THE DESTRUCTION OF RELAXERS

[lilsparkle825]

i definitely agree with two things: haircare companies have little regard for how well their products work, and that AA children are the only ones to go through something like this.

i have a three year old cousin whose mom puts a relaxer on HIS (yes his) edges so she can cornrow it easier. her excuse is "well i only put it on his edges". that baby will have a receding hairline before school starts. my 8 y/o sister fell victim to an at-home relaxer on her virgin hair due to the coaxing of my aunt and i...her hair broke off all the way up to her scalp. my aunt's suggestion was to use a different relaxer. the best we had even seen her hair after that was when she got a professional corrective, but my mom's gut feeling kicked in and she stopped relaxing my sister's hair. it is coarse 4b and we all had relaxers for as long as i can remember so her transition was a struggle. she is now 13 and her hair is still uneven in spots, but she has been relaxer free for almost 2 years and her natural hair is thriving. my mom and i are now in the process of transitioning.

 

[moonglowdiva]

Great propaganda technique!!!! This is just looking at one side of the issue. What kind of hair care techniques have these people been using? Do they wash their hair often? What kind of products do they use? How often do they apply the relaxer to their hair? Do they balance protein and moisture?This video did not address any of those questions. These question come into play when you want to be objective about something. Relaxers are bad for you, but so is unprotected sex. This just gives naturals a reason to bash relaxed my daugher included who is an 11yr old die hard natural.

 

[RegaLady]

To be fair, I got my bad thin spot side(edges), while I was natural, due to ponytails. Any when I relaxed it a dozed times, my hair was ruined. I don't care what others do to their hair, but I KNOW they have not done me so well. I just couldn't take care of it. The only way my hair thrived with relaxers, was when I was getting cute cuts. I refuse to put a relaxer in my daughter's hair. My mother NEVER did it to me, and I won't do it to her. She has 4b hair, and she MUST know and accept that. And when I was asked how I would 'manage' her hair, I didn't get that. If one has natural 4a/b hair, than one CAN manage what God intended for them to have. It depends on the definition of 'manage'.
Again I don't care what another does. I have done it all. If it makes you happy, than go on. But for me, as much as I have done it it the past, I knew they weren't any good.erplexed Also, I am now seeing little girls(where I live) with pretty, natural, healthy, braids. And I tell you, it is refreshing and beautiful!

 

[PeggyFair]

What is the opinion about naturals who straighten their hair with a hot comb/iron? I see alot of naturals on here that straighten their hair and it basically looks like a perm? Is that okay or is that different since a chemical is not used?

 

[PeaceFlow]

Doesnt make a difference to me whether someone put it on correctly or not a certain amount will get soaked up into the scalp and there hasn't been trials. Its a personal choice but Im not going to kid myself about this anymore.

 

[Irresistible]

What is the opinion about naturals who straighten their hair with a hot comb/iron? I see alot of naturals on here that straighten their hair and it basically looks like a perm? Is that okay or is that different since a chemical is not used?

I think heat damage is still damage but it typically happens to the hair not so much the scalp. The points to the video were hair damage too, but mostly permanent scalp damage and hair loss

painfull to see

 

[Irresistible]

Doesnt make a difference to me whether someone put it on correctly or not a certain amount will get soaked up into the scalp and there hasn't been trials. Its a personal choice but Im not going to kid myself about this anymore.

I think if I REMEMBER correctly they did find relaxer/chemicals in the brains of Cadavers

wish I could find that

 

[Irresistible]

Great propaganda technique!!!! This is just looking at one side of the issue. What kind of hair care techniques have these people been using? Do they wash their hair often? What kind of products do they use? How often do they apply the relaxer to their hair? Do they balance protein and moisture?This video did not address any of those questions. These question come into play when you want to be objective about something. Relaxers are bad for you, but so is unprotected sex. This just gives naturals a reason to bash relaxed my daugher included who is an 11yr old die hard natural.

