Hair Relaxation

Among the many techniques used to straighten the hair, hair relaxation is one of the oldest. With the news of the cosmetics industry, this type of treatment is becoming increasingly safe and effective.

Next, the hairdresser educator and technician in transformation chemicals Wagner Ramos takes all doubts about relaxation.

What is hair relaxation and how does it work?

The name? Relaxation? comes from the original Relaxer, which is the name given to the American-originated product that emerged in Brazil in the 1980s and has been refined over the years with less abrasive formulas and greater smoothing and fiber repair power. The procedure consists in lengthening the hair, starting from the natural curls and reaching the smooth state when it is the objective. Usually these products are divided into specific formulations for each hair texture.

Hair relaxation spoils or damages hair?

No but, like every chemical, it must be applied by a qualified professional because of the contraindications and specific methods of application of each chemical base.

How soon should hair relaxation be done? How long does it last?

The application frequency fluctuates according to the purpose. For straightening retouching occurs at intervals of 30 to 60 days, according to growth; for relaxation the ranges are from 60 to 90 days, also varying with growth. Daily care and maintenance products have a direct influence on durability.

Can hair relaxation be done during pregnancy / pregnancy or while the woman is breastfeeding?

It is not advisable due to the fluctuation of proteins and vitamins that occur in the body during this period. In addition to the changing sensitivity factor, many products are volatile and others are highly prone to irritability.

Hair relaxation or straightening? Which one is the best?

The choice should be directly linked to the desired outcome. Many types of natural curls are very small and closed, and due to the absence of higher definition curls, straightening is advisable. In cases where the woman opts for relaxation, it is easy to use straight hair as a variation, just by making a brush. Nowadays one more variable has emerged: texturing, which consists of only slightly loosening the curls, maintaining the volume.

Hair relaxation? Before and after

Types of Hair Relaxation

1. Based on ammonia

It is the oldest of the Bases in use, being used in straightening, coloring and perming. Today there is a greater variety of derivatives (etalonamine, nanoetalonamine, trietalonamine, among others), whose indications in straightening are for medium to thick fibers, hair with wide open waves and people who like to change color. This asset is extremely volatile and it takes skill and experience to achieve the desired result.

2. Guanidine Based

Guanidine hydroxide is an evolution of calcium hydroxide, so that the straightening power has been enhanced, making this compound more suitable for this purpose because it has a slower starting and less tendency to cause irritability when compared to sodium.

3. With calcium hydroxide

It has the most moderate action, it was created for sensitive scalp and medium to thin fibers. Hair needs to be very hydrated and lipid replacement is necessary due to the fact that the calcareous characteristic provides a greater loss of natural oils.

4. With sodium

It has greater straightening power and is easier to achieve the result, be it relaxation or straightening. It has strength grading and is contraindicated for application to hair with ammonia and its derivatives, hair with discoloration and metallic salts. Its composition has lipid properties that prevent hair drying.

Wagner Ramos specializes in curly and wavy hair and stresses the importance of any chemical treatment being conducted by a skilled professional to achieve the desired results more efficiently and to prevent hair damage.

Video: How to do hair relaxation

The video below shows how to relax at home with ammonia. Although it is done on men's short hair, the procedure on female hair is the same, it varies only in length. If you want to make it at home, it's your choice, but you're putting your hair at risk. We emphasize that it is important to always choose a professional to perform chemical procedures on the hair.

Another option: have a natural hair relaxation

For those who would like to invest in such a treatment but are afraid that chemistry will damage the hair, a good option is natural hair relaxation.This type of relaxation does not have the same smoothing potential as chemical relaxation, but ensures good volume control results and does not harm the locks.

For natural oil-based relaxation, mix 10ml of natural coconut oil, 15ml of natural almond oil, 15ml of natural avocado oil and 10ml of natural argan oil. Pass the mixture through dry hair, letting it work for about 30 minutes. Then wash your hair normally with shampoo and conditioner.

Another option is natural aloe-based relaxation. In a blender, mix 2 cups of warm water, 100ml of coconut oil or coconut milk, 30ml of pure avocado oil, two-leaf aloe juice and ¼ of grated coconut soap. Store the mixture in a plastic container with a lid in the refrigerator. Apply the cream with wet hair, right after washing, letting it work for 35 minutes and then rinsing. The product is valid for two weeks.

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