The key difference between thio and hydroxide neutralizers is that thio neutralizers are moderately basic, whereas hydroxide neutralizers are highly basic.
Thio neutralizer and hydroxide neutralizer are two types of chemicals useful in hair relaxing procedures, especially in relaxing curly or wavy hair. We can distinguish these two neutralizer forms based on their pH and their effect on hair.
Although thio neutralizer and hydroxide neutralizer are the best working chemical neutralizers, apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural neutralizers. After the application of a relaxer, the pH of the hair becomes more basic even after rinsing the hair properly. Therefore, we need to use a proper neutralizer to bring back hair to its acidic state (usually 4 or 5 pH) using an agent with a low pH value (an acidic compound). Apple cider vinegar has a pH of around 2, which is the best option for hair pH balancing. However, if the relaxer we are using is an acidic relaxer agent, then we need to use a basic neutralizer such as thio neutralizer and hydroxide neutralizer.
Hair relaxing agents are chemical compounds that are able to straighten hair. There are some basic products that we need for hair relaxing, including a chemical hair relaxer, a neutralizer, a protein-rich moisturizer, and a petroleum cream. The protein-rich moisturizer is useful in stabilizing hair, and petroleum cream is useful in protecting the scalp.
Thio neutralizers are hair relaxing agents having moderate basicity. The pH of this neutralizer is about 10. This type of neutralizer is important in thio relaxing treatments. The thio neutralizer is very important in stopping the action of any relaxer that remains even after washing hair. Although we rinse hair thoroughly after the application of this hair relaxing agent, some of the relaxing agents may still remain on hair. Thio neutralizer can stop the action of hair relaxing agent by rebuilding the disulfide bonds.
Moreover, thio neutralizers are thick and have a very high viscosity. The active ingredient in thio neutralizer is ammonium thioglycolate.
Hydroxide neutralizers are hair relaxing agents having high basicity. The pH of this neutralizer is about 13. This type of neutralizer is important in hydroxide relaxing treatments. The major active ingredient in this type of neutralizer is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The hydroxide neutralizer is the most common neutralizer used by professionals and it is very effective in breaking down the bonds in the hair.
Similarities Between Thio and Hydroxide Neutralizers
Thio and hydroxide neutralizers both usually have a pH higher than that of hair. Therefore, they are more alkaline chemical substances. These neutralizers help in providing an oxidation reaction that rebuilds that hair bonds in a straightened form. The neutralizer can break bonds by adding hydrogen atoms to the two sulfur bonds that occur within the disulfide bond.
These relaxers can be marketed as base and no base relaxers. Base relaxers require stylists to base the client’s entire scalp with a protective cream prior to the chemical relaxer application. No base relaxers have a protective cream built within the relaxer that settles onto the scalp according to the client’s body temperature. Although no base relaxers have a thin, oil like protective cream within the relaxer system, most stylists use a base cream around the ears and hairline for added protection.
A Low Lye relaxer has the lowest concentration of sodium hydroxide which is less than 2.5%. It is equally as effective as other Sodium Hydroxide relaxers however much more mild due to the percentage of active ingredient. The low lye relaxer gently loosens the bonds for increased manageability, while maintaining some level of texture in the hair.
Thio relaxers differ from hydroxide relaxers in a few ways. The pH of thio relaxers is typically around 10 whereas the pH of hydroxide relaxers is approximately 13. Also, an oxidizing agent like hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate is used to neutralize thio relaxers. During this process the disulfide bonds are reformed that were broken by the relaxing process. When using hydroxide relaxers, the broken disulfide bonds are permanently broken and cannot be formed again. Oxidizing agents should not be used with hydroxide relaxers.
Lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcium hydroxide (CaOH) and Guanidine hydroxide relaxers are marketed as No Lye relaxers. Although these ionic compounds are not lye, hydroxide is an active ingredient. No lye relaxers are ideal for someone with a very sensitive scalp, as the chemicals and pH level of these type of relaxers are milder than lye based relaxers. No lye relaxers are commonly associated to dryer hair due to calcium buildup. This can easily be addressed through the use of a clarifying shampoo to remove dull deposits and a deep conditioning treatment to add moisture back to the hair.
During a chemical relaxing procedure of a hydroxide relaxer a process called lanthionization occurs, which is the breaking of a disulfide bonds to alter the curl pattern of the hair. During this process the curl pattern is loosened or relaxed. The cortex is thus elongated, stretching the original curl pattern, therefore making this a permanent alteration.
Difference Between Thio and Hydroxide Neutralizers
Thio neutralizer and hydroxide neutralizer are types of hair relaxers useful in relaxing curly or wavy hair. The key difference between thio and hydroxide neutralizers is that thio neutralizers are comparatively less basic, whereas hydroxide neutralizers are highly basic. We can distinguish these two neutralizer forms based on their pH and their effect on hair.
The following infographic lists the differences between thio and hydroxide neutralizers in tabular form for side by side comparison.
FAQ
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