This is Why I'm Going Natural (Scary Pic)

[SparklingFlame]

OK This next comment is going to be so off color, but I don't care right now, I am amusing myself: Looks like she got burnt to the WHITE MEAT! Hope that crack rock was worth it!

 

[aloof one]

I guess you can call me that lying-*** fool because -- as an African-American female -- I didn't have ANY pressure to relax my hair.

poohbear dont take it personal
i wasnt talking about you as an individual.
SOCIETAL pressures, not individual families. There are families that DONT force their kids to relax and individuals who never felt he need to. But dont act like the majority of women in this country dont get relaxers just because there are naturals out there. Dont act like its not common, because if that were the case we wouldnt have so many people transitioning to natural, but rather people transitioning to relaxed. There wouldnt still be stigmas attached to naturals about them being the militant minority, etc. There wouldnt be professional places that still shun afros and other natural styles. Most black women here would be natural if that were the case. I am in no way calling you a liar. However I am saying anyone on this board who think EVERYONE was born with the option and Relaxing is a perfectly safe process ARE lying to themselves and others. Toddlers cant make these decisions, and I think when I was growing up ONLY seeing relaxed hair in person and on TV created a lot of pressure to keep relaxing, not to mention I got my ass beat if I "sweat a perm out" on the playground or said no to my mom giving me a relaxer. My story is pretty much the same as yours--- did you even read it? dont take offense because I wasnt personally attacking you.

Youre one of the few who WASNT pressured, even though it looks like you said you thought it was manditory just like I did... But I can guarantee you a lot of people grew up feeling they had to relax. And the media favored relaxed hair on black women for a long time (up until recently) Just because some didnt feel they had to relax(and youre lucky) doesnt mean they are the majority. They should be, but theyre not.

 

[cocoberry10]

Her before pictures kinda look like weaves. Was that her real hair before?

Girl, you are always on the case. If you say it’s a weave—IT’S A WEAVE!!!!!!

 

[Nice & Wavy]

aww thanks girlie your hair is gorgeous..u had me feenin for a blowout..

You are welcome. Thank you girl. I'm going for my second one today after work. I did some preparing though:

I clarifyed and did an Aveda deep treatment last night with oil. Today, I rinsed my hair and only added a little Elucence MB Conditioner and Aveda USC and in a ponytail it went.

My hair is ready for the heat.....oh yeah!

 

[Poohbear]

Poohbear:

I think you both are correct. Most AA relax out of habit but where did that habit come from or the feeling that the habit was necessary to continue.

Most people think there isn't any option and this is what they are suppose to do.

You are an exception to the rule.

How many times have I heard Oprah say "we need that relaxer" or Tyra say "one day I hope to have the courage to stop wearing this wig or fake hair".


AA or any other curly hair women don't need a relaxer. I am not against anyone who wants a relaxer. It is not my hair but I do get a bit uppity when I read people "need a relaxer". Kinky, coily etc hair don't need anything but proper hair care and acceptance from the person's whose head's it is growing out of.

I really don't think the poster is wrong because you still have black people saying her hair looks tore up, she needs a perm..when the correct term is relaxer, you should straighten your hair, how do I get my curls to pop etc. I am glad you have acceptance of your hair but a lot of people do not, even some people who are natural.

I mean there has to be something deep going on in your mind if you put something on your head that has a potential to be harmful. Everytime you put any chemical on your hair..you bite the bullet. For those who say everything we use has some chemical substance in it..well true but those products don't burn the crap out of you nor do you have to base your scalp to prevent chemical burns.

The whole process is just deep, whether you relax out of habit or feel you have no choice no one can deny the truth why relaxing became a habit or not a choice.

Yes, I totally agree with everything you said, but I wasn't saying that al00fone was wrong... I was just saying that I am a Black female who didn't feel pressured to relaxed like she had mentioned. I wasn't even influenced by naturals on TV to go natural either.

