Before you straighten, read this

Are curls and kinks getting you down? Do you want a smoother, sleeker look – looser curls, less frizz and more shine?  

The new generation of hair relaxers provide curly Qs with a growing number of options. They are designed for all hair types from coarse and kinky to fine and curly. They can take out a cowlick or smooth an entire head of hair.

"What they do is break down the bonds of the hair," said Khiara Nabifar, research and development product manager for Sebastian International. "They give hair a softer look and flow. A relaxer can actually benefit you by changing the texture of your hair."

A few decades ago, those with curls often resorted to strong straightening products. But they had their drawbacks. The hair broke. The scalp burned.  But that is the past, "Relaxers were very harsh," said Laurence Nunes, a national advisor and coordinator with Paul Mitchell, which makes a 5-year-old product called The Relaxer.

Don't Try This At Home

Just because the newer products are less damaging doesn't mean anybody can use them. They still use strong chemicals.

A professional stylist must determine the condition of the hair. Has it been colored? Have any other chemicals been used on it? If it is damaged and fragile, the process could seriously damage the hair. Some stylists do a patch test to see how the hair reacts. If there is breakage after the test, don't relax the hair.

In the wrong hands, the results can be disastrous. A person who uses a thioglycolic acid-based product on top of hair that's been relaxed with a sodium hydroxide relaxer can end up with a "chemical haircut," Sturgill said.

"You must find an experienced stylist who knows how to relax hair," Sturgill said. "This will keep damage to a minimum."

Handle With Care

To keep relaxed hair looking good, it must be treated with care.

"Overall, hair tends to have less body and shine," Sturgill said. "It may even feel a little bit dry and brittle. Relaxing is not a delicate process."

People who have had their hair relaxed should wait at least three weeks before coloring it. Make sure you tell your colorist that your hair has been relaxed because it may have a higher porosity, which can affect the color formulation and the timing.

Stay away from bleach, which add insult to injury.