Sadly many will apply a relaxer to a child's head and not be a lhcf guru at that time so many variable can happen with that lack of information

but It still holds true for me that under the care of a professional I suffered scalp sores and scabs

I also had weird numb, pain, tingly, strange achey sensations in my crown area for all those years and that area hardly grew, it was like it was painfull to grow

and none of us can deny 'scab hair' we all know it exists, which means the chemicals are in the scalp for a while , even after not applying it

again this video just broke my heart cause of the children

i dont give a donkey kong rats booty what adults do if thats what they want to do

at leave save the children from such possible horror as permanent scalp damage/hair loss

 

[Starr1]

What is the opinion about naturals who straighten their hair with a hot comb/iron? I see alot of naturals on here that straighten their hair and it basically looks like a perm? Is that okay or is that different since a chemical is not used?

The point isn't that the hair is relaxed, but rather the potential damaged that can be caused by them and the continuation of using them inspite of the damaged caused. The same can be said for braiding too tightly, heat damage, gluing weave to the scalp, etc regardless of whether a person chooses to be relaxed or natural. And yes while the video can be viewed as one sided propoganda, it is still reflective of a sad truth. It is true that there have been no scientific studies on the long term health effects of chemical relaxers (lye or no-lye), especially not on what effects they might have on children whose bodies are different. It is true that many women live with the silent shame of balding and simply cover it up. It is true that hair problems in our community do affect young girls and their self esteem. The video isn't saying "don't relax your hair" or "be natural" but rather it is saying "this a problem caused by poorly made products and a lack of knowledge."

I am so tired of every little thing having to be "relaxed VS natural". If the hair and scalp are healthy the way that the hair is styled is irrelevant. There are people here who are natural, relaxed, and texlaxed that wear their hair curly, straight, wavy, kinky, coily, braided, twisted, weaved, wigged and countless combinations of the above- it is a living testament of the beauty and variation of black hair types.

 

[aloof one]

People are just mad because they hate to see the truth, that is all.

I think its funny how its always the same "Well they aren't doing it properly" statements. Its just like saying you know how to smoke cigarettes properly... Or how to be overweight/obese and healthy. Come on... So what if you think you're doing it right and getting results...

What about the majority who arent? And their children who are born into this mess to perpetuate it? Obviously this education on how to do it properly hasnt and isnt taking place, so instead of playing the "everybody knows how to do it like I do and all black women know what we on LHCF know" card...

Lets be real and talk about why these companies are allowed to sell such harsh chemicals without testing or making them good enough in quality for us to use... why we have companies with products with black women and Africa(n) on the bottle made by white people that leave us balding/shedding/breaking, etc... why we have women putting this stuff on the heads of toddlers and young children in the masses to maintain a "style" and make hair more "manageable." You know... the real problems. People are making money off of us more than ever and we still want to act like its just because "we're not using the products right." Maybe its because these white owned companies (and some black) know how to use us just right from the start.

 

[Southernbella.]

Great propaganda technique!!!! This is just looking at one side of the issue. What kind of hair care techniques have these people been using? Do they wash their hair often? What kind of products do they use? How often do they apply the relaxer to their hair? Do they balance protein and moisture?This video did not address any of those questions. These question come into play when you want to be objective about something. Relaxers are bad for you, but so is unprotected sex. This just gives naturals a reason to bash relaxed my daugher included who is an 11yr old die hard natural.

I was with you, but you lost me here. What do you mean by this?

 

[aloof one]

I was with you, but you lost me here. What do you mean by this?

Saying don't do it isn't going to stop anyone. I think thats what she's saying but I could be wrong.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

That was quite dramatic...I especially liked the "Unsolved Mysteries" music in the background

 

[Irresistible]

No matter how you slice it ladies or how many stars this thread gets or doesnt get, or how many things one can know to manage relaxed hair or not know

they are still Caustic Chemicals. Period, there is no argument about that

now I say we might as well have stuck with using Axle Grease because things didnt get much better really, from axle grease to a corrosive! yeah we made major strides!

 

[Shinka]

This video really made me regret just relaxing my hair after trying to go natural for the thousandth time. I know how to apply relxers properly and but I have suffered sever shedding from overprocessing my hair a few years because I was afraid of the kink. A syndrome I inherited from my mother.

Althought I'm educated, in the many definitions of the term, I still battle with the pyschological aspects of going natural. Attractiveness, habitual hairstyles, visible length.

I recently used a ORS no lye and my hair feels funny. It feels fake as compared to my natural hair. I guess it feels how it is, processed.

I got my first perm at 5 and I begged for it, because I thought it was what the pretty girls had. I wanted that symbol of style. So we do have to be conscious of the messages we send our children, male and female. Luckily, my fiance is all for my natural hair and was very upset when I relaxed it and is encourging me to grow it out.