 

[Poohbear]

poohbear dont take it personal
i wasnt talking about you as an individual.
SOCIETAL pressures, not individual families. There are families that DONT force their kids to relax and individuals who never felt he need to. But dont act like the majority of women in this country dont get relaxers just because there are naturals out there. Dont act like its not common, because if that were the case we wouldnt have so many people transitioning to natural, but rather people transitioning to relaxed. There wouldnt still be stigmas attached to naturals about them being the militant minority, etc. There wouldnt be professional places that still shun afros and other natural styles. Most black women here would be natural if that were the case. I am in no way calling you a liar. However I am saying anyone on this board who think EVERYONE was born with the option and Relaxing is a perfectly safe process ARE lying to themselves and others. Toddlers cant make these decisions, and I think when I was growing up ONLY seeing relaxed hair in person and on TV created a lot of pressure to keep relaxing, not to mention I got my ass beat if I "sweat a perm out" on the playground or said no to my mom giving me a relaxer. My story is pretty much the same as yours--- did you even read it? dont take offense because I wasnt personally attacking you.

Youre one of the few who WASNT pressured, even though it looks like you said you thought it was manditory just like I did... But I can guarantee you a lot of people grew up feeling they had to relax. And the media favored relaxed hair on black women for a long time (up until recently) Just because some didnt feel they had to relax(and youre lucky) doesnt mean they are the majority. They should be, but theyre not.

Oh okay, thanks for clarifying. I know you weren't personally attacking me, I was just bringing out how I -- as a Black woman -- didn't feel that pressure to relax my hair. I wasn't calling you or liar or anything. By the way, I also wasn't acting like it wasn't a common thing for Black women to get relaxers because of societal pressure. I really never knew about that pressure and "standard of European beauty" until I discovered online hair forums and read about the hair issues that other Black women had.

 

[Britt]

This story here is Exhibit D why this chick is lying. I'm inclined to believe she set herself on fire like somebody else suggested because she has those dark weed smoker lips. She probably was lighting up and set herself ablaze like MJ back in the day.

 

[MissJ]

Some of you are so critical when you fail to realize the point.

THIS CAN HAPPEN. IT HAS HAPPENED, AND RELAXERS ARE DANGEROUS. Even when you follow derections. Some are allergic, and a different brand of relaxer could have more sodium hydroxide and be the turning point that causes a reaction. Just because it makes your hair look straight doesn't mean its good for you. I remember some idiot told me perming conditions and cleanses the hair. I wanted to slap her through the internet and I'm glad we haven't met.

Relaxers has the same caustic ingredient DRAINO and NAIR has. Why do you think people have to wear gloves? You think it can burn your hands but won't burn your scalp? Ever wonder why fingers turn yellow and brittle and hard and dead and hurts overtime from touching relaxer? Same thing happens to your scalp after years of relaxing! Why do you think white people look at us like we're crazy when we explain that we put a cream on our head and rinse it out when it starts burning? If Bleach and Cigarrettes and alcohol has all these warnings about being corrosive and damaging and/or volatile, etc... why doesn't perm? Because a lot of black people are flocking to stores to buy the stuff like candy so that they can have hair straight like white people. And they have the nerve to do it to their children too.

Personally, I don't think it is worth it. When I see pictures of people with holes in their cheeks who smoked because it never hurt them at the time(until they were in their 50s with cancer...), pictures of black women with alopecia and patches of bone straight hair surrounding bald spots who say "at least my hair looked good" (until the stuff magically fell out after a number or years),... people with cancers and skin problems and all the like from using Hydroquinone & other chemicals on their skin for years...

I think to myself... why would you hurt yourself to look a certain way that God didn't make you? Why would you potentially harm your body? I was relaxed because I had no choice- my mom did it since I was a toddler. Here I am old enough to make my decision to quit, and yea, that picture just confirms it that I made a good one!

This is the truth: I have a scab on the back of my head about the size of the tip of a pencil eraser. It has been there for YEARS. Possibly a decade. It NEVER HEALED from a relaxer I was given. My mom followed directions most of the time, rinsed, neutralized, and neutralized again. I neutralized everytime I washed for like 2 weeks after a perm to be safe. But it STILL damaged my scalp. Why do some of you relaxed heads think yall have itchy scalps? Sores that don't heal? Scars? Now this is just me guessing but I think Black people don't just get dandruff out of the blue, I think some of it comes from putting perm on the head. I promise you, when I started transitioning, and even after I started stretching years ago, I forgot what dandruff was because it magically went away, like most of the scabs on my head. Unfortunately a lasting effect is that I STILL have a scab, and it STILL hurts, and bleeds and itches like I just got it yesterday. That's not natural.

