Dear Dajiah, I stopped relaxing my hair years ago, but my strands still break easily. How can I rebuild strength without making my scalp flare up?

Sis, chemical memory is real. Even years later, your hair can still show signs of old damage — especially if your scalp barrier is sensitive. Breakage happens when the inner structure of the strand is weak, not just the outer layer.

Alternate protein and moisture treatments. Think: one week strengthen, one week hydrate. Use steam to open the cuticle so your products actually penetrate. And avoid heavy oils sitting on the scalp — that only suffocates new growth. Healing old damage takes time, but once your scalp is balanced and your strand structure is supported, your hair will remember how to thrive.