Just a thought......

[Gigglez5684]

Hi everyone, I was just sitting here browsing the board when I saw a post talking about how someone with type 2b hair was transitioning from a relaxer, and I thought why on earth did she have a relaxer in the first place??? So I just wanted to ask some of the members who have type 2 or 3 hair what made you want to get a relaxer in the first place, because if I had that type of hair I wouldnt have even thought about it.

 

[lisatamika]

Me either!!!

 

[NubianAngel]

IMO, no type of hair NEEDS a relaxer more than any other.

 

[JenniferMD]

I don't have 3 hair, but my good friend has it and gets a relaxer. I know that my friend gets relaxers because even though her curl is a lot looser than a 4 curl, she still prefers straighter hair. She wears her hair straight 98% of the time and doesn't really allow her hair to curl naturally...so they get their hair relaxed for the same reason we do (4a/b people)

 

[silvergirl]

yup, my mom has type two hair an still gets a relaxer. i think she does it more so out of habit since she was relaxed since her early twenties. she too is in the process of transitioning.

i agree that no one hair type "needs" a relaxer. i have type 3/4 hair an ive gotten a relaxer since i was 5 till last year out of habit. untill one day you stop an think.. wait a minute why am i doing this an decide to take the plunge an transition.

 

[Donda]

My Aunt 3a/3b would get a relaxer when she was younger because she didn't like the time it took to blow dry it straight. Now she just puts Actervator in it and leaves it be. Some of it she said also was due to the fact that all of her friends(3c/4ab's) had straight hair due to relaxers and she didn't want to "stand out" when she was young. The "You ain't "really" black cause only white girls hair curls like that" ignorance.

Age if you let it will teach you a lot....................

 

[Gigglez5684]

I didnt say any one hair type needed a relaxer over the other, because I know thats not true. I just wondered why someone with that type of hair would get one. The reason I get relaxers is to make my hair easier to manage, but their type is already easy to manage, so I just wanted to know their reasons. But I guess to them their hair may not be easy to manage so maybe thats why they get it, but I know if I had that hair type, I wouldnt even think about it thats all

 

[JenniferMD]

I know my friend would beg to differ with the "their hair is easier to manage" statement. I was like you and I was looking at my friends hair was like "boy if I had her hair I'd never get a relaxer". Well, one day she let me comb through that stuff wet and it was a mess. I couldn't believe she had all the tangles and similar problems I have with my hair. From that point on, I knew that even though our types of hair are distinctly different her hair is no eaiser to manage without a relaxer than mine. The grass always tends to look greener on the other side.

 

[SilkyandSmooth]

Well, my hair is naturally wavy/curly, and I relaxed because I wanted a change. I was natural up until I graduated high school. Once I graduated high school, I decided that I wanted straight hair like everyone else. I don't regret relaxing my hair, because it has served its purpose. However, at this point in my life, I'd love to have my natural hair back.

 

[SilkyandSmooth]

[ QUOTE ]
JenniferMD said:
I know my friend would beg to differ with the "their hair is easier to manage" statement. I was like you and I was looking at my friends hair was like "boy if I had her hair I'd never get a relaxer". Well, one day she let me comb through that stuff wet and it was a mess. I couldn't believe she had all the tangles and similar problems I have with my hair. From that point on, I knew that even though our types of hair are distinctly different her hair is no eaiser to manage without a relaxer than mine. The grass always tends to look greener on the other side.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly.

 

[inthepink]

I think the issue is that people with 2/3 non-straight hair have learned a lot over the past 10 years about hair. There are so many more options to assist in managing hair than there was when I was first relaxed at age 12. After so much time passes, you forget what you hair even looked like pre-relaxer and just assume that you can't manage it without a relaxer. Well, at least for me. Now that I've been forced to transition, I've learned things are a whole lot different and I'm so much more educated on hair than I was (or my parents) when I was 12 and was relaxed. I am looking forward to the versatility of my natural hair - knowing that I can wear it straight if I want but have it curly, too.

Oops - forgot to say that I really think that back when I was relaxed - straight was the only type of hair that was generally accepted whereas curly hair is more accepted nowadays. Of course, this was also internal thinking. But, I think curly hair has come into "style" the past 10 years.

 

[inthepink]

lol - I probably make no sense!

 

[Tai]

I know what you're saying, Hairlove.

I'm one of those people who are always being told that I don't need to use any chemicals. My response is always, "Then you come and do my hair."
I went natural for awhile and I don't need chemicals. No one does but it makes it easier for me to style my hair with a little assistance because it does tangle like nobody's business and it's very thick. I've considered transitioning but I don't know if I want to handle my hair without a bit of texturizer.

 

[lsubabiedee]

people, no matter their hair type, get relaxers b/c they want straight hair...no one hair type needs a relaxer nor does another not need one...manageablity is relative also!