So don't downplay something clearly unnatural and clearly dangerous, and clearly should be labelled as such. And by labelling, I want to see on the box that the stuff causes alopecia in some people, because it does. That it shouldn't be used every 4 weeks, because it shouldn't. That Sodium Hydroxide is right up there with all the other volatile chemicals like bleach and not a joke. I hate to offend, and I probably have, so for those of you who do relax, I understand why you do it, but you shouldn't shun this woman for doing what she is doing. They need to regulate perms, they need to label better, and they need to find a way to make it safer than what it is. ANYONE can buy a perm and use it at home, and this shouldn't be the case.

Thanks for the knowledge.

 

[Nicole1976]

I remember that! She didn't neutralize after the relaxer. She only brought the relaxer, not the kit. She said the instructions on the jar didn't say anything about neturalizing so she didn't. That damage took months too occur. This picture is what made me start using ACV rinses post relaxer to help me neutralize as well as using the neutralizing poo for the next few washes.

Thanks for filling in the blank. I feel awful for her!!! OMG!!!

As for me I just go to the Salon and have the stylist leave my relaxer in for about 5-7minutes (texlax, I have been taking this tactic for abut 4-6 months now)

 

[aloof one]

Exibit E! Thank you al00. She was lighting up, the front caught on fire, the activator made it spread and POOF! All that was left it the kitchen.


OK This next comment is going to be so off color, but I don't care right now, I am amusing myself: Looks like she got burnt to the WHITE MEAT! Hope that crack rock was worth it!

lol at ur detective work! I bet that activator is somethin like lighter fluid...

 

[LaReyna756]

We fight so hard for cigarrette labels, why not for this? There is always someone out there who is going to smoke, so there is always going to be a label on the things. There is always someone who has never had a relaxer, or learned all they needed to know about relaxing from someone who didn't know what they were doing, or someone who thinks they know what they are doing, or someone who makes bad assumptions about a product--- so there should be labels and regulations to protect the ignorant and prevent this fro happening. Sure she made a mistake, but there is nothing APPARENT on the box that DISTINCTLY warns of what she got on her head. I want to see the box with the FDA warning just like the cigarrettes.

I agree with you. Relaxers do contain chemicals similar to those found in harsh household producs like Draino. And one alarming point is that the government wouldn't approve anything with the chemical make up and concentration of relaxers for a product that we would store under our sink. There are lesser regulations for something that we're putting close to our scalp than there are for items were clearing our pipes with!

I do relax my hair, and I agree that the government should make more labeling requirements. Then maybe the haircare industry would place more emphasis on developing and marketing safer products and practices.

 

[cocoberry10]

I think if the government required more regulations, it would actually force these beauty/cosmetics companies to develop relaxers and/or relaxer techniques that were longer lasting and less harsh. I’m sure there are more natural ways to relax the curl without the potential for injury!

 

[lisana]

good post cocoberry. Women want the option of having straight hair and that is not going to change. So if these companies are FORCED to put warnings on the relaxers believe me, they want chose to stop making them, billions would be lost. They would put the same dollars into researching the safety and developing safer products. I know that Loreal is researching a pill to make hair change textures, so they are definitely willing to do the research, they just need a "push"

 

[Magus484]

I think that the main issue for her condition is because she didn't BASE HER SCALP!!!!!!!!! That's the first thing one is supposed to do, and she did not mention doing that. Basing the scalp with petroleum, or whatever, is supposed prevent this from happening. Plus she must have left it on for extra time.

Shame .

 

[felicia]

I think that the main issue for her condition is because she didn't BASE HER SCALP!!!!!!!!! That's the first thing one is supposed to do, and she did not mention doing that. Basing the scalp with petroleum, or whatever, is supposed prevent this from happening. Plus she must have left it on for extra time.

Shame .

I don't think that's it. I was inconsistent with basing my scalp, and that never happened to me.

 

[sylver2]

I think that the main issue for her condition is because she didn't BASE HER SCALP!!!!!!!!! That's the first thing one is supposed to do, and she did not mention doing that. Basing the scalp with petroleum, or whatever, is supposed prevent this from happening. Plus she must have left it on for extra time.

Shame .

i dont think thats it..i never base my scalp.

 

[aloof one]

I think if the government required more regulations, it would actually force these beauty/cosmetics companies to develop relaxers and/or relaxer techniques that were longer lasting and less harsh. I’m sure there are more natural ways to relax the curl without the potential for injury!

ITA and to take it a bit further, has anyone ever wondered if the stuff already exists?
The government has secret spy cameras that look like insects...

