I don’t know about you ladies (or gents) but to release my curls I usually stick with my Denman Brush a good moisturizer, preferably Shea Moisture line, and then some type of curl enhancing product or custard like Ecostyler gel.
NONE I repeat NONE of the products I use have harsh chemicals that manipulate your hair texture permanently. You would not find alkaline or sodium hydroxide in KCCC or Eco styling gel.
While reading Black Hair Magazine I saw an ad for Luster’s PINK Shortlooks with Curl-Release Formula which read,
“Now you can release the beauty of your hair using Luster’s Pink SHORTLOOKS Texturizer with “curl-release formula.”It loosens your natural curl pattern without the damage of a relaxer. So you can curl it, scrunch it, wave it, or twist it any way you want with Luster’s Pink SHORTLOOKS Texturizer.”
Yea so, what boggled my mind the most was this line:
“It loosens your natural curl pattern without the damage of a relaxer…”
But yet the box says ” No-lye” which is almost the same as a relaxer.
Wikipedia states:
“No lye” relaxers
Due to increasing awareness concerning the potential dangers of sodium hydroxide found in traditional relaxer formulas, many women have begun abandoning them.[1] “No-lye” relaxers have become the preferred formula for those unwilling to give up relaxers completely. “No-lye” relaxers are of three main types. One type operates on the same general principle as lye relaxers but uses a slightly weaker alkaline agent, such as potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, or guanidine hydroxide. The last of these is not pre-formulated, but rather is generated at the time of use by combining a cream containing calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) with an “activating solution” of guanidine carbonate.
Another type of “no-lye” relaxer uses ammonium thioglycolate, which is also known as perm salt for its use in permanent waves. Perm salt is a chemical reducing agent which selectively weakens the hair’s cystine bonds instead of disrupting the entire protein, but strips out the natural oils even more thoroughly than the alkali hydroxide products. Afterward, the thioglycolate must be oxidized with a special solution of hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate.
Lastly, in most relaxers sold for home use, the active agents are ammonium sulfite and ammonium bisulfite (the two compounds are interchangeable, depending on the surrounding pH). These also selectively reduce the cystine bonds, but are much weaker and work more slowly. Nevertheless, their mild action minimizes (but does not entirely eliminate) collateral irritation to the skin.
“For the ladies who dare to wear it short” They say… I say Ha! Ladies please do not be fooled. Receiving this product in your hair will alter your natural curl pattern PERMANENTLY! This is a harsh chemical dolls! Don’t be hoodwinked.