This invention describes a hair relaxer system and method that ameliorates and inhibits the adsorption and retention by alkaline, chemically-relaxed hair of exogenous multivalent metal ion present in the chemical relaxer, in the rinse water or both employed during the process of relaxing naturally curly hair with compositions containing strong chemical base. In a preferred relaxer method aspect, the alkaline, chemically relaxed hair was contacted with an aqueous metal ion chelating composition containing at least one multivalent metal ion chelating agent employing a disclosed delivery system adapted for practical salon use. In another preferred relaxer method embodiment, wipes impregnated with multivalent metal ion chelating composition were employed during the relaxer process.
