I think whether or not you "have to" relax depends on what you are trying to do with it. I personally get a lot of enjoyment in washing my hair. It is 4b relaxed, I tried texlaxing, and I just love to get it wet. I didn't love it so much when it was texlaxed. I got tangles for the first time in my adult life. I was like, what's going on with my hair. Now that I'm relaxed again, this is not an issue. Perhaps if I wore braids and more natural styles, I could work with the 4b texture and not relax, but considering what I like to do with my hair, and that it can be therapy for me, I have to relax -but I am learning to stretch.