Relaxers and texturizers..what is your suggestion?

I am about to put a texturizer in my hair and I would like to hear some of your suggestions..PLEASE SPEAK YOUR MIND..I would like to hear everything..Here is what I have just reseached.

The pH balance determines how harsh the chemical is. Research has shown that the lower the pH, the less damaging the product is to your hair. Water has a pH of 7. Anything less than 7 is considered acidic. The lower this number gets the greater the acidity. Any pH greater than 7 is considered alkaline. The higher the number gets the greater the alkalinity.

A one point difference in pH閳ユ獨 could have a significant impact on your hair A product with a pH of 13 is 10 times more alkaline than a product with a pH of 12. This same product would be 100 times more alkaline than a product with a pH of 11. The pH levels even tend to vary among the same products from batch to batch. A relaxer that worked great for you the last time you touched up, may cause more damage to your hair the next time you use it. It閳ユ獨 worth noting that the pH balance of Liquid Drano is 13.3.

The information gathered came from September 1999 edition of Consumer Reports and is not reported in any particular order. Its corresponding pH balance follows the product name/description.

1. TCB Bone Strait No-Lye Relaxer contains lithium hydroxide: 12.8

2. Revlon Realistic Extra Conditioning Cr鐚玬e Relaxer System contains sodium hydroxide: 13.2

3. Gentle Treatment No-lye Conditioning Cr鐚玬e Relaxer contains lithium hydroxide, guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.0

4. Soft and Beautiful No-lye Conditioning Relaxer Regular contains guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.1

5. Curl Free Natural Curl Relaxer contains ammonium bisulfite: 7.6

6. Dark %26amp; Lovely No-lye Conditioning Relaxer System contains guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.0

7. Revlon Cr鐚玬e of Nature No-lye Cr鐚玬e Relaxer System contains guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.1

8. African Pride Miracle Deep Conditioning No-lye Relaxer System contains guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.3

9. Soft Sheen Alternatives No-lye Relaxer System contains guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.3

10. Optimum Care No-Lye Relaxer guanidine contains guanidine carbonate and calcium hydroxide: 13.2

11. Rusk Radical Anti-curl Original Formula 1 contains Ammonium thioglycolate: 9.1

12. Revlon Realistic Cr鐚玬e Relaxer System 1 contains sodium hydroxide: 13.3

The following relaxer pHs were taken from, "Don't Go Shopping for Hair Care Products Without Me" by Paula Begoun.

13. At One with Nature Botanical Strongends Sensitive Scalp Relaxer, Regular w/ Herbs and Moisturizers: 14

14. Dark %26amp; Lovely Beautiful Beginnings No-mistake No-lye Children's Relaxer System Regular: 13

15. Dark %26amp; Lovely Plus Ultra-Deep Conditioning No-Lye Relaxer System: 12

16. Luster's Pink Conditioning Super No-lye Cr鐚玬e Relaxer: 14

17. Raveen No-Lye Conditioning Cr鐚玬e Relaxer with Multiple Conditioners: 14

18. Revlon Cr鐚玬e of Nature No-Lye Cr鐚玬e Relaxer System: 13

19. Revlon Fabulaxer Multiple Conditioning No-lye Relaxer Kit: 13

20. Soft %26amp; Beautiful Just for Me No-Lye Conditioning Cr鐚玬e Relaxer, Children's Formula: 14

21. Soft %26amp; Beautiful Super No-lye Conditioning

Relaxer: 14

22. TCB Naturals No-Lye Relaxer, Regular with Olive Oil, Aloe and Henna: 14

The manufacturers provided the following relaxer pH閳ユ獨:

23. Dark %26amp; Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Relaxer for Fine Hair: 10.25

24. Phytospecific Index 1 Relaxer for Fine Hair: 9-12

25. Phytospecific Index 2 Relaxer for Coarse Hair: 9-12

26. Lady Velvet Lye Relaxer: 10-13

NOTE: One of the chemists for the Lady Velvet Lye Relaxer indicated that after attending a conference in England for relaxers that no one should use a relaxer with a pH balance of 12.5 or greater.

