Why is overlapping relaxers considered damaging?

• A. It improves curl uniformity at the roots.
• B. It reduces processing time.
• C. It strengthens the hair.
• D. It leads to overprocessing of already treated hair, causing breakage and severe weakening.

Answer: (D)

Overlapping relaxers damage hair because the chemical has already broken and rearranged the hair’s disulfide bonds once, and applying relaxer again to the same areas pushes those bonds further. This adds more disruption to the cortex and lifts the cuticle, producing overprocessed, brittle strands that break easily and feel much weaker. Damage is often worse where the product sits longest, like along previously relaxed sections. This explains why the answer is that overlapping leads to overprocessing of already treated hair, causing breakage and severe weakening. It doesn’t improve curl uniformity, it doesn’t shorten processing time, and it certainly doesn’t strengthen the hair. To avoid this, work only on new growth, use protective barriers on previously relaxed areas, and follow proper processing times and relaxer strength.