What is calcium hydroxide often used for in hair treatments?

Calcium hydroxide is often used as a component in no-lye relaxers to soften hair because of its ability to alter the hair's pH and break down disulfide bonds in the hair structure. This is crucial in the relaxing process, where the goal is to reduce the hair's curl and make it more manageable. The alkaline nature of calcium hydroxide helps to swell the hair shaft, allowing for better penetration of other ingredients that facilitate straightening.

In contrast, clarifying agents typically serve to remove buildup from hair products and oils, which is not the primary role of calcium hydroxide. Color enhancers are designed to improve or adjust the color of the hair, unrelated to the chemical relaxing process. Heat protectors are formulated to shield hair from thermal damage, which does not apply to the function of calcium hydroxide in chemical texturizing treatments.