No lye. No sodium hydroxide. No compromise.
Hair relaxer alternative.
Keratin treatments straighten and smooth your hair without the harsh chemicals found in relaxers. No lye, no sodium hydroxide, no formaldehyde. You keep the option to go back to your natural texture. Ships from USA with free shipping over $175.
The problem with relaxers
Why people are switching away from chemical relaxers.
Chemical relaxers use sodium hydroxide (lye) or calcium hydroxide (no-lye) to permanently break the disulfide bonds in your hair. This is what makes hair straight — but it comes at a cost. The bonds are destroyed, not restructured. The hair becomes permanently weaker at every point the relaxer has touched.
The damage is cumulative. Each touch-up overlaps slightly with previously relaxed hair, compounding breakage over time. Scalp burns, thinning edges, and hair loss are common long-term consequences — not side effects, but direct results of the chemistry involved.
In 2022, the National Institutes of Health published a study linking frequent use of chemical hair straighteners — including relaxers — to an increased risk of uterine cancer. Women who used these products more than four times a year had more than double the risk compared to those who did not use them.
Many women — particularly Black women who have used relaxers since childhood — are now actively looking for alternatives that deliver straight, manageable hair without the health risks, the breakage, and the irreversible commitment.
Lye / sodium hydroxide
Zero
Formaldehyde
Zero
Bond damage
None
Reversible
Yes
Keratin vs relaxer
How keratin treatment differs from a relaxer.
Chemical relaxer
How it works: Permanently breaks disulfide bonds using lye or no-lye chemicals
Reversible: No — treated hair cannot return to its natural state
Touch-ups: Every 6-8 weeks ($65-$120 per session)
Damage: Cumulative — each touch-up weakens hair further
Health concerns: Scalp burns, thinning, breakage, NIH-linked cancer risk
Annual cost: $500-$1,000+ in salon touch-ups
Keratin treatment
How it works: Restructures and smooths bonds using glyoxylic acid or enzyme-based formulas
Reversible: Yes — grows out or washes out, natural texture returns
Touch-ups: Every 3-5 months (apply at home)
Damage: Minimal — strengthens the hair shaft rather than weakening it
Health concerns: No lye, no sodium hydroxide, formaldehyde-free (QIQI and Nanokeratin)
Annual cost: ~$135/year with QIQI Hair Controller at home
Option 1 — Long-lasting smoothing
QIQI Hair Controller.
Glyoxylic acid-based smoothing and straightening. Zero formaldehyde, zero lye, zero sodium hydroxide. Three formulas matched to different hair types. Results last up to 5 months. Each 150g bottle provides 3+ treatments — approximately $56 per treatment. Designed for both salon and home use.
From $129 · 150g
Hair Controller — Thick & Coarse
Formaldehyde-free permanent smoothing treatment for thick, coarse, and afro-textured hair. Softens disulfide bonds under heat for lasting frizz control — from defined curls to fully straight. QIQI Hair Controller results last up to 5 months.
Shop now →
From $129 · 150g
Hair Controller — Wavy & Curly
Permanently reduces frizz and enhances natural pattern definition — or delivers a smooth, controlled finish. Designed specifically for wavy and curly hair. Formaldehyde-free. Lasts up to 5 months.
Shop now →
From $129 · 150g
Hair Controller — Thin & Delicate
Formaldehyde-free permanent smoothing for fine, colour-treated, or delicate hair. Eliminates frizz and reduces volume without over-processing. QIQI Hair Controller safe for bleached and highlighted hair. Results last up to 5 months.
Shop now →Option 2 — Specialist afro formula
Nanokeratin System.
Nanokeratin Refortify Smoother is the specialist afro formula — designed from the ground up for tightly textured and type 4 hair. It smooths and reduces frizz while preserving more of your natural texture. Results last 12-16 weeks and wash out gradually, so you are never locked in. The manufacturer states all formulas are 0% formaldehyde and aldehyde.
Refortify Smoother — Afro & Textured Hair
From $279
Revive Smoother — Natural Hair
From $279
Refine Smoother — Colour-Treated Hair
From $279
Replenish Smoother — Blonde & Bleached Hair
From $279
Resmooth Hair Smoother
From $129
Retexture Hair Smoother
From $129
Rexten Hair Safeguard — Extensions
From $139
See the full Nanokeratin range including aftercare bundles →
Your hair, your choice
You keep the option to go back.
One of the biggest differences between a relaxer and a keratin treatment is reversibility. A relaxer permanently destroys your hair's natural bond structure. Once relaxed, that section of hair can never return to its natural state. The only way back is to cut it off and start over.
Keratin treatments do not permanently alter your hair. QIQI Hair Controller results last up to 5 months and grow out gradually — there is no harsh demarcation line between treated and new growth. Nanokeratin Refortify washes out over 12-16 weeks, with your natural texture returning progressively.
This means you can straighten your hair for months at a time, then simply stop and let your natural texture come back. You are never locked in. You never have to choose between straight hair now and natural hair later.
QIQI Hair Controller
Grows out over 5 months. No demarcation line. Natural texture returns gradually.
Nanokeratin Refortify
Washes out over 12-16 weeks. Natural texture returns fully between treatments.
Chemical relaxer
Permanent. Treated hair never returns to natural state. Must cut to start over.
