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

[eshille]

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.

Very true...

We live in 'The Dark Ages of Consumerism' which is an hypnotic state of mind that produces the entranced humanoid.

Namaste

 

[Lady Esquire]

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

Thank you, Aggie! I am waiting for my Affirm to arrive in the mail. Two more weeks will mark my 2nd 6-month stretch. But I will not wait for the actually date. As soon as it comes, I am going to slather on that white stuff.

 

[Blessed_Angel]

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

Lady, I've been meaning to tell you the same thing. I love your siggy pic; just beautiful!

 

[Evazhair]

Nope. Been relaxed and natural off and on all my life, so I guess my scalp gets a break. Plus, I know I won't be relaxing forever and the next time I go natural, it will be for the rest of my life.

 

[Lady Esquire]

Lady, I've been meaning to tell you the same thing. I love your siggy pic; just beautiful!

Blessed_Angel, and you get a kiss too.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

Mizani butter blends.

That's good to know. Seems to be pretty popular among the 4's. If I keep relaxing, I will switch relaxers (from Soft & Beautiful which burns ALMOST EVERY time!).

It's looking more and more like Butter Blends will be on the short list.

 

[indefinite]

I'm not afraid of long-term effects. I just don't think about it at all. I probably need to, the same way I need to quit eating sooooo much sugar.

 

[Energist]

Well no, because I don't have it on long enough to burn. I think that if I felt the actual relaxer working in my hair then I'd worry about what it was doing. In my lifetime I have only had chemical burn about 3 times. All times before I went natural for 7 years. I had a fear that my hair would never regrow in those spots, but while I was natural it grew in very thick and the side that was once a bit stunted has evened out with the growth rate of the rest of my hair.

Now as far as body chemistry wise, I don't know. I'm fine, but then there are the few who think I'm a bit "off" in the head, so who knows

 

[LadyEuphoria007]

Interesting topic.

There are side effects to almost anything and everything we use and comsume. I didn't care about the effects in the begining, I just wanted to look cute. On a side note, I was never into the birth control or taking really any meds b/c of the side effects of the drugs. As I grow I am trying to apply the concept to my life as a whole.

I don't know of the longterm effects of using relaxers but just b/c there aren't any studies that doesn't mean that there are no longterm effects on the body. Just look at how long it took for them to discover the longterm effects of trans fats and all that other stuff.

Life is all about balance. I feel that one can use relaxers effectively without too much exposure to the longterm effects (if there are any). One of the posters mentioned relaxing 3x a year.

Most of the time folks never really tie in the symptoms they are having in other areas of the body to something else they are using for another body part.

I think SouthernTease posted something about the internal effects of relaxers a while back..


(My impression is that the OP is referring to effects that relaxers could have on the body, not just the hair strands and scalp.)

 

[la mosca]

No, not at all. I think moderation is they key here. In general, I don't get too worked up about the latest toxin du jour, because stress is one of the unhealthiest things out there.

 

[wannabelong]

No, not at all. I think moderation is they key here. In general, I don't get too worked up about the latest toxin du jour, because stress is one of the unhealthiest things out there.

You said a mouthful right there.

 

[vestaluv1]

Yep, sure am, hence the transition. Relaxers have not done me any favours already, and even if there are no known long term effects of relaxers at the moment, I don't want to find out there are later on while I'm still using them.
The fact that they cause or have the potential to cause short term baldness, chemical burns, scalp tenderness, etc is enough for me .
I've seen an article with a middle aged lady who has a massive bald and thinning patch in the crown area caused by using relaxers near enough all her life...and she still relaxes.

It's Ok, I'll just stick to the flat iron .

This is an interesting article for anyone who's interested.
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/mysisterlocks/things_your_hairdresser.htm

 

[cmesweet]

When I stopped relaxig, I didn't even think about the physical long term effects. Mine was more on the mental side.

However, I do alot of research for my field of study. There probably won't be many studies on this particular topic because as someone mentioned 1) there is a market out there 2) The warning signs and directions are both, in and on the box and people still don't follow and/or read them.
3) Anything pertaining to the black population isn't studied much, unless it has to do with education or poverty.

Seriously, although there is a market pretending to care about us, they really don't.

 

[filthyfresh]

I am a bit concerned. But I think you can reduce any bad effects if you're educated about relaxers and take precautions to ensure your safety and the health of your hair. I thought about going natural (which I may still do), but I don't have the money to help me keep my hair the way I want as a natural head. So for now, it's cheaper for me to be texlaxed/relaxed. I only plan on relaxing 2 times a year from now on. So that's my compromise. I like my texlaxed/relaxed hair. But I also like my natural hair. One day, I may fully transition. Until then I'm going to texlax.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

I am 50/50, because it is so much more pollution out there that gets into our bodies, But for scalp wise I would be a little concern, because sometimes I feel my scalp go numb after a Relaxer and it gets so sore that it feels like if you touch it, it will pop open, but as far as thin edges I have them either way, Natural or Relaxed. I guess it depends on how you look at it, is it as far as Health or Hair& Scalp Concern..

