the hair straighteners are typically stronger than a perm that is formulated for color treated hair. a perm and a relaxer and a straightener are basicly the same thing....same chemicals...except when you perm the hair, you roll the hair onto rollers or rods, but if don't roll the hair in rollers and comb it straight while the perming solution is on, it straightens the hair..the chemical process of restructuring the hair, whether you straighten it or curl it, is the same. you are still restructuring the hair to do something different. so buy a perm, leave out the rolling on rods part, mix according to instructions, comb it though the hair making it straight and you have now taken curl out instead of putting it in.
DebbieS.