I'm interested in having my hair chemically straightened, but I don't completely understand the process. Exactly what does relaxing involve?

When a woman's hair is relaxed, it is chemically straightened. A relaxer works by penetrating into the cortex and breaking the strong chemical bonds that make hair curly. Relaxing hair begins by protecting the skin around the scalp with a protective cream or oil. A relaxer chemical is then applied to dry hair a section at a time and hair is processed for a specified time. Then, a rinse and neutralizing shampoo is applied to stop the relaxing process. Since relaxing can leave hair in weakened condition, a deep-penetrating treatment is often the final step. A mild straightening solution should be used on fine hair. Hair that is thicker and more coarse can take a stronger solution. For touch ups, a relaxer is applied only to new growth about every six weeks. Relaxers are strong chemicals that are best used by your stylist.