I think we can't hid from the truth as a previous poster stated. Relaxing is a chemical process and can have devastating consequences. I don't think those consequences are often shared. We need "Truth" commercials for the black hair care industry.

 

[Inches411]

People are just mad because they hate to see the truth, that is all.

I think its funny how its always the same "Well they aren't doing it properly" statements. Its just like saying you know how to smoke cigarettes properly... Or how to be overweight/obese and healthy. Come on... So what if you think you're doing it right and getting results...

What about the majority who arent? And their children who are born into this mess to perpetuate it? Obviously this education on how to do it properly hasnt and isnt taking place, so instead of playing the "everybody knows how to do it like I do and all black women know what we on LHCF know" card...

Lets be real and talk about why these companies are allowed to sell such harsh chemicals without testing or making them good enough in quality for us to use... why we have companies with products with black women and Africa(n) on the bottle made by white people that leave us balding/shedding/breaking, etc... why we have women putting this stuff on the heads of toddlers and young children in the masses to maintain a "style" and make hair more "manageable." You know... the real problems. People are making money off of us more than ever and we still want to act like its just because "we're not using the products right." Maybe its because these white owned companies (and some black) know how to use us just right from the start.

i think the reason why i question it is becasue i have had a relaxer for years and never experience hardly any problems.. and the problems i experience was because of soemthing i didnt do properly. you may think that some of us are mad becasue we are hearing the truth but it may not be the case for all of us... relaxers are chemicals.. chemicalss are bad yes...but there is a way to reduce the damage of chemicals if we want to take the proper time and care... and i really dont think white companies are using us ... they just know that if they make anything that caters toward black hair people will buy it even if its junk... they not using us .. we letting them.. by continuing to buy it.

 

[SparklingFlame]

No matter how you slice it ladies or how many stars this thread gets or doesnt get, or how many things one can know to manage relaxed hair or not know

they are still Caustic Chemicals. Period, there is no argument about that

now I say we might as well have stuck with using Axle Grease because things didnt get much better really, from axle grease to a corrosive! yeah we made major strides!

Now come on now! Axle grease is not corrosive!

 

[oooop2]

I've always been curious as to why there is such a drive to make permed people natural or natural people permed. We don't all need to look alike. I love my natural hair just like my girlfriends love their straight hair. I guess if we are both doing to our hair what makes us happy, I don't see the big deal.

But that's just me.....

 

[PinkSkates]

Originally Posted by al00fone
People are just mad because they hate to see the truth, that is all.

I think its funny how its always the same "Well they aren't doing it properly" statements. Its just like saying you know how to smoke cigarettes properly... Or how to be overweight/obese and healthy. Come on... So what if you think you're doing it right and getting results...

What about the majority who arent? And their children who are born into this mess to perpetuate it? Obviously this education on how to do it properly hasnt and isnt taking place, so instead of playing the "everybody knows how to do it like I do and all black women know what we on LHCF know" card...

Lets be real and talk about why these companies are allowed to sell such harsh chemicals without testing or making them good enough in quality for us to use... why we have companies with products with black women and Africa(n) on the bottle made by white people that leave us balding/shedding/breaking, etc... why we have women putting this stuff on the heads of toddlers and young children in the masses to maintain a "style" and make hair more "manageable." You know... the real problems. People are making money off of us more than ever and we still want to act like its just because "we're not using the products right." Maybe its because these white owned companies (and some black) know how to use us just right from the start.

Great post al00fone! I love your analogies!

 

[Ms. Plain Jane]

 

[anon123]

I hate these type of videos. They are so . . . stupid, and they treat their audience like they're stupid. The ominous music (duh Duh DUUUUH!), the statistics with no references, the one-sidedness. It is sooo dumbed down. it reminds me of those outrageous Just Say No commercials that had people smoke a cigarette or something and the next thing you know their entire family had left them. I think in many cases it accomplishes just the opposite of what it means to do. It's the very unbalanced-ness, the selective viewing of information, and people recognizing it for that that makes people roll their eyes. It's hard for me to even take this video seriously. And that's not really a reflection on my feelings about relaxers and especially about relaxing children's heads, but more about this joke of "film-making." But maybe others need shock therapy or something, like those videos they show in driver's ed.

