ABSTRACT
The “ethnic hair and hair care” is served by products and services devoted to the care of excessively curly hair. The birth of the ethnic hair care industry in America began around the beginning of the 20th century. Excessively curly hair, in comparison to straight hair, is similar in amino acid content but varies considerably in diameter at various points along the hair shaft. Pressing is a process whereby excessively curly hair is straightened with the use of high heat, oils, and metal implements. Hair relaxing, or lanthionization, is a chemical process whereby excessively curly hair is permanently straightened. Lye-based relaxers generally contain sodium hydroxide as an active straightening agent. The process of blow drying involves repetitive combing in the presence of moderately hot air. The primary purpose of laminates is to provide ease of wet combing to hair during blow drying, helping to reduce combing damage.