I dont doubt theres a permanent straightener NOT made of the harsh chemicals in relaxers, its just the fact that the relaxer industry is SO LUCRATIVE. (warning... conspiracy theories below... )

• If there was something safer and more effective and long lasting, a lot of companies that make relaxers would go bankrupt. All the products associated with them would stop selling, because we wouldn't be bought and sold on stuff that was supposed to maintained relaxed hair. Our hair would probably be healthier and we wouldn't have all the issues that come with relaxers... Black women spend more than ANYONE on their hair products, so if there was a safer way we would probably choose it over perms overtime, and they would loose our money big time. They make money off of us buying relaxers every 4 weeks regardless of the charge, and they love money. Why give up money just to help us?

• Same reason the cigarette industry is still such a big deal today: it makes money. The government here could easily do what other countries has done (by ban smoking because it DOES cause cancer), but it makes money. And everyone likes money.

• (Kinda OT)A lot of people have the same argument toward the (cough cough) tampon and sanitary pad industries. They say that these things are laced with chemicals that cause heavier periods, longer periods, and even eventually cancer in some women (I am not stating my own personal opinion, but rather that of a group of people who have done research on the topic). If we had longer periods, etc... Tampax would sure be making a hella lot more money if this was true. And they do make money, just like the hair industry. Those are two of the things A LOT of people religiously buy every month, so the only way these industries would fail is if (cough) someone found a better, safer way out there... And Im sure they wouldnt want that.

 

[Sweet_Ambrosia]

I think that the main issue for her condition is because she didn't BASE HER SCALP!!!!!!!!! That's the first thing one is supposed to do, and she did not mention doing that. Basing the scalp with petroleum, or whatever, is supposed prevent this from happening. Plus she must have left it on for extra time.

Shame .

She failed to use a neturalizing shampoo, she used a regular shampoo to rinse out the relaxer base, that was her downfall. She should have gone to a professional because it seems like she didn't know too much about self-relaxing and all that goes with it obviously.

 

[SparklingFlame]

ITA and to take it a bit further, has anyone ever wondered if the stuff already exists?
The government has secret spy cameras that look like insects...

I dont doubt theres a permanent straightener NOT made of the harsh chemicals in relaxers, its just the fact that the relaxer industry is SO LUCRATIVE. (warning... conspiracy theories below... )

• If there was something safer and more effective and long lasting, a lot of companies that make relaxers would go bankrupt. All the products associated with them would stop selling, because we wouldn't be bought and sold on stuff that was supposed to maintained relaxed hair. Our hair would probably be healthier and we wouldn't have all the issues that come with relaxers... Black women spend more than ANYONE on their hair products, so if there was a safer way we would probably choose it over perms overtime, and they would loose our money big time. They make money off of us buying relaxers every 4 weeks regardless of the charge, and they love money. Why give up money just to help us?

• Same reason the cigarette industry is still such a big deal today: it makes money. The government here could easily do what other countries has done (by ban smoking because it DOES cause cancer), but it makes money. And everyone likes money.

• (Kinda OT)A lot of people have the same argument toward the (cough cough) tampon and sanitary pad industries. They say that these things are laced with chemicals that cause heavier periods, longer periods, and even eventually cancer in some women (I am not stating my own personal opinion, but rather that of a group of people who have done research on the topic). If we had longer periods, etc... Tampax would sure be making a hella lot more money if this was true. And they do make money, just like the hair industry. Those are two of the things A LOT of people religiously buy every month, so the only way these industries would fail is if (cough) someone found a better, safer way out there... And Im sure they wouldnt want that.

You and me must be related somehow b/c I agree with all you just said. I am a "conspiracy theorist" myself!

 

[cocoberry10]

i dont think thats it..i never base my scalp.

And your hair is soooooo pretty. I honestly think she was allergic to the ingredients in the relaxer. Allergic reactions can cause all sorts of things, even death

 

[Poohbear]

I don't think that's it. I was inconsistent with basing my scalp, and that never happened to me.

When I had relaxed hair, my mom was inconsistent with basing my scalp too, and that didn't happen to me either.

That picture of that woman losing all her hair from relaxers didn't make me want to go natural. I still don't see how that happened to her unless she just let the chemical stay on her head overnight or something.

 

[cocoberry10]

Interesting...I can see how you might be on to something here

ITA and to take it a bit further, has anyone ever wondered if the stuff already exists?
The government has secret spy cameras that look like insects...

