Which relaxer type can be performed after a light shampoo?

• A. Virgin thio relaxer
• B. Virgin sodium hydroxide relaxer
• C. Retouch relaxer
• D. Curl reform

Answer: (A)

A light shampoo cleanses away buildup while keeping the hair in a condition that can still be safely chemically processed. A virgin thio relaxer is designed for virgin hair and is milder than alkaline hydroxide relaxers, so it can be applied after a light shampoo without risking over-processing. The thioglycolate-based relaxer penetrates the hair enough to straighten while being gentler on hair that has just been cleansed.

Virgin sodium hydroxide relaxers are far more aggressive and risk over-processing clean, freshly shampooed hair. Retouch relaxers are meant for relaxing only the new growth after a prior chemical service, not for virgin hair right after a light shampoo. Curl reform isn’t a relaxer type used for straightening the entire strand.