all I use.

I even use her drugstore shampoo as a clarifying shampoo.

Okay. That’s enough of the context. Let’s get to the Affirm relaxer instructions!

Affirm relaxer instructions

It’s important to say I am not a licensed hair professional or cosmetologist.

The information I share is based on my personal experience and research.

Always consult a professional stylist or cosmetologist for advice tailored to your specific hair needs. What works for me may not work for everyone!

Okay. Let’s get to the Affirm relaxer instructions!

The site I used as a reference was Imani Distributors.

Let me insert a huge “But” (not Butt) into this. The website is a little confusing and doesn’t mention a step.

I’ll share the Affirm relaxer instructions below and show you where I get confused.

So, I will share the following:

How long do you leave Affirm relaxer in your hair?
It takes 15 minutes for me, but all hair types are different.

How do you use Affirm relaxer? (or how I use it)

Does Affirm relaxer need an activator?
NOPE! Unlike the others I’ve used, it’s ready to go from the jug.

My Affirm relaxer instructions – my step-by-step guide.

What is step 1 for Affirm relaxer?

My first step for the Affirm relaxer is to whip my hair into share about two weeks prior. Watch my “I still have hair” video to see my pre-relaxer routine.

Step 1: Pre-Relaxer Preparation

1. Detangle & Section – I start with dry, detangled hair and divide it into 4 sections for easy application. I clip them with plastic clips- being careful NOT to scratch my scalp.
   
   Note: From a suggestion from Dolce Dawn, I mist my hair the night before. My roots stay so straight, and my new growth hair is hard to locate.
   
   
2. Apply Protecto (Step 1) – I love this stuff. It is a protective serum applied to previously relaxed hair and scalp to prevent overprocessing and irritation. I apply it “root to tip” as per the instructions on the bottle. I don’t soak my hair, but I’m not stingy with it either.
   
   Note: the bottle on Amazon looks different from the one I have. Not sure why. But the one I linked is the one from my past orders. I think the bottling/packaging has changed.
   
   
3. I apply petroleum jelly around the perimeter of my head, including my ears. I don’t put it on my scalp. If you get spastic and think you might get the product on your scalp, you certainly can.
   

Step 2: Relaxer Application

4. I put on my plastic gloves. I use the medical ones that are fitted to my fingers.
   
5. I apply the Affirm Conditioning Relaxer – first, I tell Siri to set an alarm for 15 minutes. Then, I use a brush or applicator to apply the relaxer to new growth only, starting at the back and working forward. I avoid overlapping on previously relaxed hair like the plague.
   
   I stretch my relaxer, so I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I’m not overlapping that stuff!
   
   Honey, I am careful with that brush! Dolce Dawn likes using her fingers, but even with the tightest plastic gloves, that doesn’t work for me. I need my brush. You can get them in most beauty supply stores and they are cheaper than Amazon – usually.
   
   
6. I smooth the Hair: I use the back of a comb to gently smooth the relaxer onto my hair, never combing through it.
   
   
   
7. Monitor Processing Time – I leave mine on about 15 minutes, which works for me. I only smooth once.
   
   
8. I rinse like a mad woman—over and over. I rinse in my kitchen sink, where I have a high-power sink sprayer that blasts the relaxer from my hair.
   

Step 3: Conditioning & Strengthening

9. According to the instructions, I apply the Affirm 5-in-1 Reconstructor (Step 3) – The bottle says this protein treatment helps strengthen and repair the hair after relaxing.
   
   Do you see why I love this brand? They are giving me protein immediately after relaxing! I leave it on for 5 minutes (sometimes, a few minutes more), and I rinse.
   
   
   
10. Deep Conditioning is my next step – Again, more conditioner! Winning!
    
    Chile, Gentle Treatment was Wham! Bam! Thank you, maam!
    
    Okay, back to scheduled programming.
    
    Next, I apply the Affirm MoisturRight Nourishing Conditioner. I love this stuff! It feels nourishing to my hands as I scoop it out of the plastic container!
    
    
11. Rinse & Style: I rinse, towel dry, and proceed with my normal styling routine (leave-in conditioner, heat protectant, Paul Mitchell Serum, and Aussie Mousse, etc.).

Good ideas for Affirm relaxer instructions – in my nonprofessional opinion:

✔ Do a strand test first to determine processing time.
✔ Try to make your relaxer stretch to avoid overlapping on previously relaxed hair. I went for about 3 months.
✔ Deep condition weekly to keep relaxed hair strong and healthy. Relaxed hair is weakened. It needs regular love and attention. I deep condition weekly without fail.

