Which type of solution is used in the process of chemical hair relaxing?

The process of chemical hair relaxing primarily relies on a reducing solution, which works by breaking down the disulfide bonds in the hair's keratin structure. These bonds are responsible for the hair’s natural curl and wave pattern. By reducing these bonds, the hair can be straightened and reshaped.

Reducing agents typically contain ingredients like sodium hydroxide or guanidine hydroxide, both of which relax the hair's curls without the need for oxidizing agents. This type of solution alters the hair’s internal structure, allowing it to be molded into a straighter format.

In contrast, oxidizing solutions, such as hydrogen peroxide, are involved in processes that enhance color or create curls through oxidation rather than relaxation. Alkaline solutions can also be associated with different chemical processes, such as pH balancing, but they do not specifically refer to the action of reducing the hair's curl pattern. Thus, the emphasis on using a reducing solution in hair relaxing illustrates the fundamental chemical reactions at play in achieving straightened hair.