 

[pri]

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

This is exactly my problem! My scalp always feels sore at the crown and hurt and yep I get that tingly feeling. I'm leaning more toward transitioning now rather then strecthing. Natural just might be my answer. Thanks!

 

[NYAmicas]

Different strokes for different folks. I've never had any problems with my scalp area but have heard and seen some frightening stories of other ladies' experiences. I have no worries.

 

[pri]

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

That's true! My grandmother is one of them. I just said to that, I'm leaning toward natural after a comment made. I guess it just depends on the person. I go back and forth with these relaxers.

 

[chasturner84]

Different strokes for different folks. I've never had any problems with my scalp area but have heard and seen some frightening stories of other ladies' experiences. I have no worries.

I agree. I have never had problems with my scalp but rather the overall care of my relaxed hair. I now give my scalp/hair 16+ wks to recover between relaxer applications. I am not worried about any adverse effects.

 

[GodivaChocolate]

I think after years and years of using any chemicals or foreign substances in and on the body you will have negative effects. I truly don't believe that there is any major research funding going towards the effects of what relaxers are doing to black women's hair, heads and brains...Let's get real it's a highly toxic chemical and it does have some type of negative effect both short term and long term. I think what we are starting to see now in ever increasing numbers are a lot of older black women ( and some younger) experiencing major hair loss and hair thinning and what do they have in common...the creamy crack...JMO

 

[sunnieb]

Not at all. I used to get a relaxer every 4 weeks and never had headaches, scalp issues, hair loss, etc. Now that I stretch to 12 weeks, I know I'm much healthier in my relaxer process.

 

[taz007]

Nope.

Here is a picture of my 76 year old mother. She has been relaxing her hair for over 65 years:

 

[BostonMaria]

I relaxed my hair for over 25 years. The chemicals never even crossed my mind. I even got relaxers during my three pregnancies, can't imagine doing that now. Not the relaxer, but the pregnancy LOL

 

[Adaoba2012]

IMO I feel that the way the relaxer is applied and how the hair is cared for post relaxer is what makes some women experience hair loss and bald spots. If the relaxer is applied carefully and correctly there should be no problems

 

[curlydrea]

This is something im still concerned with as a natrual. I had damage the nape of my hair from relaxers that still does not grow in all the way now. Idk how to explain but its still not right yet.

I personally dont think healthy hair = healthy scalp or vice versa. Hair is technically dead anyway, but the scalp is living and breathing and way more important for me in terms of preserving my hair. My 2 cents

 

[changedname]

There may be a possibility that chemicals from relaxers can have an internal effect on the body. But I can guarantee you that there are many more studies about the internal effects of meat, dairy, smoking, alcohol, pollution, water (the chemicals in water), fat, fast foods, sugar and 'medicines' (e.g. paracetamol etc) on the body. If you are really concerned about the effects of chemicals on the body I hope that you are eliminating the above for the same reasons.

 

[Sugar]

I relaxed my hair for over 25 years. The chemicals never even crossed my mind. I even got relaxers during my three pregnancies, can't imagine doing that now. Not the relaxer, but the pregnancy LOL

I'm sure you're not alone in that sentiment...

 

[gymfreak336]

No not really. There are long term effects of just about everything but and just IMHO, most of the issues with relaxers come from improper usage...whether that be too often, letting it burn the scalp, inadequate care during and after the process etc...

I protect my scalp before the chemical process and I also made other changes in my regime that have improved the condition of my scalp in ways I could have never imagined. I also like to use oils that have regenerative properties on my scalp on a regular basis as a preventative measure but I would be doing that regardless of if I was relaxed or not.

 

[Diva_Esq]

A big part of the reason I stopped relaxing was the havoc it was giving my scalp and not wanting the toxins. Since transitioning, itching and excessive unmanageable flaking completely stopped as did migraines, sore scalp, chemical burns (no matter how sensitive the relaxer was or how much I was based), and itching. ALL GONE.

 

[jasminea]

Relaxers like any chemical process has the potential to be bad if done incorrectly. My scalp was a mess when I had relaxers ever 6 weeks, itching all the time and flaking. Now that I stretch my relaxers 12 weeks or more, I have not had any issues with my scalp. It feels healthy and clean and my hair is thriving. Also I switch stylist and have one now who cares about the health of my hair and scalp, and not one who just wants to slap on the relaxer every 6 weeks and have me sit 20 min while she works on the next victim.

I don't fear the relaxer, fear a relaxer in the hands of a bad hair stylist.