Affirm relaxer instructions PDF

If you like a document you can print, click here. Every retouch, I head to this document myself. You’re welcome.

My Hair Health

The beauty of the Affirm relaxer instructions is in all those conditioning steps! First, look where I started lengthwise after my very first application:

Dolce Dawn made a good case for cutting off the split ends. She has a term that cracks me up every time I hear it. She says, “I’m cutting to the white meat!” which means, “I’m cutting all the damage off so I can have thick, healthy hair.”

In the pic above, I had cut to the white meat. I had so much hair on the floor that I thought I was losing my marbles as a result of the grief.

I was like, “Lord, am I okay, or am I like that famous celebrity who shaved her head when she was under unimaginable stress?”

Anyway, I’m so glad I did!

I must say my hair is thriving. It moves when I have to break out my fan because of a hot flash. It is growing, and it feels healthy.

Click here to see my videos for the pictures below in live action. I will only post after my relaxers.

Visit my YouTube video to see the above or my “now” hair in action.

Affirm can take only so much credit here. I really credit the YouTuber Dolce Dawn. Her techniques help me ensure my relaxers can stretch and contribute to my healthy hair.

Plus, she’s such a positive person and a woman of faith.

If you check her out, leave a comment and say GodsyGirl referred you!

I get nothing from it; I just want her to know her labor is not in vain. haha

What about the warnings?

Franky, I read the study and listened to other people talk about the warnings, and I’m not terribly concerned.

Sure, there are risks.

But, there are also risks with the food we eat, some of the materials in the clothes we wear, lipsticks, foundations, bottled water, perfumes, and colognes, the materials in some designer handbags, sugar, processed foods, carbon emissions from cars, caffeine, pastrami, SYNTHETIC HAIR and more.

I am going to trust God with this situation – as I do with many others.

One more point – more intelligently stated:

I have a Master’s in Education, so let me provide a more academic perspective.

While some studies have suggested potential health risks associated with chemical hair relaxers, it’s important to note that the scientific community has not reached a definitive consensus on this matter.

In other words, they are not one hundred percent sure.

As I write this, the most recent research was a systematic review published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2023.

It examined the relationship between hair relaxer use and various health outcomes, including breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, specifically among Black women in the United States.

Note: not of the studies were this specific to Black women.

Anyway, the review concluded that the evidence does not support a significant association between hair relaxer use and an increased risk of these cancers.

The authors noted that, from an epidemiologic perspective, the weight of the evidence does not support the hypothesis that the use of hair relaxers is a risk factor for gynecological and breast cancers in U.S. Black women.

It’s essential to approach this topic with a balanced perspective, recognizing that while certain studies highlight potential concerns, others do not find significant associations.

People really need to think about the evidence out there, talk to their doctors, and figure things out based on their own situations and health needs.

Does that mean we are out of the woods?

No ma’am.

Let me hone in on the study a bit further to reveal a conflict of interest.

The study I mentioned titled “Systematic Review of the Epidemiology of Hair Relaxer Use and Hormone-Sensitive Reproductive Outcomes Among Black Adult Women in the United States,” published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, was authored by:

• Ashley M. Hernandez
• Sierra J. Smith
• Moin S. Vahora
• Devan Campbell
• Callan F. Krevanko
• Ryan C. Lewis
• Jennifer S. Pierce

The study concluded that Black women in the United States do not experience an increased risk of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancers due to hair relaxer use.

However, and this is a big HOWEVER, the authors disclosed potential conflicts of interest, noting their employment with Benchmark Risk Group, a consulting firm providing scientific advice to various organizations.

They mentioned that their bosses covered the time it took to write the paper, and they didn’t get any outside funding for the study.

Plus, even though Benchmark Risk Group has worked with companies caught up in lawsuits, none of the authors have acted as expert witnesses in any legal cases about hair relaxer products.

Well, there you have it. You have to make a choice that works for you.

I have no interest in persuading you to do anything or getting into your business. Thanks for not getting into my either.

Those with genuine concern, I invite you to pray. Those with other agendas just close the page and go away.

Those are my Affirm relaxer instructions for use.

I am an Amazon affiliate, earning a tiny commission from purchases.

Sources to explore:

Shetty, V., Shetty, N., & Nair, D. (2013). Chemical hair relaxers have adverse effects a myth or reality. International Journal of Trichology, 5(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753.114710