Natural hair that has a really light relaxer...

[Lovelylocs]

does it get more moisture? What are the benefits of doing this? The stylist told my sister that this was better for her hair and she will have less breakage.

 

[GirlywithCurlies]

There really isn't a better moisture benefit of applying a "really light relaxer" to natural hair. Natural hair will retain moisture when properly applied even if it doesn't have the shiny look of curly or straight hair. It sounds to me like the stylist is trying to make a quick buck - many times when I went to AA stylists natural they would give me every reason under the sun for why I NEEDED at least a texturizer . Now, I chose to texturize, but not for any of the reasons my stylist gave. My suggestion is to make sure your sister really wants a chemical process and give her some moistuizing tips from some of the naturals on the board before she relaxes. HTH.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Thanks for the reply! What made you decide to texturize? Do u notice any hair health benefits?

 

[GirlywithCurlies]

Thanks for the reply! What made you decide to texturize? Do u notice any hair health benefits?

I decided to texturize as a styling choice. I went to Curve for their silkner because the hair on the website was what I wanted at the time. But I noticed that as the hair got longer it started to look more and more processed/jherri curl/jackson wave than how it initially looked. As far as health benefits, no - can't say that I noticed any. I put in the same amount of work to keep it healthy natural as texturized. If anything, I probably put in more time with all that shingling!

 

[lsw29]

You need to tell your sister that if she goes this route than she will no longer be natural. Maybe she should look on nappturality site for suggestions on keeping natural hair moisturized.

 

[Browndilocks]

does it get more moisture? What are the benefits of doing this? The stylist told my sister that this was better for her hair and she will have less breakage.

Natural hair with a really light relaxer is relaxed. Period. You care for it the same way you care for relaxed hair, since its relaxed. The benefits I'm assuming is more manageable and less bulky hair.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

does it get more moisture? What are the benefits of doing this? The stylist told my sister that this was better for her hair and she will have less breakage.

The benefit is that you get to pay the stylist in perpetuity for her to do your touchups.

This stylist is full of $hit. Tell your sister she is being ran game on.

 

[PaperClip]

I just had to chime in and say that the responses in this thread are HILARIOUS!!!!!, esp. JCoily 'cause it's true anyhow! Whew!

It sorta reminds me of the thought that somebody can be "half pregnant".... either you're pregnant or you're not.... Either you're relaxed or not, right?

Again, this is just humor, folks... a light-hearted thing...nothing serious and nothing to write home about....

 

[so1913]

Yeah....pretty much what everyone else said.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Thanks ladies. The stylist is Dominican. I dont think that they really know that much about natural hair b/c their country is pretty much against it.

 

[Leslie_C]

Thanks ladies. The stylist is Dominican. I dont think that they really know that much about natural hair b/c their country is pretty much against it.

Why is it that the dominicans are always downing natural hair? Are they just too lazy to deal with it or what? They always seem to have a negative attitude towards relaxed hair.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Why is it that the dominicans are always downing natural hair? Are they just too lazy to deal with it or what? They always seem to have a negative attitude towards relaxed hair.

It's a big deal in their country. There are some colorism issues. It's political and historical.

 

[sprungonhairboards]

Natural hair with a really light relaxer is relaxed. Period. You care for it the same way you care for relaxed hair, since its relaxed. The benefits I'm assuming is more manageable and less bulky hair.

Helloooo!

 

[ajargon02]

You need to tell your sister that if she goes this route than she will no longer be natural. Maybe she should look on nappturality site for suggestions on keeping natural hair moisturized.

Girl you took the words right out of my mouth! Any chemical straightning service, perm/texturizer, it breaks the bonds in the hair strands, to give a different look, therefore you are no longer natural. BUT, if you are seeking a certain look, more power to you. Don't worry about the label. If you want the curls that a texturizer gives, go for it. If you want the bone straight look, go for it. Or if like me, you want all the napps you can get your hand stuck in that's what I am going for! To each her own!

 

[spelmanlocks]

I had natural hair for most of my life up until about a year ago, when I got my first relaxer. I do remember getting a light relaxer once in high school and it worked well for me. My hair was soft and a bit more manageable. Unfortunately due to brokeness and lack of my parents desire to pay for it I wasn't able to get it again. I'm not sure how it will work on your sister, but for me I didn't have to cut my hair or anything to go back natural. It was as if I didn't have any chemical in my hair at all, it reverted back on its own.

Oh yeah, its not just relaxing that changes natural hair, too much heat eventually permanently changes the texture of natural hair also. I know this from being a victim of the hot comb for the last 22 years.

In the end she should do what works best for her hair, not simply for the sake of saying i'm natural or for the sake of appeasing any hair stylist.

 

[Lovelylocs]

I had natural hair for most of my life up until about a year ago, when I got my first relaxer. I do remember getting a light relaxer once in high school and it worked well for me. My hair was soft and a bit more manageable. Unfortunately due to brokeness and lack of my parents desire to pay for it I wasn't able to get it again. I'm not sure how it will work on your sister, but for me I didn't have to cut my hair or anything to go back natural. It was as if I didn't have any chemical in my hair at all, it reverted back on its own.

Oh yeah, its not just relaxing that changes natural hair, too much heat eventually permanently changes the texture of natural hair also. I know this from being a victim of the hot comb for the last 22 years.

In the end she should do what works best for her hair, not simply for the sake of saying i'm natural or for the sake of appeasing any hair stylist.

Thanks, Sheenaspelman! If she does decide to do it, it will definately be for the sake of hair health. It makes sense to me that the hair would be softer and maybe a little more healthy FOR HER. Here is my reasoning. Rinses dont work on natural hair, right? Why? I think it's b/c it can't penetrate the hair shaft enough to stay there. I think that conditioner will be able to penetrate the hair shaft better too. Plus she can really make sure that it gets to all of the different parts of her hair too. Also, there would be less manipulation. When she wants to wear it up, maybe she wont have to pull so much to make it lie flat.

Any in put on my theory is greatly appreciated! If I'm wrong, prove me wrong PLEASE.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Again a thread that I found interesting was rated 1 star. What is up with that? I have very lightly relaxed hair and it is nothing like relaxed hair. I can't easily straiten my hair and it is very curly, more like texturized. The thing is, she won't know any results until her hair is done. That is what sucks. I hope all works out for her.

 

[ravenmerlita]

My hair was natural for several years and then last year I got my first "light relaxer." While it is easier for me to roller set my hair and style it straight, my hair is not healthier or more moisturized. If fact, I have to be much more careful with my hair and I work very hard to keep it moisturized becuase it snaps off easier when I'm handling it than it did before the relaxer.

Also, becase the relaxer is so light, it's hard to tell where the demarcation line is between the new growth and the hair that is relaxed. This makes it easier to make a mistake and overlap which is very damaging.

So my perspective is that for me the light relaxer was more about how I wanted to style my hair straight more often than it was about moisturizing or improving the health of my hair. Also now I have to be sure to do both moisturizing and protein treatments pretty often and I didn't have to do this before. So the maintenance and the cost is higher.

I also realize now that the stylist who told me how my hair would be easier to handle, would tangle less and therefore break less and would grow longer if I got a light relaxer was probably not thinking about my best interest. She may have been thinking about how much more profitable I could be to her if I had to come in regularly for light relaxers and touch ups and conditioner treatments etc.