A major problem encountered as we followed up on this assignment was that pH balances were not indicated on the relaxers. You had to go to other sources to find this information. Some product manufacturers were not willing to freely part with this information. In another case, a member was transferred throughout the company in an effort to locate someone who even knew the pH balance of their product. Finally, the member was directed to their personal hairdresser who forgot the pH balance of the product. This point is being made because it appears that possibly the manufacturers do not feel that this information is relevant enough to include in their packaging.

As consumers, don閳ユ獩 we have the right to know? Unless we can force the FDA to require manufacturers to label their products with this information, we will never know what we are getting unless we do our own research. We need to initiate a letter writing campaign to our congressperson and the FDA to request that they add a requirement to their cosmetic labeling guidelines to include the pH balances on relaxers.

Other relaxer information:

There are several types of relaxer chemicals: 1. ammonium bisulfite and ammonium thioglycolate 2. calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate, and 3. sodium hydroxide (lye). The most damaging chemicals tend to be calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate and sodium hydroxide. Most "no-lye" relaxers are based on the calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate chemicals. Ammonium bisulfite and ammonium thioglycolate are the least damaging of the chemicals and are normally used as texturizers because they do not get the hair as straight.

Note: A texturizer should never be done on previously relaxed hair because it will eventually disintegrate the relaxed portion of the hair.

When relaxing your hair it is important to read the product directions to determine how long a specific relaxer should be left in. For fine or previously damaged hair the time should be no longer than 13 minutes, for medium-strength or slightly damaged hair the time should be no longer than 15 minutes, and for coarse, resistant or minimally damaged hair the time should be no longer than 20 minutes. These are just guidelines and would vary of course depending on the texture and condition of your hair.

The importance of a neutralizer cannot be stressed enough. It is needed to stop the processing of the relaxer. It should be left in the hair for a minimum of 5 minutes. It takes at least that long for the active ingredients of the neutralizer to penetrate all three layers of the hair shaft and bring the pH of the hair down to normal. If the neutralizing shampoo is rinsed from the hair too soon, the neutralizing action may stop while the pH of the relaxer is still in a high alkaline state. This can cause breakage and shedding because some of the relaxer閳ユ獨 active ingredients are still in the inner-hair causing rapid deterioration. If your hair was in good condition prior to relaxing, and then starts to break or shed after the relaxer treatment, this is probably due to improper neutralizing.

Before using any chemical process, please remember that your hair needs to be in the best possible condition. Relaxing damaged hair will only compound your problems. Since relaxing is very hard on the hair, the importance of proper care and appropriate follow-up treatment cannot be stressed enough.

Relaxers and texturizers..what is your suggestion?

Well, you can be natural and flat iron your hair when you want to wear it straight. The problem i had was my hair would revert back quickly because it is very humid wear i live. My hair is also very kinky. Straight my hair was past my shoulders natural it was a fro. Sooo, I get phytospecific #1 in my hair. My stylist does not leave it on long. Long enough to loosen my kink. My hair looks natural when i dont flat iron it, and it hangs. When i wear it straight it holds much better. I have been getting my hair touched up 3times a year, I might try two times. I feel like I have the best of both worlds and my hair is and looks healthy.

You really need to decide how you want to wear your hair and if you want to sacrifice the health of your hair. When you put a chemical in your hair your are giving up some of your hairs strength. If flat ironing does not work for you I would suggest a texturizer. From the research you have done it looks like phytospecific is has a low PH#. (i am not sure if texturizers were in your research) You can tell your stylist how straight you want your hair and she can shorten the time. If you are happy with the results do not chair hop. I went to a different stylist once and she left the relaxer in to long and my hair was straighter then I wanted.

I hope this helps. But really think about what you want. Once you relax your hair you will have to cut your hair to go back to natural.

Relaxers and texturizers..what is your suggestion?

k bh;ise8wuyaswit pshhhhhhhh thatz 2 longggg.

Relaxers and texturizers..what is your suggestion?

If you done all that research for your question, then do it for your answer. Too much information.

Relaxers and texturizers..what is your suggestion?

In my opinion both are bad. You said speak your mind, so...my mind says "Be natural!" :)