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The Beauty Pot: From Their FAQs

What are black hair care products?

The structure of Afro Caribbean hair varies to caucasian hair, the texture is much thicker with more kinks, this gives black hair it's unique characteristics. As a result, there are specific hair products available to Afro Caribbean hair or to people that have a similar hair structure.

What is a relaxer?

Hair relaxers are a term used within the black hair care beauty industry, it refers to a process of changing the chemical state therefore the look and feel of Afro Caribbean hair. Hair can either be relaxed so that it becomes straight or curly.

The basic process - hair relaxer is applied to the hair, left for the recommended time as per the instructions, a shampoo neutralizer is then applied to the hair to change the pH to zero or neutral, this causes the chemical to stop working. Hair is then shampooed and conditioned as normal. If hair is being relaxed for the very first time (unrelaxed/virgin hair) the chemical is applied to all of the hair. If the hair has been relaxed previously, the chemical is applid ONLY to the roots that have grown through (regrowth) , this is called a 'retouch'.

Hair relaxing can be carried out in any hairdresser that provides a service for Afro Caribbean hair at a price! Alternatively, hair relaxers and neutralizers can be bought to use at home.

The Beauty Pot offer a huge range of relaxer kits - Care Free, At One with Nature, Dark and Lovely, Iman which includes a semi-permanent hair colour, plus many more. If you require a specifc brand that is not featured on our online shop, contact us with your request.

There are three strengths of relaxers - mild, regular and super. Mild is for fine to medium hair thickness, for first time users, if you are unsure what strength to use and for very thick caucasian hair. Super is for very coarse, thick hair, refered to sometimes as 'nappy' hair or thick afro hair. Regular strengh is inbetween these two. Not all relaxers have the 3 strenghs available it depends on the brand.

What is the difference between a relaxer kit and a relaxer?

There a two relaxer products in the market - a relaxer kit and a relaxer. A relaxer kit comes in a pre-packaged box that contains all the products and instructions to help you, the second is just a relaxer that comes with instructions on the tub.

If you have not relaxed your hair before then you should opt for a relaxer kit which contains the relaxer, neutralizer plus other conditioning products. Relaxer kits are semi permanen, depending onhow your hair takes to the product it can last between 2-6 months With all relaxers if you go over the recommended time with the relaxer in your hair, your hair will break.

Are relaxer kits just for Afro Caribbean hair?

Products are made of chemicals formulated for hair that is African/Caribbean origin, these can be used by people of mixed cultures who may not have completely afro hair but do have slightly afro hair, however they may need to use a milder version. Most of the relaxer should not be used fr caucasian hair as the chemicals will be too strong however there is one product that can be used for fine to mediu hair - Elasta QP Conditioning Relaxer Kit.

Reprinted with permission from The Beauty Pot.