What type of chemical agent is often used in relaxers?

Relaxers are designed to chemically alter the structure of the hair to make it straighter and more manageable. The type of chemical agent that is often used in relaxers is alkaline. Alkaline chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide or guanidine hydroxide, work by raising the pH of the hair. This process swells the hair shaft and disrupts the bonds in the hair's protein structure, allowing for the hair to be straightened.

The choice of an alkaline agent is crucial because it effectively penetrates the hair and causes the necessary alterations to achieve a straightening effect. In contrast, acidic agents tend to close the cuticle and are typically used for purposes such as smoothing or conditioning, rather than for relaxing hair. Neutral agents do not significantly alter the pH balance and do not provide the properties needed for effective hair relaxing. Oxidizing agents, on the other hand, are more commonly associated with coloring processes than with relaxing services. Therefore, the use of an alkaline agent in relaxers is essential for their intended function of transforming curly or wavy hair into a straightened style.