What is Lye? What is No Lye?

[dreemssold]

Ok, I have really TRIED to figure this out on my own, and I see it is never going to happen. What is lye? What is no lye? What does it all mean? When I read the posts, it seems that people are saying no lye is less damaging than lye, but that doesn't add up to me, because in my mind, lye is like the old school conk stuff, and I wouldn't think that would be good for your hair. I use Motions (please don't ask what strength, because I wouldn't have a clue...I haven't ever self-relaxed or even asked a stylist enough questions to know /images/graemlins/crazy.gif)--does anyone know whether that is lye or no lye? Can you give me some examples or what relaxers are lye, which are no lye, and explain the distinction? Thanks in advance, ladies...I really don't want to live in Idiotville anymore!

 

[Tai]

Lye relaxers contain sodium hydroxide as the active ingredient. With "no lye" hair relaxers, calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate are mixed to produce guanidine hydroxide. (taken from an internet site)
Many companies (Affirm, CON and Revlon, Elasta, Vitale, etc.) make both no lye and lye relaxers. I think that motions makes no lye and lye but I'm not 100% sure about that. From my understanding, lye is more gentle to the hair and no lye is more gentle to the scalp. I've also heard that no lye is more apt to cause a calcium build up on the hair.

I'm one of those people who's hair and scalp does not agree with lye relaxers at all. It doesn't matter what strength or how long it's left on. It always resulted in drier hair with unbelievable amounts of shedding and breakage. If I ever return to relaxing, no lye is what I will go back to using.

 

[dreemssold]

Ok, thanks Tai--that makes it a little more clear /images/graemlins/smile.gif. I think I'm a little slow on this /images/graemlins/look.gif.

 

[melodee]

Tai, I agree. For years, I had a lye relaxer applied. I was told that it was gentler to the hair than no-lye. But for years, my scalp would react to the lye and burn like mad and shed following my touch up. I had been using no-lye (Affirm Moisture Plus Sensitive Scalp) with no burning or shedding. I have been happy with this product. Now my last application of the product is a different story.

 

[BabyCurls]

<font color="purple">I would like to add my $0.02 to the comparison. Lye relaxers make the hair more moisturized, whereas no-lye has a tendency to dry out the hair. I know this because I used the latter in the past. Also, Shamboosie says that lye relaxers are better for your hair. I'm switching to lye and will be self-relaxing on Saturday.

Tai, Motions does has both lye and no-lye relaxers, in case you want to know. When using the lye, make sure that you don't put it on your scalp, or burns will be the culprit. Use whatever your preference for relaxers, if your scalp is sensitive or not. Make sure that follow the timing so you won't overprocess or underprocess. Toodles. </font>

 

[Allandra]

Re: What is Lye? What is No Lye?

I made the switch to lye relaxers a few years back. I'm glad I did.

 

[Kalani]

Re: What is Lye? What is No Lye?

I think it all depends on the individual. I use to have lye relaxers when I went to a stylist. She would base my scalp and was sure not to leave it in a moment longer than it was suppose to be. I still would have slight burns and parts of my hair would be molded together right after.

When I started self-relaxing I used no lye and never had any more burning problems as they were extremely gentle to my scalp. After using the neutralizing shampoo I would rinse with a mix of water and vinegar to get rid of any left over debris or build up. I put on a nice hydrating hair mask immediately after and leave it in for a while.
The result is beautiful, soft, shiny hair with no dryness!

 

[dreemssold]

Re: What is Lye? What is No Lye?

Thanks ladies /images/graemlins/smile.gif. I think what confused me is that "lye" sounds potentially damaging, but from Tai's definition, I guess both have potentially damaging ingredients. There doesn't seem to be a set choice of which is better for the hair, either, so ok. I would imagine I have gotten both lye and no-lye over the years, since all I say is "Motions, please" /images/graemlins/look.gif. I'd like to stick to one or the other, but I wouldn't even know which one to pick. Well, thanks again, ladies /images/graemlins/smile.gif.

 

[melodee]

Re: What is Lye? What is No Lye?

[ QUOTE ]
.I still would have slight burns and parts of my hair would be molded together right after.



[/ QUOTE ]

I had that molded together thing w/ lye as well.