Do not sacrifice hair and scalp health for fashion.
The choice of hair style is dictated by fashion trends, not Mother Nature. For centuries, women have changed their hair from its natural state to achieve a desired style. The most beautiful naturally curly locks are permed, straightened, waved, curled and colored for fashion's sake. However, it is not necessary to sacrifice the health of your hair and scalp to look stylish.
Natural Curl Relaxers
Relaxing curly hair the natural way is safe and easy.
Relaxing curly hair does not necessarily mean making your hair dead straight. Relaxing a natural curl simply means loosening it to give your hair added volume and make it more manageable. When you relax curly hair naturally, the end result is seldom straight hair. Instead, the hair is usually smoother, full bodied and still retains some curl. The amount of curl depends upon the type of hair and the method used. Creams and petroleum-based hair dressing pomades are one way to relax curly hair without exposing the hair and scalp to harsh chemicals or excessive heat.
Blow dryers and flat irons can also be used to relax curly hair. Caution should be used when these appliances are employed to relax curly hair. They can get very hot and damage the hair shaft, resulting in breakage, damaged or overly dry hair and split ends. Natural methods for relaxing curly hair are short term and last only until the hair is shampooed or gets wet in the rain or when you go swimming.
Salon Treatments to Relax Curly Hair
The right salon is essential when you decide to relax your naturally curly hair.
The most widely used process for relaxing curly hair is the relaxer or perm. The chemicals used in these products are caustic, generally made with a lye base and can cause serious burns on your scalp and neck if not applied properly, or if allowed to stay on your head longer than prescribed by the manufacturer. Just because a chemical relaxer contains no lye, it does not mean there are no harmful chemicals. Even hair relaxer products that claim to have no lye contain chemicals that are capable of causing the same types of burns and abrasions as relaxers and permanent hair straighteners that contain lye.
The Brazilian hair straightening method is a popular option in salons these days. It costs about $150 and involves a keratin protein formula that crystallizes on your hair to keep it straight when it is sealed into your hair with a flat iron. Clients who choose this method to relax their curly hair are advised to shampoo less often in order to delay reversal of the treatment.
The Japanese straightening system is more permanent, but with a price tag of about $500, it should be. With this process, the hair stylist uses a flat iron and neutralizing solution to straighten the hair after slathering the hair with a special formula. With regular visits to the salon and proper maintenance, the hair should remain straight for about six months.
Relaxing Your Curly Hair at Home
If you relax your hair at home, carefully read and follow the directions.
When relaxing naturally at home, it is important to know your limitations. If you are not comfortable using over-the-counter hair products to relax curly hair, have a friend help you or simply wait until you can get an appointment with a professional stylist.
The safest way to relax curly hair at home is to use one of the natural methods described previously. If, however, you are comfortable with the notion of applying a harsh chemical to your hair, make sure you read all of the instructions that accompany the relaxing product and follow the directions closely.
Most manufacturers strongly recommend that you perform a strand test -- sampling the relaxing product on a small section of your hair -- before applying a relaxer product to your entire head. By performing a strand test, you will be able to determine if the product is too strong for your scalp without causing serious damage throughout your entire scalp.
Relaxing Children's Hair
Use special care when relaxing a child's curly hair.
If at all possible, avoid using anything other than natural methods to relax your child's hair. Even the so-called "kiddie perms" contain the same harsh chemicals that are found in relaxers and permanent hair straighteners marketed for use on adult hair.
The most efficient method to relax the curl in your child's hair is to apply a cream or petroleum-based hair dressing to the hair immediately after shampooing and conditioning, then braid the wet air. After the hair is completely dry, take out the braids to reveal hair that has a looser, more free-flowing curl than hair that is allowed to dry without having been braided while wet. The larger you make the braids, the looser the curls will be when the hair is unbraided.
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