New research raises concerns about the safety of chemical hair relaxers. Now, many Black women want safer alternatives.

Lye Relaxers contain stronger concentrations of a chemical ingredient called sodium hydroxide, which breaks down the curl pattern in individual hair bonds to permanently straighten strands.

calcium hydroxide, you’ve got parabens, and sometimes formaldehydes are found in some of those chemical relaxers and chemical straighteners in general,” Wright said. Studies show that long ...