What You Need To Know 

Hair straighteners, also called relaxers, use high-pH solutions to stretch and rearrange the protein structure of hair. 

• High pH can lead to serious burns.

• Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is extremely harsh and can cause severe skin irritation or burns. The FDA recommends avoiding direct contact with the scalp or skin. Breathing in lye vapors can cause lung irritation and inflammation.  

• Some “no-lye” hair relaxers contain other types of hydroxide that also rely on very high pH to restructure the hair. These can also cause skin and scalp irritation, chemical burns, and weakened and damaged hair. 

• Other “no-lye” relaxers use ammonium thioglycolate, which can cause powerful contact allergies at levels found in hair treatments. These products also use fragrances to mask their strong chemical smells. Fragrances often contain phthalates.  

• Inhaling carcinogens: 

• Formaldehyde has become a popular ingredient to straighten hair and create a lasting shine. When liquid formaldehyde is heated during treatment, it turns into formaldehyde gas. Even hair straightening products labeled “formaldehyde-free” may actually contain methylene glycol, which is derived from formaldehyde. 

DIY:  

Try flat-ironing your hair, using natural moisturizers like shea butter or argan oil to protect it from the heat. Or wear your curls natural!