Are Expired Relaxers safe to purchase and use?

 So I stumbled across these expired Chi Deep Brilliance Relaxers in a local beauty supply store.  The store was courteous to place a clearly readable sign that the relaxers were expired and to use at your own risk.

My first thought was "NO, expired relaxers should not be sold nor used," but then I looked at the expiration date on the packaging.  I saw September 2013.  So many of these relaxers are about four months past the expiration date.  That's not too bad.  If these relaxers get a year or two past the expiration date, then I would really be concerned.  Are you wondering why the expiration date does not give me extreme concern?  The real question is whether or not, the relaxer is still fresh enough to straighten hair?

Well, the packaging of all the expired relaxers were very new looking.  As a reminder, many times,  relaxers that have a fresh relaxer date on them can still spoil prematurely because someone may accidently leave the lid slightly opened and the oxygen causes the product to expire before time.

If a relaxer expires, then it may or may not have an odor, but without a doubt, expired relaxer will NOT straighten the hair, and in addition, it may cause damage to the hair without straightening it.

So these expired relaxers may actually still work just fine.  So are you wondering if there is a way to test the safety of the relaxer product without applying to your head or anyone else's head?

Yes, here's a way to test it . . .  1) Buy some Afro kinky bulk 100% human hair

and 2) run the "relaxer in question" through a sample piece of this "afro hair."

If the hair sample relaxes quickly within 3 minutes after massaging the relaxer product through, then the relaxer is still fresh enough to use on a head.  This test should be repeated as needed if days or weeks go by before needing to use the same relaxer product again.

In the picture above, the afro kinky hair on the left is what the braiding hair looked like before applyting relaxer to it.  I used a fresh Affirm Normal relaxer for this demonstration.  I did not purchase any of the Chi relaxers.

Are you surprised at my response?  Any thoughts?  I do have two more thoughts.  I think relaxers with expired dates should be donated to homeless shelters along with sample braiding hair for women to test the clearly marked expired relaxer prior to using the product on anyone's head.

We also need to be cautious about disposal of a large quantity of relaxers at one time.  It could harm our environment or get into our water supply.  

Hair Battle Wounds: Confessions of a Hairstylist

Pictured is a "relaxer burn" down my neck from two days ago! Do you see the scab? It has been a battle. A real "OMG" /give me strength, wisdom, and patience was in order! So let me catch everyone up . . . I have coarse, resistant, type 4c hair and a sensitive scalp. My new growth had gotten to the point where I could not work with it in its natural state. I have some business meetings coming up and needed to Europeanize my look so I decided that it was time to relax my hair. I completed a strand test on some of hair that I had collected. The Chi Super Relaxer seemed to have left the test strands strong but a little dry. Please see separate articles for strand test, etc. I then completed the "first" relaxer service the following day after my strand test. The hair in the back of my head just did not process long enough because I started burning. Again, I have the battle wound pictured to show you that I was really needing to rinse the relaxer out. Luckily, my scalp did not suffer the same wound as my neck. I just do not think that my neck got the full rinse and neutralize. Accidental residue. But back to the story. My blowdry resulted in a slight afro in the back of my head. I straightened it, but it reverted by the next morning. Also, I should have trusted my strand test. My hair was too dry the next morning. I had some ends that were breaking. So the battle commenced again. I had a choice to put everything from organic coconut oil to Nexxus Humectress to Ultra Sheen on it. Smile. I put all three on it. I then tried to use the curling iron to re-straighten the back. I felt that I was burning my hair. So I was faced with the decision to either relax the back of my head again. Yes, one day later. Or keep burning it with the curling iron trying to keep it straight. No brainer for me . . . I went into the salon and used Onesta hydrating shampoo followed by Mizani Moistufuse conditioner. My hair felt 100% better. I rinsed out the conditioner and reviewed my curl pattern all over. The back of my head was just too underprocessed so I sat under the platform dryer to dry my hair without too much manuipulation. I based my scalp in the back of my head. I relaxed it again with Super Strength until I felt a burn. (I was determined to see what the Chi Super was capable of.) Luckily, the hair had become softer and more manageable. I still had some curl to it. I used the Mizani Moistufuse as the conditioner. I did the blowdry and marcels to straighten and curl. However, I was still looking like one of those women with relaxed hair that was past due for a touch-up.

I was ready to scream at this point. Two relaxer services in two days, and I am still not straight. I ran some errands with a ponytail style and a bang. You can not beat a ponytail! The next morning, the breakage on my pillow was significantly less. So the moisture level in the hair was much better, but I was still frizzy. So I told myself that God must not want me to have straight hair right now. So I wet it down again and put the KeraCare Defining Custard through it. I looked great. I went to run errands while my hair was still pretty damp. By the end of the day, I realized that my regular regimen of KeraCare Defining Custard had become very firm. (i.e. hard and stiff) In a word, my hair had done it to me again. I was a "hot mess!" Okay, I washed it again with the KeraCare Cleansing Cream followed by Mixed Chicks Leave-in conditioner. The frizzy afro was back within a couple of hours. Then I washed it again with the KeraCare Cleansing cream followed by the Sedal conditioner with Ouidad in it. I then sprayed the Ouidad Botanical Boost to prevent the KeraCare Defining Custard from setting too firm again. The results are the pictures above. I was finally happy. I am blessed that my hair withstood all of that within a 48 hour time period. I do not know if the Viviscal tablets that I take one a day made a difference, but it did not hurt.

God really works in mysterious ways. I was trying to get straight, relaxed hair, but that was not God's plan. We have to work within God's plan. The last few days have been a battle, but I think that God knew what He was doing! I had to adjust my wash n'go regimen a little, but I think that I have a style that I can deal with.

