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How Do I Choose the Best Hair Texturizer?

Kaiser Castro
Kaiser Castro

Sodium hydroxide is the chemical in hair texturizers that helps loosen tight curls. To select the best texturizer for your hair, you should understand how sodium hydroxide reacts to the protein bonds in hair, as well as the difference between a texturizer and a hair relaxer, even though they deliver similar results. Regardless of the brand, make sure to select a hair texturizing kit that is formulated with conditioning ingredients that will preserve the hair's health. Neutralizing shampoos should also come with the hair texturizer.

Hair strands are made of keratin amino acids, which give your hair its unique shape, elasticity, and curl pattern. A hair texturizer will weaken this protein, ultimately straightening the hair. Curly, unruly hair can become more manageable and sleek.

Some hair products used for texturizing may take several washes to completely remove from hair.
Some hair products used for texturizing may take several washes to completely remove from hair.

Most texturizers are readily available at your local drugstore, with some salons selling their own brands or formulations. The active ingredient in hair texturixers will usually be sodium hydroxide. Try to stay away from incredulous brands that do not use an active ingredient to straighten the hair. Sometimes these types of formulations will only affect your hair temporary, or cause adverse reactions.

Hair texturizers should be chosen depending on a person's hair type.
Hair texturizers should be chosen depending on a person's hair type.

Hair relaxers and hair texturizers are often confused. They are both used to straighten the hair, but hair relaxers will usually have concentrated forms of sodium hydroxide, creating different results. A texturizer is usually milder, and is designed to loosen the curl instead of removing it completely.

Select a hair texturizer that is formulated with enriching emollients that will help control the porosity of the hair, resulting in healthier hair. Brands that sell texturizing creams with oils can help deliver moisture, while loosening the curl pattern. Jojoba, shea, and olive oil are all popular ingredients that are commonly formulated into the hair texturizer, or may be used as standalone products that are added to the hair sometime during the chemical process.

Neutralizing shampoos should be purchased with hair texturizers.
Neutralizing shampoos should be purchased with hair texturizers.

Any chemical straighteners that have been applied to the hair will continue to straighten the hair, even after being washed out with water or conventional shampoos. This can result in porous hair with exposed cuticles, which can make the hair look lackluster. The hair will eventually start to break and tangle. Make sure to select a texturizer that comes with a neutralizing shampoo to halt the chemical process.

Discussion Comments

SteamLouis

I just used a short hair texturizer with silk amino acids. I'm so happy with the results. My hair is so soft and shiny! My curls look perfect.

bluedolphin

I don't think that the active ingredients of a texturizer is very important because they all basically contain the same things. Even if a product says that it's the best hair texturizer, it's going to give the same results. How long the product is kept on and the method of application is more important.

I use a texturizer that has many products in the kit. It has the texturizer, the neutralizing shampoo and two follow-up conditioners. Depending on the look I'm going for and how loose my curls are, I smooth it or don't.

Texturizing hair is not easy. It takes a lot of practice to get the results that one is aiming for.

serenesurface

Does anyone know about lye based hair texturizers?

A coworker mentioned that this is what she uses in her hair. She has beautiful, loose waves and her hair looks very healthy. I use a black hair texturizer with sodium hydroxide and I've never heard of lye based texturizers before.

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    • Some hair products used for texturizing may take several washes to completely remove from hair.
      By: Roman Gorielov
      Some hair products used for texturizing may take several washes to completely remove from hair.
    • Hair texturizers should be chosen depending on a person's hair type.
      By: design56
      Hair texturizers should be chosen depending on a person's hair type.
    • Neutralizing shampoos should be purchased with hair texturizers.
      By: Piotr Marcinski
      Neutralizing shampoos should be purchased with hair texturizers.
    • People who have thick, curly hair should avoid using hair texturizers and shampoos that contain sulfites.
      By: indiraswork
      People who have thick, curly hair should avoid using hair texturizers and shampoos that contain sulfites.
    • Hair texturizers formulated with enriching emollients will create healthier hair.
      By: seprimoris
      Hair texturizers formulated with enriching emollients will create healthier hair.