Relaxers: Are you afraid of long-term relaxer effects on scalp?

[ajoyfuljoy]

Hey,

This is the one thing that might make me go natural. I am concerned about the long-term effects of relaxing on my hair follicles. But I'm not sure if I have a real reason to be. Maybe it's all in my head (no pun intended)!

Is anyone else concerned about this or could you care less? Why or why not? Please explain.

All opinions welcome I don't discriminate, tell it like it his...however you want to. Relaxed and naturals please chime in.

 

[Lady Esquire]

Hey,

This is the one thing that might make me go natural. I am concerned about the long-term effects of relaxing on my hair follicles. But I'm not sure if I have a real reason to be. Maybe it's all in my head (no pun intended)!

Is anyone else concerned about this or could you care less? Why or why not? Please explain.

All opinions welcome I don't discriminate, tell it like it his...however you want to. Relaxed and naturals please chime in.

I went natural for one year for this precise reason. I had all sorts of bad habits and my hair was jacked up. After making a decision to lay off of the relaxers, I saw a real change and it gave my scalp time to recover and heal. During that time, I discovered Cathy Howse, Caroly Gray, and then the boards. So a year later, with a head full of new and healthy hair, I felt informed and confident enough to return back to relaxers. Its been ON ever since.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

I went natural for one year for this precise reason. I had all sorts of bad habits and my hair was jacked up. After making a decision to lay off of the relaxers, I saw a real change and it gave my scalp time to recover and heal. During that time, I discovered Cathy Howse, Caroly Gray, and then the boards. So a year later, with a head full of new and healthy hair, I felt informed and confident enough to return back to relaxers. Its been ON ever since.

That's interesting and good to know. Heal time is very important

 

[Connie]

I've had mine relaxed for almost 22 years. My scalp is fine.

 

[Irresistible]

the relaxer was definitely doing something not right to my scalp

my crown used to ache and feel tingly and numb and just hurt

that went away after going natural

 

[morehairplease]

This is a good question. To be honest, I have thought about this. I have bc three times, all due to damage, but always felt that I would be doing better with/for my hair by going natural. Lately, I do not feel that this is the case with me. My hair is not responding like I thought it would and frankly I am somewhat feed up. I plan to relax later on this year when I obtain a little more length.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

This is a good question. To be honest, I have thought about this. I have bc three times, all due to damage, but always felt that I would be doing better with/for my hair by going natural. Lately, I do not feel that this is the case with me. My hair is not responding like I thought it would and frankly I am somewhat feed up. I plan to relax later on this year when I obtain a little more length.

Very insightful. I'm curious to know what relaxer you decide on using, lol!

 

[prospurr4]

No, because I don't know of any "long-term relaxer effects on [my] scalp." I've never had a problem with my scalp, not even burning during the relaxing process when I used to be fully-relaxed. Now that I'm texlaxed, it's all good!

 

[AfroKink]

No, because I don't know of any "long-term relaxer effects on [my] scalp." I've never had a problem with my scalp, not even burning during the relaxing process when I used to be fully-relaxed. Now that I'm texlaxed, it's all good!

Right. What are the long term effects? to the scalp or the rest of the body?

Lys

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

Right. What are the long term effects? to the scalp or the rest of the body?

Lys

That's a good question actually. I've heard about balding, scalp burns, permanent hair loss... and I know that some have no problems. I'm just wondering how much others may think/wonder about this or even care.

 

[ekomba]

I went natural for one year for this precise reason. I had all sorts of bad habits and my hair was jacked up. After making a decision to lay off of the relaxers, I saw a real change and it gave my scalp time to recover and heal. During that time, I discovered Cathy Howse, Caroly Gray, and then the boards. So a year later, with a head full of new and healthy hair, I felt informed and confident enough to return back to relaxers. Its been ON ever since.

