relaxer

noun

re·​lax·​er ri-ˈlak-sər 

plural relaxers

: something or someone that relaxes or produces relaxation

What makes the neck relaxer so good is how it stretches your spine and neck.

—Thomas Price

Another reliable relaxer is autogenic training, a kind of self-programming that creates the relaxation response through suggestion.

—Lonny J. Brown

[Relief pitcher Tommy] Hunter will take a few days off from throwing before resuming work. The spasms typically go away with rest and muscle relaxers …

—St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press

especially : a usually chemical treatment used to straighten curly and especially kinky (see kinky sense 1) hair

I have naturally curly hair, but I prefer to wear it straight—I always have. Getting a relaxer was pretty much my only solution to making styling my hair a shorter and easier process. But, naturally, they're not for everyone.

—Andrea Navarro

If you have natural hair, then you may have considered getting a hair relaxer at some point. After all, taking care of your curls can be time-consuming, which can make having sleek, super-straight hair straight out of bed sound pretty appealing. And with the relaxers growing in popularity once again … you may be particularly curious about them right now.

—lorealparisusa.com

Hair relaxers have been around for over a century and are used to chemically straighten hair by getting into the cuticle and cortex layers. During this process, the curly, wavy, or kinky hair patterns are straightened out, resulting in that quintessential straight, sleek look.

—Del Sandeen

Examples of relaxer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But once the hair’s internal structure is permanently altered or broken (often the case with bleaching, chemical treatments like perms and relaxers, and years of excessive heat styling)? —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2025

Hair styles and treatments: Harsh hair treatments, like perms and relaxers, and tight hairstyles that pull your locks can lead to hair thinning or a receding hairline. —Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025

In today’s episode, Wesley sits down with Linda to discuss the health risks of relaxers, the hair icons that messed them both up and the culture surrounding hair relaxing that keeps people using these products. —Linda Villarosa Paula Szuchman, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025

There are no permanent or semi-permanent colors, perms or relaxers used to alter the color, texture or curl pattern of the hair. —Dahvi Shira, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

relax + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above