Thursday 8 March 2012

Can you identify a good hair relaxer


Best Hair Relaxers – Can we identify them?

Hair Relaxers had become part of life for many women with curly hair. With lots and lot s of people going natural these days, there is also a booming market for natural hair relaxers. It would be nice to have natural hair relaxers, but there is no such thing that exists. It is nearly impossible to break down the hair structure of the hair without using some harsh chemicals. We can see some natural hair relaxers occupying the shelves these days like Curlaway , but are not good at producing the results that chemical hair relaxers can produce.
Chemical hair relaxers are broadly classified into 2 types namely lye and no-lye. Lye or base relaxers as they are called made of sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is a harsh chemical with many industrial applications and hence should always be reserved for use by a professional. The other type of relaxers called the no-lye relaxers are milder than lye relaxers. But, they can cause build up in the hair. Before choosing a hair relaxer you should always do a strand test. Strand test can determine whether a relaxer is good for your hair or not.
It is also important that you need to identify the curl pattern of your hair before choosing the relaxer to use. Not all curly hair is the same and strength and elasticity of each hair is different.  Stronger the hair more the strength of the hair should be. Hair care industry is a huge industry and you shouldn’t fall for all the promotions made.  Do your own research before applying a hair relaxer. Any side effects caused by chemicals in the relaxer will last for years to come and hence you should always take necessary precautions before applying a hair relaxer. The scalp should always be protected with a neutraliser. After the relaxing process, wash your hair with a normalising shampoo to remove the relaxer chemicals completely from hair.
Alkaline nature of the relaxers is what causes the bonds present in the hair structure to break. You hair is straightened after the bind breakage and remains unaltered. The new growth however grows out of your natural hair pattern. Due to the toxic nature of the chemicals present in the relaxer it is better to avoid the relaxer during pregnancy and while breast feeding. Though there is no scientific evidence suggesting you should avoid hair relaxers, it is better to avoid them in my opinion as there is not enough research claiming them to be safe or otherwise.
It is important that you choose the top hair relaxer based on user reviews as they might help you make the decision. Always look for both and positive and negative reviews for a relaxer. Do keep in mind what works for one might not work for others and don’t forget to do a strand test before using a relaxer.

Happy relaxing!