When it comes to hair, sometimes the grass seems greener on the other side. Fine-haired babes long for texture and bounce while natural curly hair gals crave silky smooth locks to cascade down their backs. Typically, women flock to relaxers to straighten hair in a pinch, but this straightening method comes with pros as well as cons.

It’s common knowledge that while hair relaxers definitely work, they aren’t always viable as a long-term solution. Often costly and most certainly damaging, relaxers look like a less glamorous route to take to achieve straight hair. 

Luckily, there are some excellent hair relaxer alternatives out there that not only work, but can save time, money, and the integrity of your hair. 

What Is a Hair Relaxer?

A relaxer is a lotion or cream designed to chemically straighten hair by ‘relaxing’ curls. This product chemically alters the hair’s texture, breaking down its structure and rebuilding it while also eliminating pesky frizz. Typically, relaxers last about 6-8 weeks.

As hair relaxers are definitely more costly, going to a salon and trusting your hairstylist is the safest option. They know how to redeliver nutrients that have been stripped from the hair during the relaxing process and know which method is best for your specific hair type and density.

Cons of Using Hair Relaxer

Relaxers are comprised of very strong chemicals because they need to alter hair texture. So, they are notorious for causing breakage, hair thinning and can stunt further growth down the line. They can also be hazardous; you may subject yourself to a chemical burn, scalp damage, and irritation. Nobody wants that!

Relaxers can also cost a lot of time and money. Regardless of how well you care for your hair, continually returning to the salon each month will eventually cause damage to your hair that may be tough to repair.