Despite their popularity, hair relaxers contain harmful chemicals that can lead to irreversible damage.
An increasing number of women of color are becoming aware of these risks and choosing to embrace their natural hair instead.
However, many are still unaware of the harmful effects relaxers can have on their hair and overall well-being.
The troubling reality about hair relaxers is that while more individuals are shifting towards natural styles, a large portion of women continues to use them.
A prevalent myth is that a burning feeling during application means the relaxer is working, when it actually indicates great harm.
The harmful substances in relaxers can penetrate the skin and negatively impact health.
Who is the true inventor of hair relaxers?
Contrary to popular belief, Garrett Morgan, the son of a former slave, is credited with inventing relaxers in 1910, not Madam CJ Walker.
Initially, Morgan was attempting to create a lubricant for sewing machine needles, but when the substance accidentally came into contact with the hair on his arm, he noticed it began to straighten.
This accidental discovery led Morgan to develop a hair treatment for African Americans to chemically straighten their naturally curly hair, which he dubbed the “Relaxer.”
What are the ingredients in hair relaxers?
Relaxers contain chemicals that counteract the natural chemical composition of curly hair. The most hazardous ingredient is sodium hydroxide, commonly known as “lye.”
Certified Lye, a soap company, warns that “substances with large amounts of lye can cause chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring, and blindness.
Lye (sodium hydroxide) may be harmful or fatal if swallowed.” While some relaxer brands, such as Dark and Lovely, African Pride, and Optimum Care, claim to be lye-free, they often contain other hazardous chemicals.
Another concerning ingredient in hair relaxers is guanidine carbonate.
According to Chemicalbook.com, handling guanidine carbonate requires caution, specifically recommending its use “only in a chemical fume hood.”
Furthermore, succinic acid, another relaxer ingredient, poses risks, as Bio-amber, a renewable chemicals manufacturer, warns that it “may be harmful if absorbed through the skin.”
This warning is alarming, given that relaxers come into direct contact with the user’s scalp.
What are the risks associated with hair relaxers?
Scientific research has raised concerns about the ingredients in Black hair care products, including relaxers.
These products can enter the body through the scalp, leading to various complications.
Studies have linked relaxer use to severe health issues, including reproductive problems, heart disease, cancer, early puberty, fibroids, and mental health disorders.
Relaxers can disrupt the body’s chemical balance by entering the system through cuts and burns.