Destructive Ingredients

• Most hair relaxers contain lye, which is commonly used in drain openers. No-lye relaxers have potassium hydroxide, which is only slightly less potent than lye.
  
  

Damaging When Used with Dye

• Hair damage could occur if you apply a hair relaxer on the same day that you dye your hair. First relax, wait at least a week, then dye.
  
  

Hair Breakage

• Protein makes hair strong. Lye and no-lye hair relaxers break down the protein structure of the hair. Unfortunately, hair breakage can be the end result.
  
  

Scalp Irritation

• If a protective coat of petroleum jelly isn't applied around the hairline and on the scalp, the relaxer can cause the scalp to become sore or even burned.
  
  

Eye Injury

• Although you'll never intentionally put hair relaxer in your eye, it can harm your sight if it gets in there accidentally.