What is it like to get your hair relaxed?

Question

At first I thought about using a chemical straightener out of a box. Then someone mentioned getting it relaxed. My hair is super frizzy and really curly. Don't be offened anyone, but is relaxing only for African-American hair? How much does it cost? and does anyone have a personal experience story they would like to share?

Answer 1

DO NOT DO IT GIRL!! I am caucasian and have very curly hair. I had my hair relaxed and it just about burned my hair and head and I am damn lucky my hair didn't fall out! There are very few products made for caucasian hair. There is the Japanese Sake(??) method, which works very well but is VERY expensive. Ask about it at a more upscale salon. What worked the best for me , which relaxed and smoothed the curl but didn't take it all the way out was Paul Mitchell The Relaxer. Have you tried having an in-salon deep conditioning treatment or a shine cellophane done? Frizz is when the cuticles of your hair are all torn up and shredded. I bet if you had some deep conditioning treatments done ( or do them at home. Use the V05 Deep Cond Treatment in the red and white box. It comes with a jar of deep conditioner and a shower cap. It says to leave it on for 15 minutes but I sleep in mine and my hair air dries to perfect ringlets every day) . Remember with curly hair, DO NOT BRUSH HAIR! Use a widetoothed comb in the shower with moisturizing conditioner. Once you rinse it out, I suggest using Samy (pink pump spray bottle) or Thermacare Leave In Conditioner, then Samy Styling cream (yellow tube) or at Sally Beauty their brand called Noodle Head styling creme. Comb thru your hair and part where you want it. Scruncha little all over your head and lightly spritz with hair spray. Let it air dry with hairspray if you can. If you can't, use a hairdryer on LOW WITH A DIFFUSER and lightly scrunch and dry roots until mostly dry. The less heat the better. If you can half dry and air dry the rest of the way all the better, I actually leave for work with wet hair and the vents in the car dry it most of the way as I drive to work, Then I spritz all over with a natural hold hairspray.
Believe me, I was just like you and wanted my curls and frizz gone so I did the relaxing thing. It was the worst thing I could ever have done. It took YEARS to get my hair healthy again. Your curls define you and once you find the products and steps that work for you it won't be so horrible. I am known for my curls now when I once hated them. Contact me if you have any questions or want anymore tips. I have tried just about everything for curly hair and can probably help!

Answer 2

Of course hair relaxing is not only for african americans. A lot of women that are not "of color" have thick, frizzy, uncontrollable hair and must rely on relaxers to keep their hair gleaming beautifully.

When you have naturally curly hair you basically have two options. You can accept it "as is" or you can straighten it with a few different options.

It is best to have the relaxing process performed by a professional so that they can perform a strand test to determine the recommended strength of the relaxer that should be used.

Check out the links provided below to learn more about relaxing your hair and whether or not to have it done chemically or naturally. Also, the last link cautions that a professional should do this process for best results.

I had a friend who had to have her hair relaxed (it was thick and very frizzy - like the girl in the next to last link). But, she did go to a professional, who tested a strand first and had experience with her kind of hair. She was not a woman of color, by the way. My friend was very happy to have "tamed" her hair.

Answer 3

It's terrible. If done wrong it can burn your scalp very badly. It immediately damages your hair. It's absolutely permanent unless you cut it off.

Answer 4

The experience is not as relaxing as one might assume.