Cost comparison
Relaxer vs keratin — the real cost.
Relaxer touch-ups
$500-$1,000+
per year
$65-$120 per salon visit
Every 6-8 weeks (mandatory)
Plus deep conditioning treatments
Plus protein treatments for damage repair
QIQI Hair Controller
~$135
per year
~$56 per treatment
Every 5 months
Apply at home — no salon needed
3+ treatments per 150g bottle
Nanokeratin Refortify
From $168
per bottle
Specialist afro formula
Every 12-16 weeks
Professional or home use
Preserves natural texture pattern
Making the switch
How to transition from relaxer to keratin.
01
Stop relaxing
Let your relaxed hair grow out. Do not apply any new relaxer. The transition period varies — some women big chop, others grow out gradually over 6-12 months.
02
Wait for new growth
You need enough natural, unrelaxed hair to work with. Keratin should be applied to hair that has not been chemically relaxed. Wait at least 3-4 months after your last relaxer.
03
Choose your formula
QIQI Thick & Coarse for maximum straightening on resistant hair. Nanokeratin Refortify for smoothing that preserves more of your natural texture. Take the quiz if unsure.
04
Apply and maintain
Follow the application guide. Use sulfate-free shampoo from day one. Reapply every 3-5 months as needed — or simply stop and let your natural texture return.
Common questions
Hair relaxer alternative — FAQ
What can I use instead of a hair relaxer?
Keratin treatments are the most effective alternative to chemical relaxers. They smooth and straighten hair without lye, sodium hydroxide, or calcium hydroxide. QIQI Hair Controller uses glyoxylic acid to restructure hair bonds safely — results last up to 5 months. Nanokeratin Refortify is formulated specifically for afro and textured hair, with results lasting 12-16 weeks. Both are formaldehyde-free and do not permanently break the hair bonds the way relaxers do.
Is keratin treatment safer than a relaxer?
Yes. Chemical relaxers use sodium hydroxide (lye) or calcium hydroxide (no-lye) to permanently break the disulfide bonds in your hair. This causes irreversible structural damage and has been linked to scalp burns, hair thinning, and breakage. A 2022 NIH study also linked frequent relaxer use to increased uterine cancer risk. Keratin treatments work differently — they restructure bonds rather than breaking them. QIQI Hair Controller is formaldehyde-free and uses glyoxylic acid, which is significantly gentler on hair and scalp.
What's the difference between keratin treatment and relaxer?
A relaxer permanently breaks the disulfide bonds in your hair using harsh alkali chemicals (sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide). The hair cannot return to its natural state. A keratin treatment restructures and smooths the hair bonds without breaking them permanently. With keratin, you keep the option to return to your natural texture — the treatment either grows out (QIQI, up to 5 months) or washes out gradually (Nanokeratin, 12-16 weeks). Keratin also strengthens the hair shaft, while relaxers weaken it.
Can keratin treatment straighten 4c hair without chemicals?
Keratin treatments use gentler chemistry than relaxers, but they are not chemical-free — they use safe bonding agents like glyoxylic acid instead of lye. QIQI Hair Controller Thick & Coarse is designed for resistant, tightly textured hair including type 4c. It can deliver results from loosened texture to fully straight depending on your flat iron technique. Nanokeratin Refortify is the specialist afro formula — it smooths and reduces frizz while preserving more of your natural texture pattern.
Is QIQI formaldehyde-free?
Yes. All QIQI Hair Controller formulas — Thick & Coarse, Wavy & Curly, and Thin & Delicate — are 100% formaldehyde-free. They use a glyoxylic acid-based formula that restructures the hair without any formaldehyde or aldehyde derivatives. There are no lye chemicals, no sodium hydroxide, and no calcium hydroxide. It is safe for home use in a normal bathroom with basic ventilation.
How long does keratin last compared to a relaxer?
A chemical relaxer is permanent — the treated hair stays straight until it grows out, but the new growth creates a distinct demarcation line that needs touch-ups every 6-8 weeks ($65-$120 per session). QIQI Hair Controller lasts up to 5 months and grows out gradually with no harsh demarcation line. Nanokeratin Refortify lasts 12-16 weeks and washes out gradually. Both avoid the cycle of mandatory touch-ups that relaxers require.
Can I switch from relaxer to keratin treatment?
Yes, but you need to let your relaxed hair grow out first. Keratin treatments should not be applied over recently relaxed hair because the bonds have already been permanently broken by the relaxer. Wait until you have enough new growth, or transition fully to natural hair before applying keratin. Many women use the transition period as an opportunity to go natural, then maintain their desired texture with keratin treatments going forward.
How much does keratin treatment cost compared to relaxer touch-ups?
Relaxer touch-ups cost $65-$120 every 6-8 weeks at a salon, which adds up to $500-$1,000+ per year. QIQI Hair Controller costs approximately $56 per treatment (each 150g bottle provides 3+ treatments) and lasts up to 5 months — that is roughly $135 per year. Even factoring in sulfate-free aftercare shampoo, keratin is significantly more affordable than maintaining a relaxer long-term.
Ships from USA · free shipping over $175
Straighten your hair. Keep your options open.
No lye. No sodium hydroxide. No formaldehyde. Keratin treatments that deliver real results — without the damage, the health risks, or the permanent commitment. Your natural texture is always there when you want it back.