I dont doubt theres a permanent straightener NOT made of the harsh chemicals in relaxers, its just the fact that the relaxer industry is SO LUCRATIVE. (warning... conspiracy theories below... )

• If there was something safer and more effective and long lasting, a lot of companies that make relaxers would go bankrupt. All the products associated with them would stop selling, because we wouldn't be bought and sold on stuff that was supposed to maintained relaxed hair. Our hair would probably be healthier and we wouldn't have all the issues that come with relaxers... Black women spend more than ANYONE on their hair products, so if there was a safer way we would probably choose it over perms overtime, and they would loose our money big time. They make money off of us buying relaxers every 4 weeks regardless of the charge, and they love money. Why give up money just to help us?

• Same reason the cigarette industry is still such a big deal today: it makes money. The government here could easily do what other countries has done (by ban smoking because it DOES cause cancer), but it makes money. And everyone likes money.

• (Kinda OT)A lot of people have the same argument toward the (cough cough) tampon and sanitary pad industries. They say that these things are laced with chemicals that cause heavier periods, longer periods, and even eventually cancer in some women (I am not stating my own personal opinion, but rather that of a group of people who have done research on the topic). If we had longer periods, etc... Tampax would sure be making a hella lot more money if this was true. And they do make money, just like the hair industry. Those are two of the things A LOT of people religiously buy every month, so the only way these industries would fail is if (cough) someone found a better, safer way out there... And Im sure they wouldnt want that.

 

[cocoberry10]

When I had relaxed hair, my mom was inconsistent with basing my scalp too, and that didn't happen to me either.

That picture of that woman losing all her hair from relaxers didn't make me want to go natural. I still don't see how that happened to her unless she just let the chemical stay on her head overnight or something.

Bingo! This is probably what she did. I’ve even done at home relaxers where I didn’t use gloves. I may have obtained a few cuts, but never anything like this. I still think her actual scalp had a bad/allergic reaction with this stuff!

 

[SparklingFlame]

I’ve even done at home relaxers where I didn’t use gloves.

I've done that several times myself!

 

[mzhotniz86]

This is why I'm going natural

Coco- I am so sorry about your loss but here is a. what exactly happened? you should file a lawsuit with the company of the chemicals you used and keep all pictures for documentation. I just got a little sample of Boundless tresses and I believe it will work for you. just pray and ask god for strength and maybe consult with a dermatologist to see if they can give you shots to help with the growth. everything will get better just have patience and it will all come back even better than before! we are here for you

 

[SparklingFlame]

Coco- I am so sorry about your loss but here is a. what exactly happened? you should file a lawsuit with the company of the chemicals you used and keep all pictures for documentation. I just got a little sample of Boundless tresses and I believe it will work for you. just pray and ask god for strength and maybe consult with a dermatologist to see if they can give you shots to help with the growth. everything will get better just have patience and it will all come back even better than before! we are here for you

This isnt her. This is an old pic of a woman with a super bad perm job. She was just using this pic as a reference.

 

[InnerSoul]

Coco- I am so sorry about your loss but here is a. what exactly happened? you should file a lawsuit with the company of the chemicals you used and keep all pictures for documentation. I just got a little sample of Boundless tresses and I believe it will work for you. just pray and ask god for strength and maybe consult with a dermatologist to see if they can give you shots to help with the growth. everything will get better just have patience and it will all come back even better than before! we are here for you

u know that is not really coco right? that is a pic from some lady's story and coco just used that pic to show us what happened to that lady. Read through the first few pages to see links about that lady's story.

 

[aloof one]

Coco- I am so sorry about your loss but here is a. what exactly happened? you should file a lawsuit with the company of the chemicals you used and keep all pictures for documentation. I just got a little sample of Boundless tresses and I believe it will work for you. just pray and ask god for strength and maybe consult with a dermatologist to see if they can give you shots to help with the growth. everything will get better just have patience and it will all come back even better than before! we are here for you

lol i think thats a boundary even boundless tresses cant cross. this woman is bald fo life!

 

[sylver2]

Bingo! This is probably what she did. I’ve even done at home relaxers where I didn’t use gloves. I may have obtained a few cuts, but never anything like this. I still think her actual scalp had a bad/allergic reaction with this stuff!

gloves??whats that
lol..i never ever used them plastic gloves. my fingers were yellow for a couple of days afterwards tho..lol

 

[lisana]

I just don't understand those who don't bas the scalp or use gloves...that's just asking for trouble.