Chemical Hair Straightening Faqs By Karen M. Shelton

Excessive use of relaxers can be hard on hair. The most typical misuse is not stopping with the regrowth only.

Even though there are still some risks of burning, breaking or damaging the hair, sodium hydroxide is till the most popular straightening procedure in use today. In the hands of a pro it does successfully soften and change the texture of the hair which allows it be transformed into dozens of different hair styles.

Part of the popularity of chemical relaxing stems from the fact that the effects are more lasting. The day to day straightening options often do not last from shampoo to shampoo.

Karen M. Shelton
The Hair Boutique

Typically a strong relaxing treatment will last up to 6 months depending on the hair's texture and growth. Most experts agree that hair should be relaxed no more than every three months. While relaxing may make hair more manageable and easier to control, one misstep can cause terrible hair damage as well.

Avoid relaxing hair and then coloring it at the same time. This can be very risky for the hair. If you absolutely must color and relax your hair in the same time period it is best to relax the hair first and then wait 2-4 weeks before color is applied.

What The Experts Say About Hair Straightening

While I was writing this article I talked to three hair care experts with tons of experience in dealing with curly and unruly hair that might be a prime target for straightening treatments. Their comments are included for reference.

Antonio Soddu of CurlFriends

Antonio Soddu has been working with curly hair for years. Recently this naturally curly headed hair mastro created his Curl Friends line to help people with curly hair deal with their hair and enjoy it. Although Antonio is not against people straightening their curls if that makes them happy, he is more focused on helping people really have fund with the curls that they were born with.

Curl Friends is a comprehensive system of high quality hair care products that provide special conditioning needs for any degree of curly, dry or unmanageable hair for men, women or children.

Recognizing that environmental factors play a significant role in the condition of your hair, Antonio designed seasonal and climate-specific products, which make curly, dry or unruly hair a thing of the past. Curl Friends conditions and repairs hair that has been overexposed to chemicals or the natural elements.

Barbara Lhotan Senior Educator For Paul Mitchell Systems

Barbara Lhotan is considered to be one of the top senior educators for Paul Mitchell. She has worked on several major fashion runways with Internationally known models. She is the co-author and stylist of the best selling 5 Minute Updo book.

Although Barbara has had extensive experience with long hair, she also works extensively with curly hair or any type of hair that "is a major challenge". Barbara loves Paul Mitchell's relaxing treatment for curly hair, thick hair that needs form and movement and out-of-control waves.

Although Barbara definitely believes in using the Mitchell straightening system she also warned against people with previously damaged hair hoping for a miracle. As Barbara explained, healthy hair can take a mild form of straightening with no damage. However, previously fragile or chemically damaged hair can become even more damaged and suffer from some serious long term recovery issues.

Ouidad - Queen of Curly Hair

Ouidad is considered to be the queen of curly hair. Not only does she have her own natural curly hair, she has spent many years devoted to creating products and techniques that provides her curly haired clients with options to control their own hair.

Using herself as a test subject and drawing upon her chemistry background, Ouidad developed an entire line of protein and vitamin-based products designed to revitalize and control curly hair. Her first product, Deep Treatment was a smashing success.

Ouidad personally told me she does not recommend chemical relaxing of curly hair. It is "a chemical process which can damage fragile curly hair." However, if people are willing to "rebuild their hair first and relink the hair chain" they can eventually have their hair professionally relaxed without major damage.

She cautions that "any chemical relaxing must be done by a professional." She also points out that chemically relaxed hair will definitely "require extra special aftercare."

Ouidad uses a special trick for chemically relaxing hair. She "whips up a mixture of a milder sodium hydroxide with a conditioner. She explained to me that "the addition of the Deep Treatment brings down the pH factor and results in a healthier much softer treatment."

Summary

Chemical straightening actually rearranges the basic structure of overly curly hair so that is straight. There are three basic types of chemical hair relaxers. These formulas range from the heavy duty sodium hydroxide and the less intense ammonium thioglycolate or "thio" formula. Guanidine hydroxide relaxers are referred to as the "no-lye" relaxers.

Although some people do choose to straighten their own hair at home, to prevent damage and burns to the skin and scalp, it is strongly recommended that this process be performed by a professional with a prior record of straightening experience.

Once hair has been chemically straightened it requires extra special care to overcome the effects of the drying chemicals. Relaxed hair will require deep conditioning treatments at least 1-2 times a week. Be sure to use a good detangling product and to use a wide toothed comb to detonable from the ends of the hair to the roots.

While straightening will offer a new range of hair styles, it should not be undertaken lightly because it may damage the hair and it will require a new commitment to post relaxing conditioning and special hair care.

Karen M. Shelton is the founder of HairBoutique.com which has been featured in numerous magazines including 101 Celebrity Hairstyles, Today's Dallas Woman Magazine, WE-Women's Enterprise, The National Enquirer, American Salon Magazine and Self magazine, as well as international publications.

Karen M. Shelton was featured in DFW Tech Biz as winner of the Emerging CEO - Tech Titan award. In 2001 Ms. Shelton joined 101 Celebrity Styles & Short Cuts magazine as consumer hair editor.