I feel the exact same way even though my natural hair was stronger and thicker than my permed hair and could sustain more harsh treatment.

my relaxed hair prior to going natural was so jacked up and thin, with relaxer applied each time on the whole strand!!! and no haircare regimen whatsoever, no protective styling, sleeping with satin bonnet

After 2 years natural and starting with a fresh crop of hair i can now take care of my permed hair the best i can and apply the same diligence i did on my beautiful kinks. I know now how to make PERMED hair thicker, i swear by serums and my relaxed hair is the thickest i ve ever seen it in my life mind you i'm almost 3 months post and trying to hold on for my next touch up hihi

may 21 it will be 3months post on june 3. (SUMMER ROUTINE:the new growth is crazy i now rinse my hair daily, apply silk worm rinse, rinse again,then put serum and bun it so the hair kinda stay wet full of moisture)



I do care about the long term relaxer effects that s why i dont do my own touch ups. and i try to space my touchups the most i can else that s about it.

 

[morehairplease]

Very insightful. I'm curious to know what relaxer you decide on using, lol!

Mizani butter blends.

 

[MiWay]

I went natural for one year for this precise reason. I had all sorts of bad habits and my hair was jacked up. After making a decision to lay off of the relaxers, I saw a real change and it gave my scalp time to recover and heal. During that time, I discovered Cathy Howse, Caroly Gray, and then the boards. So a year later, with a head full of new and healthy hair, I felt informed and confident enough to return back to relaxers. Its been ON ever since.

Very interesting...

I think any "fear" I have is a result of not being educated on relaxers, my own hair, hair health, etc. I am transitioning, mainly to see what my natural hair is like. Of course there is some concern about long-term effects of the relaxer, but I've been relaxed for over 20 years and relaxers never caused damage to my hair (that I could see). As I've been transitioning, my focus has changed a little, so I'm reading threads that I probably would not have paid attention to if I wasn't transitioning. And that's a good thing. It gives me another perspective, while educating me at the same time. Armed with all the information I have received here, and from doing my own research, I am not as concerned about long-term effects, because I know what I need to do.

 

[morehairplease]

I feel the exact same way even though my natural hair was stronger and thicker than my permed hair and could sustain more harsh treatment.

my relaxed hair prior to going natural was so jacked up and thin, with relaxer applied each time on the whole strand!!! and no haircare regimen whatsoever, no protective styling, sleeping with satin bonnet

After 2 years natural and starting with a fresh crop of hair i can now take care of my permed hair the best i can and apply the same diligence i did on my beautiful kinks. I know now how to make PERMED hair thicker, i swear by serums and my relaxed hair is the thickest i ve ever seen it in my life mind you i'm almost 3 months post and trying to hold on for my next touch up hihi

may 21 it will be 3months post on june 3. (SUMMER ROUTINE:the new growth is crazy i now rinse my hair daily, apply silk worm rinse, rinse again,then put serum and bun it so the hair kinda stay wet full of moisture)



I do care about the long term relaxer effects that s why i dont do my own touch ups. and i try to space my touchups the most i can else that s about it.

ekomba you relaxed....where have I been!?!? You hair looks beautiful sweetie! I loved it natural and now relaxed.

 

[eshille]

That's a good question actually. I've heard about balding, scalp burns, permanent hair loss... and I know that some have no problems. I'm just wondering how much others may think/wonder about this or even care.

ALL substances penetrate through the membranes of the body and effect one's biological processes. Sometimes these effects are seen as simply physical annoyances
or develop into full blown physical dis-comforts which may not be recognized for years and then seldom connected to what one has either eaten or put on/into
their physical structure. HU mans tend to think dis-ease is somehow a process of osmosis...

To be hypnotized into believing that one can create a barrier to the energetic and physical merging/breakdown of substances is folly.

Knowledge is power...understanding energetic principles has led me to NOT FEAR any long term effects of decisions I have made but to approach those previous
and/or current decisions from a point of power and cease activities which are not supportive of what I define as a healthy lifestyle...in my world, chemicals
seeping into my crown chakra does not represent the healthiest of approaches to existence. So daily I work on it!

Namaste

 

[MAMATO]

Check this link out http://www.dyingtolookgood.com/ more specifically the bottom of the page...

Honestly, if we had to worry about long term effets of everything we use, we'll be only using water for the maintenance of our body... well I've never personally seen any studies stating relaxers were dangerous for our health. I've heard some horrible stories, I may confess. But nothing has been scientifically documented on that particular area. I am not saying it's all good, but relaxers are probably as bad as everything else we use in our life... that's the way it is

 

[ALWAYZL8]

My hair was shedding in a major way during my last year of relaxing. I'm not blaming the relaxer, but it stopped about four months after I stopped relaxing my hair.

