How to Find the Right Relaxer for You
Naturally curly or coarse hair can be straightened with the use of relaxers. Relaxers use chemical agents in the form of a cream or lotion to interact with the hair shaft to release and soften the hair's curl. Proper use of relaxers can expand hair style options and increase manageability of the hair. Choosing the right relaxer can reduce or prevent damage to the hair shaft and scalp. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Hair Health
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1
Determine the health of the hair and scalp. If the hair is brittle or dry, regular conditioning should be done before applying a relaxer. If the scalp shows signs of scrapes, cuts, irritation or sores, do not use a relaxer until the scalp is healed and healthy. Relaxers react with the hair shaft to loosen the natural curl using a chemical agent that can cause damage to the hair shaft if used improperly or on unhealthy hair.
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2
Determine the last time relaxer was used on the hair. Relaxing the hair too often can cause the hair shaft to weaken and become damaged. Hair typically should have an opportunity to grow a minimum of six to eight weeks from the last application before applying a relaxing agent.
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3
Discontinue the use of relaxers, until hair is healthy, if the hair shows signs of breakage, thinning, less growth or is falling out. These signs may occur if relaxer was not properly applied so consider consulting with a hair care professional for further assistance.
Relaxer Options
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Choose the type of relaxer, either a lye-based product or one that doesn't contain lye. Relaxers containing lye have the strongest chemical mixture available to straighten hair. They can be damaging and harsh on the hair shaft but allow for the straightest results that last longer than other relaxer options. No lye relaxers are activated by a chemical mixture which is less damaging to the hair shaft but does not straighten the hair shaft as completely as a lye relaxer. Most relaxer kits sold for home use do not contain lye.
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Conduct a test on a small area of the hair to observe how the hair will react to the relaxer. If the hair has never had a relaxer applied before (i.e., virgin hair), take special precautions and follow the package directions carefully to reduce the risk of damage.
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Avoid frequent use of relaxers as they weaken the hair shaft. Other options to achieve a short term straightening effect on naturally curly hair include using a flat iron or a metal hot comb to relax the curl. The hair will not be as straight as when chemicals are applied, and any moisture will cause the hair shaft to revert back to its naturally curly condition.
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Tips & Warnings
Relaxed hair should be conditioned every one to two weeks to maintain moisture and keep the hair and scalp healthy. To reduce the chance of hair and scalp damage, consult a professional with experience using relaxer chemicals. If using a home relaxer kit, it is advisable to have assistance from another person to ensure the chemicals are applied correctly and rinsed from the hair and scalp thoroughly.
