Chemical Relaxers & Texturizers Flashcards

What is the primary active ingredient in a lye relaxer?

Answer: Sodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide (lye) is the active ingredient in lye relaxers and works by breaking the disulfide bonds that give hair its curl pattern.

Which type of relaxer is classified as 'no-lye'?

Answer: Guanidine hydroxide

Guanidine hydroxide is the active ingredient in no-lye relaxers, formed by mixing guanidine carbonate activator with a calcium hydroxide base cream.

What is the typical pH range of sodium hydroxide relaxers?

Answer: 12–14

Sodium hydroxide relaxers have a very high pH of 12–14, which is required to swell and penetrate the hair shaft and break disulfide bonds.

Which bonds in the hair are permanently altered by chemical relaxers?

Answer: Disulfide bonds

Chemical relaxers permanently break and restructure disulfide (cystine) bonds, which are responsible for the hair's natural curl pattern.

What is the primary purpose of applying base cream before a relaxer service?

Answer: To protect the scalp and skin from chemical burns

Base cream creates a protective barrier on the scalp, hairline, and ears to prevent burns from the highly alkaline relaxer chemicals.

What is the function of a neutralizing shampoo after a relaxer?

Answer: To stop the chemical process and restore the hair's natural pH

Neutralizing shampoo halts the chemical relaxing reaction and returns the hair to its natural acidic pH of 4.5–5.5, stabilizing the new structure.

What does the term 'virgin relaxer application' mean?

Answer: Applying relaxer to hair that has never been chemically treated

A virgin application is performed on hair with no prior chemical relaxing history, requiring the product to be applied from roots to ends.