 

[tiffers]

I've been knowing about the ''dangers of relaxing'' for a while now and since I'm still relaxed, obviously it doesn't phase me I relax because it's convenient and I don't feel like dealing with my natural texture. I have 3 babies, a husband (doing their natural hair takes long enough!!!) and a house to keep up. Relaxed hair takes less time to do, so that's what I'm sticking to.

I know 70+ year old women who have been relaxing for decades and their hair is just fine

 

[alexstin]

Hey,

This is the one thing that might make me go natural. I am concerned about the long-term effects of relaxing on my hair follicles. But I'm not sure if I have a real reason to be. Maybe it's all in my head (no pun intended)!

Is anyone else concerned about this or could you care less? Why or why not? Please explain.

All opinions welcome I don't discriminate, tell it like it his...however you want to. Relaxed and naturals please chime in.

No, I'm not concerned. I only relax 2-3x a year so......

 

[Afro-Indi]

ALL substances penetrate through the membranes of the body and effect one's biological processes. Sometimes these effects are seen as simply physical annoyances
or develop into full blown physical dis-comforts which may not be recognized for years and then seldom connected to what one has either eaten or put on/into
their physical structure. HU mans tend to think dis-ease is somehow a process of osmosis...

To be hypnotized into believing that one can create a barrier to the energetic and physical merging/breakdown of substances is folly.

Knowledge is power...understanding energetic principles has led me to NOT FEAR any long term effects of decisions I have made but to approach those previous
and/or current decisions from a point of power and cease activities which are not supportive of what I define as a healthy lifestyle...in my world, chemicals
seeping into my crown chakra does not represent the healthiest of approaches to existence. So daily I work on it!

Namaste

Wow, I couldn't elaborate on that if I tried
Well put

One of the many reasons of my staying natural is the unknown long-term adverse effects of relaxing; not even so much to the hair, but more importantly to the body.
I doubt that any research will be done anytime soon to confirm or "dispute" long-term health effects; the relaxer and texturizer industry is too profitable right now to stop and do research and unfortunately in our society, no matter what is at stake, money talks.

 

[chinadoll]

No, I'm not concerned. I only relax 2-3x a year so......[/quote]

ITA, the effects might be different on someone's scalp when they relax 2x a year as oppose to every 6 weeks. Also, I think you would have alot of damage on your scalp if relaxer wasn't washed out properly. I don't know but I"m not worried about it......

 

[MAMATO]

Check this link out http://www.dyingtolookgood.com/ more specifically the bottom of the page...

Honestly, if we had to worry about long term effets of everything we use, we'll be only using water for the maintenance of our body... well I've never personally seen any studies stating relaxers were dangerous for our health. I've heard some horrible stories, I may confess. But nothing has been scientifically documented on that particular area. I am not saying it's all good, but relaxers are probably as bad as everything else we use in our life... that's the way it is

--------------
Here we go:

Stop NOW and Check Your Personal Care Products

Please get up, go grab a couple of bottles, bring them back here and compare the ingredients in the tiny print on the back of the label to the list below. Most likely you'll find many synthetic, petroleum derived, harsh ingredients of questionable safety like...

• Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, etc.) are skin irritants, disturb your hormonal balance, are potential mutagens and have been found in breast cancer tumors. (page 118) They are commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions and deodorants.
• Propylene glycol is a strong irritant, may cause delayed allergic reactions, kidney, liver, nervous system damage, and has not been fully investigated for its potential to cause cancer. (page 128) Check your makeup, deodorant, mouthwash, shaving lotions and baby lotion for this ingredient.
• Fragrance may irritate the skin and cause a variety of adverse reactions. It may contain hundreds of different chemicals, some are hazardous, some cause cancer. (page 88) This is found in just about all cosmetics and personal care products, unless it says fragrance free. See page 21 to discover what fragrance free really means.
• Sodium fluoride is a poison and its toxic effects can be delayed. It can cause death if swallowed. (page 135) Check your toothpaste. Unless it says fluoride free, it most likely has some form of fluoride in it.
• Octyl methoxycinnamate is a skin and eye irritant. It disrupts your hormone balance and has been shown to increase the growth of cancer cells. (page 115) Used in makeup, suntan lotions and sunscreens.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate is a skin and eye irritant, and may cause dry skin and eczema. It is a potential mutagen and may inhibit DNA synthesis. (page 136) It is found in shampoos, bubble bath, lotions, creams, and toothpaste.
• D&C colors are primarily derived from coal tar which is known to cause cancer. They are certified by the FDA not to contain more than 20 ppm of lead and arsenic, but the certification does not address any adverse effects these colors may have on your body and disregards the permeability of the skin which allows these substances to be absorbed into your body. (page 70) Commonly used to add color to most commercial cosmetics and personal care products.
• FD&C colors are primarily derived from coal tar which is known to cause cancer. They are certified by the FDA not to contain more than 10 ppm of lead and arsenic, but the certification does not address any adverse effects these colors may have on your body. (page 86) Added to most cosmetics and personal care products for color.

 

[Ramya]

No. It's not something that I worry about. I know the risk that I take when I relax my hair, brush my teeth, put on antiperspirent and every other thing that they say is bad for us. I have never had any problems with my scalp since I decided to relax my hair.

 

[Blessed_Angel]

I haven't really thought about it...till now.

I think it could depend on the person's scalp...but I would have to do some research to see if I could find anything on the long-term effects. In the meantime, I am sticking to my relaxer.

 

[Aggie]

No, because I don't know of any "long-term relaxer effects on [my] scalp." I've never had a problem with my scalp, not even burning during the relaxing process when I used to be fully-relaxed. Now that I'm texlaxed, it's all good!

I've had mine relaxed for almost 22 years. My scalp is fine.

I went natural for one year for this precise reason. I had all sorts of bad habits and my hair was jacked up. After making a decision to lay off of the relaxers, I saw a real change and it gave my scalp time to recover and heal. During that time, I discovered Cathy Howse, Caroly Gray, and then the boards. So a year later, with a head full of new and healthy hair, I felt informed and confident enough to return back to relaxers. Its been ON ever since.

ITA with all of the above posts. I really do believe that knowledge about caring for relaxed hair is key. Many people relax their hair and have no clue how it works to break down the bonds to get that straight effect and what necessary steps is needed to avoid over-processing and to take care of it afterwards. I was once one of those ladies and thank goodness for books and this site for educating me on how to care for my relaxed hair. I love it this way and the chances of me going natural are quite slim to none. If it's not broken for me, then why should I fix it? I am very happy with my relaxed hair.

 

[Aggie]

I went natural for one year for this precise reason. I had all sorts of bad habits and my hair was jacked up. After making a decision to lay off of the relaxers, I saw a real change and it gave my scalp time to recover and heal. During that time, I discovered Cathy Howse, Caroly Gray, and then the boards. So a year later, with a head full of new and healthy hair, I felt informed and confident enough to return back to relaxers. Its been ON ever since.

By the way LadyEsquire, your hair looks very thick and healthy. Good job on the relaxer stretches. They are working for you girl.

 

[moonglowdiva]

I don't care one way or the other. There is chemical in just about everything we consume. If natural hair is what you want then just do it, see how you like it. Hair is always growing cut it all off and it grows back. Good Luck.

 

[Aggie]

I don't care one way or the other. There is chemical in just about everything we consume. If natural hair is what you want then just do it, see how you like it. Hair is always growing cut it all off and it grows back. Good Luck.

Yup, this is true and I agree, whatever you decide to do, the hair will grow back, relaxed or natural.

 

[me-T]

my scalp didn't seem any different relaxed or natural.

 

[pisceschica]

Hey,

This is the one thing that might make me go natural. I am concerned about the long-term effects of relaxing on my hair follicles. But I'm not sure if I have a real reason to be. Maybe it's all in my head (no pun intended)!

Is anyone else concerned about this or could you care less? Why or why not? Please explain.

All opinions welcome I don't discriminate, tell it like it his...however you want to. Relaxed and naturals please chime in.

Relaxers have been around forever. I am sure if there was a long term affect there would have been a research study on it by now since a good number of women not just black women use these products. I figure as long as I use the precautions I am fine.