Relaxer Controversy

[diamondlady]

My friend showed up at church with a TWA. When I asked her about it she said she refuses to relax anymore because the relaxers have changed and now they make your hair thin. Her thoughts are that major companies have taken over the smaller companies that use to make the products. She thinks the larger companies have changed the formulas and now all relaxers are no good.

I just wanted to get the opinions of LHCF on this point. So ladies, what do you think?

 

[Moroni]

Hmm. Never heard this. So, all relaxers are made by the same group, now? And the packaging remains the same because....? And it's just relaxers? Not shampoo, conditioners, leave-ins, bottled water, sanitary napkins, dog food....???

 

[bravenewgirl87]

I'm actually about to do an interview with DeShawn Bullard, but she will protest to the end that relaxers do not break hair off. I, too, find this to be true.Your friend was probably just overproccessing her hair. I've actually found that more hair care companies are stealing..opps! I mean, *introducing* techniques that are time honored on LHCF and other hair boards/ sites and using them to improve the formulations of relaxers (Mizani BUTTER blends, Mizani's line for relaxer stretchers, African Pride with essential oils)

 

[AvaSpeaks]

I'm actually about to do an interview with DeShawn Bullard, but she will protest to the end that relaxers do not break hair off. I, too, find this to be true.Your friend was probably just overproccessing her hair. I've actually found that more hair care companies are stealing..opps! I mean, *introducing* techniques that are time honored on LHCF and other hair boards/ sites and using them to improve the formulations of relaxers (Mizani BUTTER blends, Mizani's line for relaxer stretchers, African Pride with essential oils)

Exactly! I know for a fact that relaxers are made by different companies. And alot of them are adding more moisturizing properties to their products.

I hate to say it but I think your friend might just had some bad experiences with the relaxers and is blaiming the products instead of looking at some of her own hair practices.

 

[diamondlady]

Exactly! I know for a fact that relaxers are made by different companies. And alot of them are adding more moisturizing properties to their products.

I hate to say it but I think your friend might just had some bad experiences with the relaxers and is blaiming the products instead of looking at some of her own hair practices.

You are probably right. Her real reply had a lot of racial overtones but I didn't want to bring that mess to the board. I asked her about the relaxer she was using and she side stepped that question by saying "Oh, it's just not me, it's several people I've talk to and if you are smart, you will stop using them too"

 

[tiffers]

Yeah, I agree with the other ladies. Sounds like your friend was abusing relaxers by getting them way too often. She probably pulled it through to the ends too. Now she wants to come up with some conspiracy theory instead of blaming herself

I remember this one girl who was complaining about how Aphogee made her hair fall out. she went on this tirade on how Aphogee isn't made for black people and the company puts stuff in it that they KNOW will make black people's hair fall out. Well, it turns out that her dumb self didn't use a moisturizing conditioner after the Aphogee, she just rinsed it out and then blow dried and flatironed her hair

 

[PaperClip]

You are probably right. Her real reply had a lot of racial overtones but I didn't want to bring that mess to the board. I asked her about the relaxer she was using and she side stepped that question by saying "Oh, it's just not me, it's several people I've talk to and if you are smart, you will stop using them too"

What were the racial overtones of her response?

 

[diamondlady]

What were the racial overtones of her response?

Well, I didn't want to say this in the orginal post (there has been enough racial stuff on the board lately) but she said that the huge companies are owned by White people who are just realizing how much Blacks spend on hair care products. She said they are now buying up smaller Black owned companies, creating divisions for Black or Ethic hair care and changing the formulas to create a cheaper product that does not work as well and reaping larger benefits.

Maybe everyone won't read this part. I don't want this to turn into another racial rant.

 

[MissMasala5]

Blaming products and their makers is a common way of not owning up to personal responsibility and admitting one's own error o ignorance. I did this myself once. I drank an Ultra SlimFast shake and got violently ill. I wanted to sue the company, but learned that my illness was due to my lactose intolerance.

 

[PaperClip]

Well, I didn't want to say this in the orginal post (there has been enough racial stuff on the board lately) but she said that the huge companies are owned by White people who are just realizing how much Blacks spend on hair care products. She said they are now buying up smaller Black owned companies, creating divisions for Black or Ethic hair care and changing the formulas to create a cheaper product that does not work as well and reaping larger benefits.

Maybe everyone won't read this part. I don't want this to turn into another racial rant.

Sooo.... just because it may have racial under/overtones negates the truth of the matter?

