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 According to Redway, hair porosity can be determined by genetics or various factors that have damaged your hair strands, such as excessive heat or chemical treatments like perms or relaxers. —

Larry Stansbury, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024 In another photo, Frazier gazes into the mirror while her mother applies a chemical relaxer to her hair. —

Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024 Created in 1909, a relaxer (sometimes called a perm) refers to the chemical treatment used to straighten or relax coily strands. —

Tayler Adigun, Allure, 4 Oct. 2023 Another problem with relaxers is even when chemicals similar to formaldehyde are present, they can be converted into formaldehyde when heated. —

Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 20 Oct. 2023 The cream’s intensity is similar to a relaxer and should not be done frequently. —

Essence, 16 Feb. 2024 Investigators tested 18 products, from hot-oil treatments to anti-frizz polishes, conditioners, and relaxers. —

Ronnie Cohen, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024 Between 84% and 95% of Black women in the U.S. have reported using relaxers, studies show. —

Ronnie Cohen, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024 Just a few years ago, Baker was diagnosed with traction alopecia, a disease exacerbated by iron deficiency, tight hairstyles, and years of chemical relaxers. —

Celeste Polanco, Essence, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relaxer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.