I must say that straightening the hair was not in vain. I performed two haircuts within two days. Once - right after each relaxer. It is all good. The last haircut was about five months ago.

Well, I am done with relaxing for about 8 weeks. By then, I should have a new relaxer system that I want to try. I have not given up on relaxers, but I have almost given up on ever being able to relax completely straight without burning. The saga will begin again in another 8 weeks when my one inch afro starts giving me styling challenges. Until then, I will let it grow, grow, grow while sporting my more texturized wash n' go look.

This hair battle has been fought with scars and all . . . however, I have lived to fight another day. Stay tuned for the next hair battle in a couple months. Smile. This sister has earned her medal of honor. My head is held proud. I could have "wigged it out" when it got tough, but I had promised myself . . . there is no turning back . . . you will tackle this type 4c hair with a sensitive scalp. There is too many sistahs out there depending on you!

I am charting waters that are not often sailed.

Most popular hairstylists seem to be either men with short hair or women that do not have Type 4 hair nor do they have a sensitive scalp.

My goal is long, healthy, semi-relaxed to relaxed "European-accepted" hair. I really feel that I am making headway. I just do not think that I have found the right relaxer yet. We will see within another few months. The saga will continue!

Relaxer Service: From Texturized to More Texturized

Yes! I caved in. It was time to relax my hair. I was a little sad, but I have a hair show coming up as well as some other business meetings. Although, nappy hair has nothing to do with my IQ, it has a lot to do with sales and decision making. In addition, I got so tired of people going into culture shock over my type 4c hair. Black people are not used to seeing their own African ultra curly texture. My hair kept shrinking on me. Even texturized some, it was a "bear" to control. Every time it shriveled up, everyone kept thinking that I cut my hair. When outside of the flat iron damaged pieces that break off, all the rest of hair was still there - just tightly coiled. So I could not take the stares that I had been receiving- plus my virgin new growth was a full inch in some places so I had an afro underneath of my texturized hair.
I used the Chi Deep Brilliance SUPER strength. My hair is resistant as you can see. I am still not bone straight, but most Type 3 clients never get bone straight when relaxed. I think that we have been brainwashed to think that our hair needs to be relaxed bone straight.
I still have a sensitive scalp. I based my scalp really well and let it distribute onto my scalp. I put protective solution on my ends. I self-relaxed trying to avoid touching the scalp until the last possible pass through.
About 20 minutess later, I started to feel the burn. Thank God that the Chi Deep Brilliance relaxer is a conditioning relaxer. It seems to have a delay before potential scalp irritation starts. I had completed a relaxer strand test a few days prior to self-relaxing to see how Super strength would do to my hair. Please see my separate article on "saving shedded hair for testing" as well as an upcoming article on showing the results of the relaxer strand test.

The "BEFORE" pictures show how unruly my hair had become. People are not used to seeing this hair. The "AFTER" picture is above and is more socially accepted. Hey! I still have some waves when it is wet. So I may work the "wash n' go" regimen when I can. However, I did trim/cut to get all the rigid ends off. I was trying to keep the ends from catching on itself. I still may get a little more cut off. We will see.

Product Review: Chi Deep Brilliance Relaxer

The Chi Relaxer definitely maintains the integrity of the hair. Those that are sensitive scalp must base really well, but it is tolerable. There are expiration dates on the container which is a plus. The product consistency is a little more "lotion like" versus cream so careful with application. Overall, I like the relaxer system based on the first try.







Pictured is the "before" picture of client who was eight weeks from last texturizing touch-up.












Pictured is the "after" picture of Chi relaxer touchup. Client has Type 4c hair and the Normal strength Chi relaxer was used to texturize or texlax hair. Finishing products included Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-in followed by KeraCare Defining Custard. Hair by Benita Blocker.

August 16,2011 Update: I have used the Chi Deep Brilliance Relaxer about four times now. The hair integrity is good even with the Super strength. However, the Super Strength Chi Deep Brilliance relaxer can be very drying to the hair. I found that the Chi Reconstruct conditioner that is recommended with the relaxer service does not provide enough moisture to the hair. I found the Mizani Moistufuse conditioner which is recommended for the Mizani traditional relaxer system works significantly better. Under normal conditions and normal strength relaxation, the Chi Reconstruct was sufficient. However, I still recommend layering the Mizani Moistufuse in with the Chi Reconstruct under normal relaxation. I also recommend substituting the Mizani Moistufuse in lieu of the Chi Reconstruct. The hair seems to drink the Moistufuse immediately after Super relaxation and shampooing. Please note: Mizani has a "Butter Blend line" and a "Moisturfusion" line. I am NOT referring to these Mizani categories at this time.

A note to the sensitive scalp consumers: The Chi Deep Brilliance relaxer is tolerable with a well-based scalp. "Well-based" scalp means that base is applied with thin partings but keep the base on the scalp not the hair. Cross section your base if you have to but do NOT squeeze too much out at a time. The "bad news" is that the combination of resistant hair and a sensitive scalp may not process long enough to get straight before burning. This relaxer will burn. You feel the burns more from the water hitting the scalp during the rinse than the dry application. So if the client feels burning, but they say it is tolerable, then I recommend taking them to the shampoo bowl and start rinsing anyway.

For some reason the burning does seem tolerable during relaxer application, but the water rinse will tell the real story as to how badly the burn is. The Paul Mitchell relaxer system causes more "false" sensations during the relaxer application, but not too much burning at the bowl. However, my Chi relaxer experience was the completely opposite. I felt less pain at relaxer application; more "pain" at the bowl. Overall, I recommend caution with the Super Strength Chi Relaxer. The tensile strength is fine, but watch for dryness. Prepare to add a lot of "moisture" during the conditioning phase.