Roots softer than ends: lye relaxer or just newer hair?

[RainbowCurls]

I'd read about how people who switched from no-lye to lye had found that the lye-relaxed parts of their hair were softer than the no-lye parts. Now, I'd never actually experienced that myself.

But yesterday, I realised that the hair nearer my roots was really soft, the hair at the ends was a lot drier, and in the middle, well in between.
So maybe the no-lye/lye relaxers explain that.

Or maybe, I thought... the hair at the ends has been around a lot longer and therefore taken more damage, so that could explain it.

I only switched to lye in September 04, so if I have an average growth rate, I would only have 3.5" of lye relaxed hair/new growth by now.

But it's only the bottom 2-4 inches of my hair which is noticably dryer than the rest. So that would leave some of the 'soft' part still no-lye relaxed...

I'm starting to think; as long as I keep on relaxing my hair, when it gets to a certain length, it's all going to go wrong.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

bumping for more responses

i have noticed something similar the texture at the root is looser and the stuff at the ends is a whole different ball park june 04 was my last relaxer I might go back to the perm because i don't like the ends

 

[Poohbear]

Lye vs. No-lye

relative strength:
Lye: 3
No-lye: 1

alkaline active:
Lye: NaOH or KOH
No-lye: guanidine hydroxide or lithium hydroxide

chemical agent:
Lye: OH-
No-lye: OH-

pH:
Lye: 12.5 - 14
No-lye: 12.5 - 13.5

penetration and spreading:
Lye: faster
No-lye: slower

relaxer processing time:
Lye: shorter
No-lye: longer

irritation potential:
Lye: higher due to lower safety margin
No-lye: lower due to a higher safety margin

drying potential:
Lye: less drying to hair and scalp
No-lye: more drying to hair and scalp

 

[Dolapo]

yes, my no-lye ends are giving me problems. I have to battle with dryness every once in a while. Thats why im trying to trim it all off little by little

 

[Carlie]

I think it's a combination if both (lye relaxer/new, healthier hair).