No-Lye Relaxers: Everything You Should Know

There's nothing quite like the confidence boost you get after leaving the hair salon. Your hair is clean, well-styled, and undoubtedly beautiful. Whether your hair is natural or relaxed, you can enjoy that salon-fresh feeling. If your hair is relaxed, you've likely used a hair relaxer. Hair relaxers, whether lye or no-lye, give your hair an almost instant sleek and soft look. Here’s everything you need to know about no-lye relaxers.

What No-Lye Relaxers Are in a Nutshell

No-lye relaxers have been heralded for their gentle effect on the scalp, and this is because they contain calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate. Together, these form guanidine hydroxide, a gentler alternative to lye.

These relaxers also increase your hair’s pH but to a lesser extent. They work more slowly, giving you greater control during application while still breaking down the disulfide bonds in your hair. No-lye relaxers are widely loved for their gentleness on the scalp, which means a more comfortable relaxing experience.?

While using no-lye relaxers, it is essential to deep condition your hair regularly to combat dryness and ensure to use chelating shampoos (which remove mineral build-up). Thankfully, products like the Elan no-lye relaxer come with a complete relaxer kit with a shampoo and conditioner, so you need not worry about having to buy them separately.?

How Often Should You Relax Your Hair?

A good rule of thumb is to relax your hair every two to three months. This allows for enough new growth for a safe relaxer treatment. If you relax your hair too quickly between relaxers, you will risk over-processing your hair which will cause breakage.

Essential Tips to Care for Relaxed Hair

Avoid Excessive Heat: Excessive heat can weaken relaxed hair. If you must use heat, always apply a heat protectant and opt for ceramic or tourmaline tools that distribute heat evenly.

Gentle Detangling: Relaxed hair is more fragile. Use wide-tooth combs for detangling and avoid pulling or tugging. Consider protective styles that reduce manipulation and shield ends from potential damage.

Moisture and Protein Balance: Alongside moisture, relaxed hair requires protein to rebuild its structure. Integrate protein treatments into your care routine, but balance them with moisturizing treatments to prevent protein overload. Elan Hair Mayonnaise is a great option.

Regular Trims: Trim your hair every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft and causing breakage.

Question of the Week: What advice would you give to someone who wants to relax their hair for the first time?