Permanents and Relaxers Dallas

Hair Permanents and Relaxers

The shape of the hair (curly, straight, and kinky) can be changed by breaking and reforming the disulfide bonds within the hair shaft through the use of heat or chemicals.

Mercaptan Permanent Waves

Base Permanents

The use of ammonium thioglycolate is used in a cold process to saturate wet hair when the hair is wrapped over curlers or rods so that the hair hardens to the new shape over 5 to 20 minutes. This technique can be undertaken at home and provides a tight curl for 3 to 5 months.

Acid Permanents

Glycerol monothioglycolate is an acid-based product that is much gentler on the cuticle and can be used on color-processed hair. The acid-based perm requires heat to activate it like a blow dryer. In general, this kind of perm has a higher incidence of dermatitis, does not provide quite as tight a curl, cannot be used with African hair, and lasts a shorter time of 2 to 3 months.

Hair Relaxers

Hot Combs
This is the most common type of relaxer used in which oil is applied to the hair shaft and combed through with a hot comb (300 to 500 degrees F) until the hair is straight. It is most commonly used in African-American children and can be repeated every 2 weeks and lasts until the next shampoo. The major disadvantage is the potential for hot comb alopecia.

Permanent Wave Relaxers
The two types of relaxers are sodium hydroxide (lye) and the guanidine/lithium hydroxide (no-lye). Lye relaxers are used exclusively by professional hairdressers, whereas no-lye relaxers can be used by both professionals and at home. Lye relaxers may cause more burn injury but are more effective in straightening the hair. Permanent hair loss with lye relaxers is unlikely as only the superficial follicle is injured.