It's easy to determine ownership of so-called Black hair care lines... and I think we can count on one, maybe two hands who those (major) companies are. Sure there are lots of smaller/online companies, but the big conglomerates are probably owned by non-Blacks.

As far as the "cheaper" products and/or reformulation? Again, relatively easy to explore.

I think your friend is realizing for herself that there is something to be said about giving one's hair money to people who are less concerned about healthy hair care (with integrity) and more concerned about profit...without giving back some of that profit to the communities that the money came from....

And for the record, race and its social construction is INESCAPABLE in the United States.

 

[diamondlady]

Sooo.... just because it may have racial under/overtones negates the truth of the matter?
.

No, it doesn't negate anything, you misunderstand my motives in not adding that part. I just didn’t want to start one of those racial rants that have been so prevalent on the board lately. I've even seen threads where someone is complaining about it. I just kinda wanted to leave the racial rants out of it.

 

[lovelychar]

I hear what she's saying and sister would make a valid point had she done her research first. I am in no shape to protest the difference. But I do believe that a lot of products are Black produced and owned. Yes even the large ones. Sounds to me that home girl is just pointing the finger instead of acknowledging her hair care practices. Anyone can point their finger and put the blame on something, but to actually consider your efforts, knowledge and caring for your hair when using a product is to say that I am not a good candidate for using this products because I'm lazzy or don't put the forth of effort to keep it well maintained. Now we wouldn't say that would we .

Why is it that we have so many beautiful relaxed heads up on the boards. But instead we go and cut all our hair off and start from scratch doing the same things as when we were relaxed to only now have Shriveled up brilo pad mess of a head. Because why you ask?...... Inproper maintenence o nce again. I can just see home girl now thinking she can still do the same things before she cut her hair off, thinking that that would make a difference. Sounds like jelousy to me. Gonna give you advice on not using relaxers and your hair is beautifully maintained with a relaxer and She goes and has to cut hers off because she don't properly take care of her hair.Got a lot of nerve!!!! erplexed Sorry for the rant!!!

Well, I didn't want to say this in the orginal post (there has been enough racial stuff on the board lately) but she said that the huge companies are owned by White people who are just realizing how much Blacks spend on hair care products. She said they are now buying up smaller Black owned companies, creating divisions for Black or Ethic hair care and changing the formulas to create a cheaper product that does not work as well and reaping larger benefits.

Maybe everyone won't read this part. I don't want this to turn into another racial rant.

 

[diamondlady]

I hear what she's saying and sister would make a valid point had she done her research first. I am in no shape to protest the difference. But I do believe that a lot of products are Black produced and owned. Yes even the large ones. Sounds to me that home girl is just pointing the finger instead of acknowledging her hair care practices. Anyone can point their finger and put the blame on something, but to actually consider your efforts, knowledge and caring for your hair when using a product is to say that I am not a good candidate for using this products because I'm lazzy or don't put the forth of effort to keep it well maintained. Now we wouldn't say that would we .

Why is it that we have so many beautiful relaxed heads up on the boards. But instead we go and cut all our hair off and start from scratch doing the same things as when we were relaxed to only now have Shriveled up brilo pad mess of a head. Because why you ask?...... Inproper maintenence o nce again. I can just see home girl now thinking she can still do the same things before she cut her hair off, thinking that that would make a difference. Sounds like jelousy to me. Gonna give you advice on not using relaxers and your hair is beautifully maintained with a relaxer and She goes and has to cut hers off because she don't properly take care of her hair.Got a lot of nerve!!!! erplexed Sorry for the rant!!!

Lovelychar,

Don't apologize for the rant, I kinda liked it. I think she is probably NOT doing proper maintenance on her hair and pointing the finger.

 

[TaurusAngel]

I agree with the other comments. being overprocessed isn't good for the hair. I know some people who get relaxers like every 3 weeks. I don't think thats good. But i don't think that all relaxers are bad. You just need to find a good one for your type of hair.

 

[HoneyDew]

I'm actually about to do an interview with DeShawn Bullard, but she will protest to the end that relaxers do not break hair off. I, too, find this to be true.Your friend was probably just overproccessing her hair. I've actually found that more hair care companies are stealing..opps! I mean, *introducing* techniques that are time honored on LHCF and other hair boards/ sites and using them to improve the formulations of relaxers (Mizani BUTTER blends, Mizani's line for relaxer stretchers, African Pride with essential oils)

I agree. I see this kind of thing more and more.

 

[tatiana]

Your friend is not completely wrong. In the early nineties alot of the black companies were brought out by white companies.

