Sidney says… Can your please review the product Curlaway Curl Relaxer by Xenna? It claims to use acetic acid to temporarily relax the hair. Is there truth to this product?
The Left Brain responds:
Right Brain has blogged before about the chemistry of hair relaxers. In short, here is how they work: Hair has two kinds of chemical bonds that keep its shape. The first type, hydrogen bonds, weakly bind protein chains together. These bonds are easily broken by wetting the hair with water. (This is what causes “bed head” in the morning.) The second type, disulfide bonds, are very strong and the primary reason kinky hair is so hard to straighten. Chemical relaxers work by breaking these disulfide bonds with alkaline chemicals; this allows the hair to be straightened. The bonds are then reformed in the straight configuration to lock in the hair’s new shape.
Cautious about Curlaway
Curlaway claims to relax hair “using very gentle, natural ingredients that are low in pH, not high in pH like alkalines.” Their website says that “Curlaway Curl Relaxer breaks hydrogen bonds in the keratin protein of your hair, not S-S bonds like conventional, high-pH relaxers.” While it is true that Curlaway doesn’t contain any high pH relaxing ingredients it it is true that this product will break hydrogen bonds, it’s wrong to imply it can be as effective as an alkaline relaxer. Just breaking hydrogen bonds will not straighten tightly curled hair. Curlaway may be a perfectly fine straightening lotion to use with a flat iron but it’s not chemically capable of permanently straightening hair.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Curlaway Curl Relaxer is a non-reactive treatment that can help straighten hair when used with heat styling tools. But this acetic acid based product is not a magic replacement for alkaline relaxers.
Have you tried Curlaway? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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It should be noted that Curlaway isn’t promoted as a PERMANENT relaxer. It’s supposed to work gradually and naturally, so it doesn’t straighten curl in the same way as a chemical relaxer. Using a hot iron enhances the straightening and anti-frizz effects.
Thanks!
this product does work. i have 4b hair n now it more of a 2b type texture it takes a while to show results but with continued use your hair will start to change. it took me about 3 months to get the texture that i wanted and my hair is so much stronger than before. my hair strands are thicker then ever
@ Cindy, I was just curious as to how you actually used the product. The box/company say it can be used two ways. Did you use one or both of those ways, or did you make up your own regimen for it? If you can please explain. Thanks
YES! since using curlaway, i will never go back to commercial chemical relaxers. This product is very gentle and makes your hair look soooo healthy. I am natural so i must use good shampoo/cond. and other moisturizing products to keep it healthy. But as soon as the hot irons hit my hair, it appears as if i just got a “fresh” perm. Please give it a try if you have gone natural and want to acheive a doobie/ permed style. I promise it worked for me!!
BTW, No shedding or breakage after 2 full applications! I hope they never stop selling this stuff…
What relaxers are good for fine hair. I have been hearing about using low alkaline (ph) relaxers. Can tell us which relaxers have low alkaline (ph) levels and what to look for on the box at the store?
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