Back to the Basics: Knowing your relaxers
Differences between Lye relaxers and no-lye relaxers
| Lye relaxers are gentler on the hair but burn scalp faster than no-lye relaxers. Due to the lower amount of straightness, they usually break less disulfide bonds. | No-Lye relaxers often produce straighter results and are gentler on the scalp than Lye relaxers. |
| Lye relaxers are usually preferred by professional hair stylists | No-lye relaxers are usually sold to everyone and can be found easily. |
| Lye relaxers generally have higher pH than no-lye relaxers, some even as high as 14. Lye relaxers lift and swell the hair cuticle more than no-lye relaxers to achieve straightening thus increasing external damage to the fiber. | No lye relaxers generallyhave a lower pH than lye relaxers, and do not lift or swell the hair cuticle as much as lye relaxers to achieve straightening. |
| Can be used for several applications. | No lye relaxer mixes are only good for one application. Once mixed, any unused portion will have to be discarded. |
*Although Lye relaxers have a higher pH than no-lye relaxers, they are not usually left on the hair for a very long time due to their ability to burn the scalp. On the other hand, no-lye relaxers are generally left on the hair longer because most people believe that it has worked only when the scalp begins to hurt. This false impression increases the relaxer’s contact time with the hair, thus leading to straighter hair than is achieved with Lye relaxers.*
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION
I. Lye Relaxers
– Olive Oil Professional Crème Relaxer (No-Base Formula)
– Avlon Fibergurd Conditioning crème relaxer
– Bantu No-Base Relaxer
– Silk Elements MegaSilk Olive Oil Relaxer
– Proclaim Hair Relaxer Regular
– TCB No Base Creme Hair Relaxer
– Revlon Professional Conditioning Creme Relaxer
II. Lithium relaxers
– Gentle Treatment Regular No Mix No-Lye Relaxer
– TCB Bone Strait No-Lye Relaxer
III. Guanidine/Calcium Hydroxide relaxers
– Profectiv Relax & Refresh Relaxer Plus Color Restorative System
– Gentle Treatment Conditioning Crème Relaxer Kit
– Organic Root Stimulator Built-In Protection No-Lye Relaxer
– Africa’s Best Regular No-Lye Dual Conditioning Relaxer System
– Profectiv Mega Growth Therapeutic No-Lye Hair Relaxer Regular Strength
– Softsheen-Carson Dark And Lovely Healthy-Gloss 5 Shea Moisture Hair Relaxer Kit
– Luster’s Pink Conditioning No-Lye Relaxer Regular
– Motions Silkening Shine Relaxer System Regular
– Soft & Beautiful Just For Me! No-Lye Conditioning Creme Hair Relaxer Kit for Children Regular
IV. Chelating Agents (for removing chemical deposits e.g calcium)
– Joico K-Pak Chelating shampoo
– Kenra Clarifying Shampoo
– Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo
– Pureology Serious Colour Care Purify-Shampoo with zero sulfates
Dr Fomsky
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[…] Back to the basics: knowing your relaxers […]
[…] Back to the Basics: Knowing your relaxers […]
[…] first step on the journey to achieving ‘healthy’ relaxed hair. As discussed in my last post, Back to the Basics: Knowing your Relaxers, there are several different types of relaxers. You can choose […]
[…] Back to the basics: Knowing your relaxers […]
[…] Back to the basics: Knowing your relaxers […]
[…] Back to the basics: knowing your relaxers […]
my hair is fine hair , and want relaxer for hair or l can use p c j
Yes you can use it but don’t keep the relaxer more than 20 minutes
i need a relaxer for maintaining m
y hair colour please
I think you should try Profectiv relax & refresh relax which comes in different shades. If your hair is black, then you can opt fir the black shade.