What's the difference between a relaxer and hair straightener?

Where I live we only have permanent hair straighteners...but I got fed up with straightening my hair..it makes my hair very rough...yet I don't always want to fight with my curly hair.

I'm moving to the USA soon and I see people are talking about relaxers. I have a few questions about it:

1. Is it permanent, or lasts only until you wash your hair?

2. Does it damage your hair as much as straighteners?

3. Can it be used on dyed hair?

4. Is it as expensive as straigheteners? And can you use it yourself or do you have to get it done at a hairdresser?

Thanks!

What's the difference between a relaxer and hair straightener?

hair relaxer contains chemicals that keep the hair straight. You will have to have it done every few months to keep it straight with chemicals. It's conveinient when you don't want to spend a lot of time on your hair keeping it straight. This is more expensive

hair straightens are not permanent and need to be done every time after you wash your hair. This can cause heat damage but is less evasive on the hair than the chemicals straighteners. this is less expensive than chemical straightening as well.

What's the difference between a relaxer and hair straightener?

I'll give my option on relaxers.

1. relaxers are definitely permanent..most people who want to transition back to natural hair will cut off all the relaxed hair..or they will just cut off hair little by little.

2. With relaxed hair you must take extra precautions.Relaxers damage hair by destroying the sulfide bonds in your hair which weaken hair and by changing the basic structure of the hair shaft. The chemical penetrates the cortex or cortical layer and loosens the natural curl pattern and in the process this strips hair of moisture. However you can still have a relaxer and has healthy hair that is thick and long by constant moisturizing, go to healthytextures.com, and you will see my hair inspiration Macheriamour and she has a relaxer(even though I refuse to get a relaxer).

3. DO NOT USE IT ON DYED HAIR. this is a precaution that must be taken seriously...most hair stylist are not proficient in this. with your hair dyed your hair is already damages. however a relaxer will overprocess your hair.

4. Yes it is expensive, and DO NOT do it yourself unless you know exactly what you are doing. Box relaxers are a NO NO. get the Affirm relaxer (www.avlon.com) and have a good salon put it in. You should probably ( if you do get a relaxer) try to stretch it out as long as possible 10-12 weeks and only let them relaxer the new growth once it is time for them to do a touch up. relaxers cost about $60-70 each time..so yeah.

Have you tried a good flat iron such as a Sedu or Solia. go to folica.com and check them out.

What's the difference between a relaxer and hair straightener?

I liked Oneya's advice she told you everything you need to know and a free lesson you don't see often. Thanks Oneya, your a smart cookie! Good advice!