Hair Relaxer

I am looking for some advice on hair relaxers.

I have very straight hair, styled in a sort of regular guy cut - maybe 1-2 inches long. My hair has always been straight and coarse. It sticks up when cut very short. I also have a couple of cowlicks, one near the front and the other at the top back of my head.

My new stylist explained how my hair grows away from my head - sort of grows up and out as opposed to laying relatively flat against my head. This always means my hair sort of looks pouffy and thick as it grows.

She has suggested I try and hair relaxer next time which she said they have done on asian hair before (which is similar in texture to mine).

So my questions - what is a hair relaxer? What is involved - she was a little vague on this but just said it involved product and took about one hour. How long does it last.

Thanks

Paul

Im not an expert on relaxers but i do know that majority of people that use relaxers use the ones with lye. The ones with no lye are drying. Though lye relaxers are strong on the scalp so you have to make sure it doesnt touch your scalp and if it does, it musnt stay on for too long. No-lye relaxers are gentle on the scalp but not the hair. But you have to try both to know which works best for you. I had been using no-lye for about 4 years before i switched to lye and my problems with dry hair have reduced

there is also another kind of relaxer that contains ammonium thygoclate as its straightning agent. they uses this stuff for perms but it also can be used for straightnig hair with the aid or a flat iron.