* Hair Relaxer:
* Purpose: Chemically alters the structure of the hair, straightening it by breaking down the disulfide bonds that give hair its natural curl pattern.
* Chemical Composition: Typically contains strong alkaline chemicals such as sodium hydroxide (lye relaxers) or guanidine hydroxide (no-lye relaxers). These chemicals have a high pH (typically 10-14) that causes the hair shaft to swell and the disulfide bonds to break.
* Neutralizer:
* Purpose: Stops the relaxing process and re-establishes the pH balance of the hair. After the relaxer has straightened the hair, the neutralizer is essential to prevent further damage and breakage.
* Chemical Composition: Usually contains acidic ingredients (like hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate) that lower the pH of the hair back to its natural level (around 4.5-5.5). This helps to harden the hair and restore its strength. It also helps reform some of the disulfide bonds.
In simpler terms:
* Relaxer: Breaks down the curls to make hair straight.
* Neutralizer: Stops the breaking down process and helps hair return to a normal pH level to reduce damage.
Here's a table summarizing the differences:
| Feature | Hair Relaxer | Neutralizer |
|--------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Purpose | Straightens hair by breaking down disulfide bonds | Stops the relaxing process, re-establishes pH balance |
| Chemical Type | Alkaline (high pH) | Acidic (lower pH) |
| Primary Action | Breaks bonds, alters hair structure | Reverses the swelling, hardens the hair |
| When to use | Before the neutralizer | After the relaxer |
Important Note: Neutralizers are essential for preventing hair damage after using a relaxer. Skipping this step can lead to breakage, dryness, and other hair problems.