The Colomer Group which owns revlon also has African Pride, Arosci, Creme of Nature, Fabu-laxer, Revlon Realistic, and Special Feeling

Lustrasilk(white) -- I think always been that way.

www.alberto.com -- Alberto Culver the same people who creates VO5 and Nexxus also has tcb, Motions, Soft & Beautiful, Soft&Beautiful Just for Me!

www.lorealusa.com L'Oreal owns Mizani and Soft Sheen Carson which creates Dark & Lovely and Optimum Care

www.avlon.com Avlon founded and owned by a Middle Eastern makes KeraCare and Affirm

 

[MissMasala5]

Chris Rock once said that Blacks get rich, but we don't have real wealth. Well, if they keep buying up our companies, we don't ever stand a chance at having wealth now do we? Ok, that was OT...

 

[mocabella]

I'm actually about to do an interview with DeShawn Bullard, but she will protest to the end that relaxers do not break hair off. I, too, find this to be true.Your friend was probably just overproccessing her hair. I've actually found that more hair care companies are stealing..opps! I mean, *introducing* techniques that are time honored on LHCF and other hair boards/ sites and using them to improve the formulations of relaxers (Mizani BUTTER blends, Mizani's line for relaxer stretchers, African Pride with essential oils)

Mizani manufactures a line for relaxer stretchers? Do tell . . .. I've never heard about this.

Questions

How long has it been around?

Have you used this line? If so, how would you rate it? Both the positives and the negatives.

Thanks much.

 

[Moroni]

I'm actually about to do an interview with DeShawn Bullard, but she will protest to the end that relaxers do not break hair off. I, too, find this to be true.Your friend was probably just overproccessing her hair. I've actually found that more hair care companies are stealing..opps! I mean, *introducing* techniques that are time honored on LHCF and other hair boards/ sites and using them to improve the formulations of relaxers (Mizani BUTTER blends, Mizani's line for relaxer stretchers, African Pride with essential oils)

Mizani manufactures a line for relaxer stretchers? Do tell . . .. I've never heard about this.

Questions

How long has it been around?

Have you used this line? If so, how would you rate it? Both the positives and the negatives.

Thanks much.

This might be the answer to your question about the relaxer stretch: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=92718

I think it's called Thermasmooth. HTH

ETA: Here's their website:http://www.mizani-usa.com/?m=35&rid=100

 

[locabouthair]

Yeah, I agree with the other ladies. Sounds like your friend was abusing relaxers by getting them way too often. She probably pulled it through to the ends too. Now she wants to come up with some conspiracy theory instead of blaming herself

I remember this one girl who was complaining about how Aphogee made her hair fall out. she went on this tirade on how Aphogee isn't made for black people and the company puts stuff in it that they KNOW will make black people's hair fall out. Well, it turns out that her dumb self didn't use a moisturizing conditioner after the Aphogee, she just rinsed it out and then blow dried and flatironed her hair

That's the point I was about to make.

When I first came to this site I was natural. I went natural because I was convinced the relaxers made my hair break off and it just didnt work for my hair.

Then I came to the forum and I learned about stretching, moisturising, using a DC after a hard protein. NONE of these I EVER did when I was relaxed before, so no wonder my hair broke off.

Now I'm not saying everyone's hair can deal with chemicals or that am I anti natural (cuz I still love natural hair). I just think that since the MAJORITY of black women don't know how to take care of their hair in the first place, we can't really say that this is valid.

Sure, some of the formulas might change. it's a possiblity. Thats what happens with time, but like someone else said I see a lot more relaxers now with conditoning and moisturizing ingredients.

I wonder what your friends regimen was when she was relaxed.

 

[mocabella]

This might be the answer to your question about the relaxer stretch: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=92718

I think it's called Thermasmooth. HTH

ETA: Here's their website:http://www.mizani-usa.com/?m=35&rid=100

Thank you Moroni. This was very informative. Now I know and knowing is half the battle . . ..

 

[SleepyJean]

Well, I didn't want to say this in the orginal post (there has been enough racial stuff on the board lately) but she said that the huge companies are owned by White people who are just realizing how much Blacks spend on hair care products. She said they are now buying up smaller Black owned companies, creating divisions for Black or Ethic hair care and changing the formulas to create a cheaper product that does not work as well and reaping larger benefits.

Maybe everyone won't read this part. I don't want this to turn into another racial rant.

I figured she said that...I get tired of that . Y'all can ignore this post, too.