Sodium Hydroxide is the strongest type of chemical used to straighten hair. Sodium hydroxide is found in drain cleaners which well demonstrate the strength of this chemical. It is what is used in products that are referred to as “lye” relaxers. The strength varies from a pH factor of 10 to 14. With higher pH, the faster the straightening solution will take hold, but the more potential the damage.
Guanidine Hydroxide is the other common option of relaxer chemical used today. This is what is referred to as “no-lye” relaxers. This label can be misleading to some people. It does not imply that there aren't any strong chemicals used or that the chemicals used are somehow less potentially damaging. Some have mistakenly thought that with “no-lye” relaxers the worry of chemical hair straightening is removed. This is not true.
People may think because it says 'no lye' that it's not caustic, but both types of relaxers contain ingredients that work by breaking the didulfide or cystine bonds of the hair, and both can burn the scalp if used incorrectly. Lye relaxers contain sodium hydroxide as the active ingredient. With "no lye" relaxers, calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate are mixed to produce guanidine hydroxide.
"No lye" relaxers results in less scalp irritation than lye relaxers, but the same safety rules apply for both. They should be used properly, left on no longer than the prescribed time, carefully washed out with neutralizing shampoo, and followed up with regular conditioning. You should be aware that applying more than one type of chemical treatment, such as coloring hair one week and then relaxing it the next can increase the risk of hair damage.
Sodium hydroxide (lye) and guanidine carbonate hydroxide (no lye) are compatible and thus, interchangeable. For example, you can relax your hair with lye this time and switch to no lye next time around and that’s okay. The only chemical that should NOT be interchanged with lye or no lye relaxer is thioglycolate and cysteamine hydrochloride.
I think you need to go to my Website and read everything. You can start with the following link http://www.verticalsinhair.com/process.shtml - http://www.verticalsinhair.com/process.shtml and then find a stylist that not only specializes in perm hair straightening, but also versed with ALL hair types and ALL methods of permanent hair straightening.
As I said in my previous post, if you are tired of curly, puffy and frizzy hair and you want to get TR, then you need to wait. Have patience. Otherwise, you’ll never have the chance to begin doing it the right way. It’s your call!!
Steve
------------- Steve Tcherkezian
Brazilian & Japanese Hair Straightening - REAL Specialist
e-mail: steve@VerticalsInHair.com
Website: www.VerticalsInHair.com
Toronto Canada
Steve Direct: 416 669 9118
|