The Effects of relaxers and Going Natural for African Hair

From Meshplex

1 The Effects of Hair relaxers
2 External links

[edit] The Effects of Hair relaxers

Sisterlocks

Every six weeks for years sometimes from childhood it happens. What would make a person bounded in this way for years? The answer is hair relaxers. Most people of African descent have tightly coiled hair that most people call “nappy”. Some people take the statement of nappy as negative whereas some people embrace it. Black people from all different countries relax their hair, because they are afraid if they don’t they will not be accepted by corporate settings and sometimes their own family and friends.

Why not keep the status quo and do what most Black people do and relax or what some people call it “perm” your hair?

Hair relaxers have harmful health effects.
Chemical burns
Irritation
Red scalp
Receding hairline

Box Braids on TV

The chemicals enter your hair shaft and break protein bonds inside, causing curly hair to go limp which gives the straight appearance. No bonds are re-formed in the process. So relaxers work, because they break the bonds that strengthen the hair. A lot of black women that have no visible hairline have over processed their hair. Over processing is common and easy to do with relaxers.

Businessman with dreadlocks

[edit] What are some the ingredients in a hair relaxer?

The same ingredient that cleans out the clog in your sink is the same ingredient used in relaxers.

Sodium hydroxide is used in lye relaxers.
Calcium hydroxide is used in no lye relaxers.
Hydrogen peroxide, which is a weak acid and used as a disinfectant because of its bleaching agent.
Phosphoric acid and is considered to be a health hazard questionable of neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin and sense organ toxicant.
Ammonium hydroxide which maybe the cause of respiratory toxins.

Okay, think about this why do I, or the beautician need gloves to put something on my scalp? Why are some people trying to “fix” something that they were born with?

Modern Afro

[edit] Some points to consider about going natural

Some people may think so what about the chemicals. Or maybe they may think I’ve been “perming” my hair this long why should I stop. NO MATTER HOW YOUR RELAXED HAIR LOOKS TO YOU IT IS NOT HEALTHY HAIR. You say my hair won’t grow no matter what I do to it, or black hair doesn’t grow. Consider this there is a lot more people with dread locked hair that are down their back then relaxed hair people. How much money will you save a year not getting relaxers? Think about how free you will feel not getting that painful relaxer every 6 to 8 weeks. Getting in a pool whenever you want, of course you still have to be careful with the pool chemicals that will get in your hair; although not as much with natural hair. I would suggest to deep condition your natural hair after getting in the pool.

Girl with Cornrows

Deal or no Deal model

[edit] Going from relaxed hair to natural hair

The most common thoughts when you decide to go natural are:

What do I do with my hair?
Do I just go ahead and cut my hair?
Do I hang on to my relaxed hair for a while, while my natural hair grows and have two textures?

The choice can be different for everyone. A person does have to be extra careful with their hair when they have two textures on their hair, because your hair can have breakage. From personal experience I wore twist (using two strands of hair putting one strand over the other strand) when I had two textures on my hair the relaxed hair and the natural hair. I also started to “no poo” my hair, which means you wash your hair with conditioner rather than shampoo. Shampoo can be really harsh on black hair unless you have a natural shampoo. A couple of products I use are rasta Jamaican and “Shea Moisture”nubianheritage.

Cornrows with Afro

Once a person has gone all, natural by cutting off all, the perm. The skies the limit on how many styles you can do.Here are some styles you can try: