ARE RELAXERS GOOD FOR YOU?

[1QTPie]

Relaxers arent like vitamins or fruit

On the other thread, i think some ladies were saying that they didnt think their relaxed hair was unhealthy Not that the actually relaxers was healthy for their hair like a deepconditoner or that it was healthy for their body like it was benefitting them


Of course no-one is going to think relaxers are "good for them".


I dont think relaxers are good for your health
But i also dont think they are "AS BAD" as some people think.

I also think their are waaaay worse things.


ETA---the poll just seems worded for a favaroble outcome--nobody in their right mind thinks relaxers are actually "good for them"

ditto to what she ^ said.

 

[ImFree27]

i'm sure this was said in jest...

Yeah i totally agreeerplexed

 

[SparklingFlame]

i'm sure this was said in jest...

It was.

................

 

[tiffers]

Your hair seem to be a 3c texture, nothing like my 4 a/b texture and I do not agree that it does not require a whole lot of moisturizing as I did wear my hair natural for a while and it was downright difficult for me to keep moisturized and soft and that is why I feel so strongly about this. When i was natural, I lost a lot of hair in the comb. Now had my hair been a 3c texture, I don't think that I would be bothering to relax it, at least not as often as I do now.

I thank God for the man/woman who invented the relaxer, whether good or bad, it's been extremely intrumental in making my combing efforts a whole lot easier....I hated detangling my natural hair but I utterly enjoy caring for my relaxed hair.

And yes, we do have this one thought in common and that is that both textures requires work, whether it's a little work or a lot of it, it's still work.

ITA

My dh has 4b natural hair and it's very difficult to keep his hair moisturized and soft. Even when I'm gentle with it, he loses a lot of hair in the comb, so I can definitely relate to that. I have a daughter who's 4a, and while her hair is softer and holds on to moisture easier than hubby's, it's still a bit of a challenge to keep the moisture in it. My younger daughter is 3c and my son is 3b, and their hair STAYS moisturized and soft. I hardly have to use any product--and that's every other day--on their hair.

 

[**SaSSy**]

I wouldn't say relaxers are healthy or unhealthy because there are people on this broad that have relaxed hair and are healther than some natural headed people. It's something that people decide to do for cutting back on hair time, personal and some for society reasons. But it's for sure UNHEALTHY to be applied offen.

I have a friend who is in school to be a stylist and her teachers tell her that relaxers should only be applied every 6 months! That made me want to stretch my relaxer for at least 4 months due to that new because growing up I learned that you have to get touch ups every 6 weeks from the same people I would pay to ruin my hair!

 

[Aggie]

ITA

My dh has 4b natural hair and it's very difficult to keep his hair moisturized and soft. Even when I'm gentle with it, he loses a lot of hair in the comb, so I can definitely relate to that. I have a daughter who's 4a, and while her hair is softer and holds on to moisture easier than hubby's, it's still a bit of a challenge to keep the moisture in it. My younger daughter is 3c and my son is 3b, and their hair STAYS moisturized and soft. I hardly have to use any product--and that's every other day--on their hair.

I wouldn't say relaxers are healthy or unhealthy because there are people on this broad that have relaxed hair and are healther than some natural headed people. It's something that people decide to do for cutting back on hair time, personal and some for society reasons. But it's for sure UNHEALTHY to be applied offen.

I have a friend who is in school to be a stylist and her teachers tell her that relaxers should only be applied every 6 months! That made me want to stretch my relaxer for at least 4 months due to that new because growing up I learned that you have to get touch ups every 6 weeks from the same people I would pay to ruin my hair!

I totally agree with both tiffers and Sassyb4Classy. I admit a relaxer have it's drawbacks but then there are pros and cons with everything in life.

 

[divya]

No, I don't believe relaxers themselves are healthy products. However, it is possible to keep relaxed hair healthy if the hair is treated well.

 

[Allandra]

I was just wondering how many of you think relaxers are good and healthy for you and your hair? I read on a previous thread I started that some women found relaxers to be healthy/good for their hair and I was curious... are there any more of you out there?

When I really think about it, I feel as though relaxers aren't good for anyone.

 

[Jazala]

When I really think about it, I feel as though relaxers aren't good for anyone.

It's not surprising that transitioners would feel this way but if the relaxer is really so bad then why aren't people chopping off the relaxer right away when they come to this new revelation? Why also after years of relaxing suddenly they feel it's their duty to pressure everyone else to stop relaxing?

A thread like this shouldn't even exist IMO on a board that claims to want to encourage people to take better care of thier hair regardless of the type of hair on their heads.

I visited the naptural hair sites and you know what the biggest turn-off was? They all FORBID anyone from talking about any type of hair straightening (even blow-outs or flat ironing). They make it seem BAD for people to want versatility in their hair styling... this NAPPY or NOTHING attitude is really tiresome.

This board seemed to embrace all hair types, well except for threads like this one.

 

[Sui Topi]

I really dont think Southern Tease was trying to make any relaxed heads feel bad. She just wanted to bring awareness to you guys. I mean she could have done it in a more delicate manner, but she was probably just excited. I read alot of posts here that really addressed this, but suprisingly no one had any comments for them. Basically, It is a well known fact that continuous applications of relaxers are not good for you...period. You are using a chemical to damage your hair straight...have any of you seen natural hair heat damage? It's comparable to that. Being on LHCF, I have seen a whole lot of healthy looking relaxed hair, but when you think about it..it is as healthy as it can be considering the fact that it is fried hair. Lets not forget about "scab hair". Can you imagine that you can stop relaxing for months and your hair will still be affected? Anyway, we all already know it is not good for you, so we dont need to go there anymore. The only thing that really disturbed me so much that I had to post is how some of us have this "pick your poison" mentality. How can you say "well theres so many other chemicals that I am exposed to so who cares?" Thats really....I dont even know what to say. With all we know about cigarettes, would you really say "oh well theres already pollution in the air so it doesnt matter if I breathe in anything else", or if you were being served mad cow diseased meat, would you say "oh well theres so much toxins in meat nowadays anyway"? I really hope that you all are more interested in your well being than that. I mean we all have choices. I eat chocolate and candy too, but please don't dare compare that to me putting a chemical that I am instructed to wear gloves while handling on to my scalp and hair. Someone brought up all the health issues that we black women are facing due to exposure to different things in our life. There is no way that you can say relaxers have no effect on us...no way. Also!..to say that the OP's opinion is invalid because she had relaxed her hair is stupid too. Have any of you stopped doing something because it is bad for your health? Is your testimony invalid now? If thats the case, then the whole idea of 'experience' needs to get thrown out the window why should she cut off her relaxed part? Maybe she still wants her length. Youre acting like the previously relaxed part is still processing.....I understand you guys are angry because of the way she approached you, but theres no need for you to counteract by being ignorant

 

[divya]

It's not surprising that transitioners would feel this way but if the relaxer is really so bad then why aren't people chopping off the relaxer right away when they come to this new revelation? Why also after years of relaxing suddenly they feel it's their duty to pressure everyone else to stop relaxing?

A thread like this shouldn't even exist IMO on a board that claims to want to encourage people to take better care of thier hair regardless of the type of hair on their heads.

I visited the naptural hair sites and you know what the biggest turn-off was? They all FORBID anyone from talking about any type of hair straightening (even blow-outs or flat ironing). They make it seem BAD for people to want versatility in their hair styling... this NAPPY or NOTHING attitude is really tiresome.

This board seemed to embrace all hair types, well except for threads like this one.

There are many things that people do that aren't the best. This is no different. That being said, no one is pressing anyone else to stop relaxing. It's a simple question. No big deal...

I have always been well aware that being natural was the best, whether texturized/texlaxed or not. And lastly, natural hair is very versatile in hair styling!

 

[divya]

I really dont think Southern Tease was trying to make any relaxed heads feel bad. She just wanted to bring awareness to you guys. I mean she could have done it in a more delicate manner, but she was probably just excited. I read alot of posts here that really addressed this, but suprisingly no one had any comments for them. Basically, It is a well known fact that continuous applications of relaxers are not good for you...period. You are using a chemical to damage your hair straight...have any of you seen natural hair heat damage? It's comparable to that. Being on LHCF, I have seen a whole lot of healthy looking relaxed hair, but when you think about it..it is as healthy as it can be considering the fact that it is fried hair. Lets not forget about "scab hair". Can you imagine that you can stop relaxing for months and your hair will still be affected? Anyway, we all already know it is not good for you, so we dont need to go there anymore. The only thing that really disturbed me so much that I had to post is how some of us have this "pick your poison" mentality. How can you say "well theres so many other chemicals that I am exposed to so who cares?" Thats really....I dont even know what to say. With all we know about cigarettes, would you really say "oh well theres already pollution in the air so it doesnt matter if I breathe in anything else", or if you were being served mad cow diseased meat, would you say "oh well theres so much toxins in meat nowadays anyway"? I really hope that you all are more interested in your well being than that. I mean we all have choices. I eat chocolate and candy too, but please don't dare compare that to me putting a chemical that I am instructed to wear gloves while handling on to my scalp and hair. Someone brought up all the health issues that we black women are facing due to exposure to different things in our life. There is no way that you can say relaxers have no effect on us...no way. Also!..to say that the OP's opinion is invalid because she had relaxed her hair is stupid too. Have any of you stopped doing something because it is bad for your health? Is your testimony invalid now? If thats the case, then the whole idea of 'experience' needs to get thrown out the window why should she cut off her relaxed part? Maybe she still wants her length. Youre acting like the previously relaxed part is still processing.....I understand you guys are angry because of the way she approached you, but theres no need for you to counteract by being ignorant

Tell the truth!

 

[Aggie]

Okay, let's agree to disagree, relaxers are not good for our hair...there I said it, happy now? But the reality is, I like having my hair relaxed and I will relax it for as long as there is relaxer on this earth or God Himself tells me don't do it anymore or I die, whichever comes first. This is my choice and the choice of many others who relax, texlax, perm, commercially color, semi-permanent rinse, bleach, and texturize their hair, which by the way, are all bad for the hair, but we do them anyway, don't we?

This thread is getting really tiresome, let's stop arguing about our personal choices and appreciate each of them instead. Good for all those ladies who wear their hair natural, it's beautiful on you and you wear it very well, I, along with many others don't see ourselves doing so, that's all.

I think it's a good idea for the moderators to shut this thread down - permanently! It's creating too much anger on the board.

 

[SparklingFlame]

I think it's a good idea for the moderators to shut this thread down - permanently! It's creating too much anger on the board.

It wont matter. Sombody else will put up another thread bout this same thing and we'll have the same results.

 

[Jazala]

I really dont think Southern Tease was trying to make any relaxed heads feel bad. She just wanted to bring awareness to you guys.

She already admitted to her agenda. I think it shouldn't be allowed on this board. The only reason people bring up the previously relaxed hair is because it makes her and others who are just NOW thumping the "Nappy Bible" sound hypocritical. That's all.

I think it's a good idea for the moderators to shut this thread down - permanently! It's creating too much anger on the board.

ITA!

 

[Bint Yusef]

It wont matter. Sombody else will put up another thread bout this same thing and we'll have the same results.

Pretty much, and I dont know why folks secure in their choices would be angry in the first place. *shrugs*

 

[SparklingFlame]

Pretty much, and I dont know why folks secure in their choices would be angry in the first place. *shrugs*

EXACTLY! Just do you and to heck with what everybody else thinks.

 

[Jazala]

I have always been well aware that being natural was the best, whether texturized/texlaxed or not.

??????????

 

[Jazala]

EXACTLY! Just do you and to heck with what everybody else thinks.

I agree with you. I tried to avoid this thread like the plague. It just keeps popping up and I had to open my big mouth... I'm done now

BTW your hair is absolutely beautiful and I've never seen anyone with more versatiltiy than what I've seen you post on the board. You can do EVERYTHING with your hair and it's so lovely to see. I need a drool bib when I see your pictures lol.

 

[Aggie]

It wont matter. Sombody else will put up another thread bout this same thing and we'll have the same results.

Yes I know, because one just like this was recently shut down about a week or so ago and for the life of me, I don't know why they won't do the same to this one.

 

[napgurl]

There are many things that people do that aren't the best. This is no different. That being said, no one is pressing anyone else to stop relaxing. It's a simple question. No big deal...

I have always been well aware that being natural was the best, whether texturized/texlaxed or not. And lastly, natural hair is very versatile in hair styling!

. . . perhaps for you. I'm sure if others thought it was unhealthy for them then they would stop relaxing.

I don't think this thread should be shut down. Yes I think the op does have an agenda . . . so. She believes what she believes and it is good to understand all perspectives so that we can make the best choices with more information. However nothing she said addressed any links to any debilitating diseases from relaxed hair and that being said there is more evidence that hair dye is more harmful than . . . http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-04-10-blasi-dye.htm than hair relaxer. My mother was a haircolorist and yes she past away from bladder cancer.

But not to get off topic . . . if there are read dangers then lets talk the facts. More people will be open to that than leading questions.

 

[Pheonixx]

^^^^
There aren't any REAL (life-threatening) dangers in relaxing. A study was conducted last year I believe concerning Relaxers and the long held belief that the chemicals within relaxers cause cancer.
(Our tax dollars hard at work! as usual)

Anywho--they don't (cause cancer).

I do think hair dye has the potential to be quite damaging (i know it's incredibly drying). I don't use dye.

I don't take offense to comments like these and I don't think threads like this should be shut down either. People need to learn how to respond to an issue and express differing opinions without flying all off the handle.
It's childish.
What's the problem? How you gon let someone else dictate what YOU are all about based on what you do to your hair?
Come one now...

2.
As far as I'm concerned....it'd be different if the people with these socalled 'agendas' were actually educating people on here but I don't see this.
It's just a whole lot of OPINIONS based largely on anecdotes and personal experiences...and what's that amount to?

It's nothing more than an opinon. And an opinion is an opinion.
So unless somebody has a well-documented study chronicling the dangers of Relaxers I'll assume that in terms of potential damage, it's on par with other hair treatments, (dye, perms, etc...)


3.
I don't see many relaxed heads heads making much sense. If you relax because you 'want to' then fine but that has nothing to do with the question posed: Are relaxers healthy?
I relax (in the past) because I 'wanted to' as well but I know better than to engage someone in a discussion or debate when my logic is off.
If there are 'Nappy Nazis' running around here then there are just as many 'Creamed Crackheads' who swear allegiance to Relaxers regardless of how ridiculous and nonsensical their argument becomes(and both sides make it difficult for a real discussion on this matter to take place.)
Because it's almost as if some don't want to admit that Relaxers may actually be unhealthy for the hair...
If they aren't then they're not. More importantly, if you can't disprove someone's statements then you just can't. No need to get nasty. No need to start pulling ish out of your *** to be used as a defense!
"Well....red meat is bad for you too."
What...?

Yeah--and ppl think Marijuana is a harmless drug. Poeple think smoking weed gives them Mental Clarity....when in actuality it's recently been linked to schizophrenia!
Just because ppl do involve themselves in unhealthy activity doesn't make the activity any less unhealthy.


4.
ANYWAY I'm not in this debate but I will answer the original question.
No. I don't think relaxers are good for the hair.
Yeh-I've relaxed my hair too. Because I felt like it. Basically.
My hair is great. I get compliments all the time. Just recently my cousin who'd only seen my with a scarf asked if it were all mine...and actually I'm gettin a lil sick of ppl asking me if I'm wearing a wig or a piece. Dagnabit!

But I digress.
Yeh I've relaxed.... Not sayin this isn't an important issue in some way---but placed in it's proper perspective...it's insanity imo to get all wound up over.

C'mon...as if the number one issue facing Black America today are 'black women who relax'?
Talk about misdirected energy...

 

[blasianbeauty]

I have a relaxer. I don't think relaxers are "good" for your hair. They can for some, make the hair more manageable. However, I think if they are applied properly and your hair is well taken care of, you're hair can thrive with them.

The key is to apply them properly and don't abuse them. Don't apply them all the way to the ends and don't relax every 4 weeks and expect your hair to flourish.

This is it in a nutshell. As long as they are not abused and one takes care of their hair then that's fine.

 

[Irresistible]

why do threads like this get bumped up that werent actually bumped up? or am I the only one seeing them .....things that make you go hmmmmmm

 

[SparklingFlame]

why do threads like this get bumped up that werent actually bumped up? or am I the only one seeing them .....things that make you go hmmmmmm

When somebody votes in the poll the thread will get bumped.

 

[Irresistible]

When somebody votes in the poll the thread will get bumped.

ohhh! I was really wondering if I was the only one seeing them

Thank you for answering!

 

[d-rock]

When somebody votes in the poll the thread will get bumped.

Guess I'm not helping. I voted because it was at the top and I'd never seen this thread before.