What is the answer to the NYT Crossword clue "Ingredient in some hair relaxers" from September 20, 2026?

Crossword clue

“Ingredient in some hair relaxers”

This clue appeared as 38-Down in the NYT Crossword on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The answer has 3 letters.

Answer · 3 lettersFirst appearance

LYE

Letters3

Starts withL

Ends withE

Vowels1

Where this clue has appeared

NYT Crossword
Sep 20, 20263 letters→

About this clue

The clue “Ingredient in some hair relaxers” ran in the NYT Crossword on September 20, 2026 as 38-Down. Its answer is a 3-letter word that starts with L and ends with E.

See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for September 20, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.

More clues from this puzzle

1ASpecial-ordered6 letters 7ASections of a circle's circumference4 letters 11ANASCAR stat that varies widely by venue7 letters 18ABanderas of 2024's "Babygirl"7 letters 20ACoaster feature, maybe4 letters 21AAssembles in proper order8 letters 22AMar, as a reputation7 letters 23ASee 25-Across4 letters

FAQ

What is the answer to the “Ingredient in some hair relaxers” clue?+

The answer is LYE (3 letters), from the NYT Crossword of September 20, 2026.

Where has this clue appeared?+

We have seen it 1 time in the NYT Crossword.

How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+

Open the full list of answers for September 20, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.