 

[SmartyPants]

I've always been curious as to why there is such a drive to make permed people natural or natural people permed. We don't all need to look alike. I love my natural hair just like my girlfriends love their straight hair. I guess if we are both doing to our hair what makes us happy, I don't see the big deal.

But that's just me.....

Amen sister!

 

[SmartyPants]

And, I don't why some of you people insist on bringing this ish here. There is a place for you. It's callled www.napturality.com go and commiserate with the like minded. Just leave us alone for cryin' out loud!erplexed

 

[SparklingFlame]

And, I don't why some of you people insist on bringing this ish here. There is a place for you. It's callled www.napturality.com go and commiserate with the like minded. Just leave us alone for cryin' out loud!erplexed

Now you know you wrong for that!

 

[Ms. Plain Jane]

Now you know you wrong for that!

LOL. I think she's right.

This site (this section of the site, at least ) is about growing longer, healthier hair. Relaxed or natural. Our hair journeys are going to be different. If people can't respect that they should bounce.

 

[SparklingFlame]

LOL. I think she's right.

This site (this section of the site, at least ) is about growing longer, healthier hair. Relaxed or natural. Our hair journeys are going to be different. If people can't respect that they should bounce.

Yeah. I mean really. For real. ITA.

 

[WomanlyCharm]

LOL. I think she's right.

This site (this section of the site, at least ) is about growing longer, healthier hair. Relaxed or natural. Our hair journeys are going to be different. If people can't respect that they should bounce.

Speak on it Ms. Plain Jane!

Sometimes this just gets so ri-damn-diculous, I have to shake my head.

 

[SqrpioQutie]

People are just mad because they hate to see the truth, that is all.

I think its funny how its always the same "Well they aren't doing it properly" statements. Its just like saying you know how to smoke cigarettes properly... Or how to be overweight/obese and healthy. Come on... So what if you think you're doing it right and getting results...

What about the majority who arent? And their children who are born into this mess to perpetuate it? Obviously this education on how to do it properly hasnt and isnt taking place, so instead of playing the "everybody knows how to do it like I do and all black women know what we on LHCF know" card...

Lets be real and talk about why these companies are allowed to sell such harsh chemicals without testing or making them good enough in quality for us to use... why we have companies with products with black women and Africa(n) on the bottle made by white people that leave us balding/shedding/breaking, etc... why we have women putting this stuff on the heads of toddlers and young children in the masses to maintain a "style" and make hair more "manageable." You know... the real problems. People are making money off of us more than ever and we still want to act like its just because "we're not using the products right." Maybe its because these white owned companies (and some black) know how to use us just right from the start.

who's truth?... so because some people misuse products and don't take care of their hair, NOONE should use those products because everyone will suffer the same issues.... no

as for all of the "real talk" - if it's such an issue, make a better product.... march on the companies that make the bad bad relaxers and demand they make a better product.... seek out all of the balding/shedding/breaking etc. women and teach them how to take care of their hair... do something other than blah blah blah with no action...

everything isn't a conspiracy...

 

[Ms. Plain Jane]

who's truth?... so because some people misuse products and don't take care of their hair, NOONE should use those products because everyone will suffer the same issues.... no

as for all of the "real talk" - if it's such an issue, make a better product.... march on the companies that make the bad bad relaxers and demand they make a better product.... seek out all of the balding/shedding/breaking etc. women and teach them how to take care of their hair... do something other than blah blah blah with no action...

everything isn't a conspiracy...

But everything can be paralleled with and compared to obesity

 

[Jazala]

I hate these type of videos. They are so . . . stupid, and they treat their audience like they're stupid. The ominous music (duh Duh DUUUUH!), the statistics with no references, the one-sidedness. It is sooo dumbed down. it reminds me of those outrageous Just Say No commercials that had people smoke a cigarette or something and the next thing you know their entire family had left them. I think in many cases it accomplishes just the opposite of what it means to do. It's the very unbalanced-ness, the selective viewing of information, and people recognizing it for that that makes people roll their eyes. It's hard for me to even take this video seriously. And that's not really a reflection on my feelings about relaxers and especially about relaxing children's heads, but more about this joke of "film-making." But maybe others need shock therapy or something, like those videos they show in driver's ed.

ITA!! Well said!