Natural Relaxers, quote, unquote..

The Curlaway System (UPDATED 11/23/16)

On September 2009, I did the unthinkable for a lot of  black women.....I BC'd. That's short-hand for "big-chop". If you are a part of the natural hair community, you know this term and have seen all over the place.  I cut all the permed locks from my head and have been on a mission to find some miracle product to make my hair more manageable. When I say manageable, I mean something that makes my hair look like I have a texturizer in it. I was looking high and low to find something to turn my type 4 hair into type 3 ringlets y'all!!

I mean....I wanted it all, I wanted the #LOOK without the chemicals, the glory without the guts. I wanted body, sheen, luster, soft bouncy ringlets, no tangles, and most of all, I WANTED THE LENGTH!!
I have looked at many hair-blogs, websites, long hair forums, natural hair forums and so on and so on. Check out my chemical hair journey at http://members.fotki.com/SkorpyanJ/. I have tried Natural Laxer Mix by BAKA, which I am still considering ordering again but will talk about later in my series of web reviews and dah dah dah dah dah! Oh yeah! I also tried the "Coconut and Lime" relaxer. I will review that later, I need to find a better recipe, but enough rambling. In my search to find my H.G., I came across a product called Curlaway.

Curlaway

Curlaway is a chemical free relaxer that contains a natural acetic acid, PEG 400 monostearate, d-panthenol and MSM, grape seed oil and fragrance. It is in gel form and is applied by hand. You then proceed to leave it in your hair for 3-9 hours for full effect or use daily as a leave in. This process subtly and gradually releases the curl pattern in your hair and leaves it silky, soft and easy to style. This product helps you to obtain "S" shaped curls, ringlets, big bouncy waves, and completely straight styles. It's safe to use on damaged and chemically treated hair and claims to refresh your permanent style. This treatment is semi-permanent and your natural curl pattern will return within 3-6 weeks after you stop using it.

The natural acetic acid, which seems to be the main ingredient, is typically vinegar. Table vinegar is usually between 5-8% and is used for many household tasks as well used in many hospital and clinical laboratories. The percentage used in this product is .PEG 400, aka polyethlyene monostearate, is an emulsifier. An emulsifier is a substance that disperses one ingredient into another in which it would not ordinarily dissolve. An emulsifier binds water with oily humectants and emollients so that the texture of a product is smooth.  In shampoo, it is a hair conditioner and foam builder and is known to improve the cleansing action by stopping grease and dirt from redepositing onto the hair shaft. The main uses of PEG are:

1. making textiles
2. detergents
3. dyeing
4. emulsifier
5. the petroleum industry
6. the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry
7. dispersant's in household cleaners
8. softening leathers

D-Panthenol is a pro vitamin of Vitamin B5, which means that it can be converted into a vitamin by animal tissues. D-panthenol is biologically active and has moisturizing properties. It readily binds to the hair shaft and coats and seals its surface, making the strand appear shiny. Panthotenic acid (vitamin B5) are critical in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and are found in nearly every food. Results of a B5 deficiency study using mice showed skin irritation and loss of hair color. The addition of B5 to human trials with severe B5 deficiency showed no benefit to the human subjects. Regardless of this fact cosmetic companies continue to add the ingredient to cosmetics and shampoos. MSM, methyl-sulfonyl-methane, is a natural form of sulfonyl sulfur. Sulfur is required for healthy collagen and keratin, which are needed for healthy hair. It works by lengthening the hair growth phase allowing for length to be achieved. If used topically, MSM is said to stimulate hair growth, but if taken internally it will not only help your hair, it will enhance your nails and skin and diminish any arthirits pains you have. Be sure to incorporate Biotin at the least, which promotes cell growth, produce fatty acids, increase metabolism of fats and amino acid production. Grape seed oil has many uses including health tonics, cooking and as a moisturizer for hair and skin. It is a lighter weight than olive oil and absorbs easily into the skin and hair much faster.

The following info is courtesy of the Curlaway website. Enjoy!!


Benefits

• Safely and gradually relaxes curl
• Reduces frizz
• Adds softness and shine
• Improves combing of African American virgin hair
• Makes hair extremely responsive to heat styling
• Safe for use on children's and men's hair
• Effective for all hair types – Caucasian, Hispanic and African American
• Safe on chemically-processed hair, including previously straightened hair and dyed or bleached hair
• Makes all hairstyles easier to create and maintain, including the newest hairstyles favored by African Americans
• Unconditionally money-back guaranteed

How Curlaway Straightens Hair:

Curlaway Curl Relaxer breaks hydrogen bonds in the keratin protein of your hair, not S-S bonds like conventional, high-pH relaxers.The effect is cumulative – the more you use Curlaway gel, the straighter your hair becomes. Stop using the products whenever you are happy with the texture of your hair. Restart the treatment when your hair starts to re-curl, or if summer humidity calls for more control. On African-American hair, the result is a successful “touch-up” of chemically-relaxed hair, or hair that is softer, easier to comb and amazingly responsive to flat irons, heat curlers or wands, eventually eliminating the need for chemical relaxation to get the look you want.

UPDATE: THIS ITEM IS CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK ON AMAZON.COM BUT YOU CAN READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS THERE.

Where to buy:If you do not find your local Walgreens listed, you can order online at http://amazon.com,  or your local store manager can order it for you if you request it directly from the store.
To order Curlaway for international delivery, please go to http://www.carolxenna.com/curlaway.php
Curlaway Curl Relaxer is money-back guaranteed. If you are not completely satisfied with Curlaway products, simply call us for a full refund.
800-368-6003 (Monday - Friday, Eastern Time)