I recently stumbled across this article and I thought it needed to be posted.  Just the other day, I was out with my family shopping at Wally World– while at the check out the lady servicing me said,” your duaghters hair is so beautiful.  I love natural hair.  Why in the world would you put a relaxer in yours…”  at that moment I was shocked.  I was not sure what angle to take — so i just didnt respond.  But as Solange Knowles once tweeted, there is apparently some undercover natural hair police and they dislike anyone who puts lard in their hair… oh well to each is own…  Take a moment and read the article below.

Black Women’s Right to Remain Relaxed

Via: Ebony.com

 

I spotted this woman in Savannah, Georgia with a legendary, jet black mane. It was incredibly thick, healthy and so lush it had to be sho’nuff store bought. It wasn’t. They were the kind of tresses some Southern grandmothers swoon over, and beg us not to cut. Ravishing. Voluminous. Gorgeous. I inquired about her regimen, wanting to know what wondrous products she used.

“Well, my relaxer…” she said. My eyes widened, and all sound came to a silencing halt. She went on to explain she always made it a point to tell people she was relaxed because of the widespread notion that only natural hair is healthy hair. It’s tough to be a user of the creamy crack these days. And although statistics show that over sixty-five percent of Black female consumers are currently relaxed, the all-consuming natural hair movement would make you think otherwise.

It’s bigger than hair. The digital war pits presumed jiggaboos against alleged wannabes, and the online quips have gotten rather nasty. Having a hair preference has become a crime against your own ethnicity. Hot-headed naturalistas—even in the year 2012—will revoke your Black card for flaunting a few straight strands. However, when maintained professionally, what’s wrong with having a relaxer? A little research on today’s straightening creams proves that they’re not the damaging conks of the past. Due to the booming business of natural hair products, relaxers were forced to change their formulas about five years ago to incorporate a slew of conditioning buffers like shea butter, argan oil and keratin. Today, most relaxers are much milder.

“I desire to wear my hair straight most of the time and proudly have a professional stylist relax my roots every eight to 10 weeks,” says Tahira Wright, who mainly wears her hair short. “It is deep conditioned, trimmed, and it’s never over-processed. I rarely have to put heat on my hair, if at all, in between appointments. Healthy hair can be achieved and maintained whether natural, colored or chemically treated!”

When asked if she’s ever felt pressure to go natural or received the notorious side-eye when discussing her relaxed roots, she confessed, “Yes,” but says that it doesn’t bother her one bit. “My beauty regimen is very personal, based on my own individuality, how I desire to look, and what fits my lifestyle. If not treated well, natural hair, just like relaxed hair, can become very dry and brittle. I love versatility!”

 

 

Celebrity stylist Johnny Wright, the magical hands behind Michelle Obama’s flawless coif is…to read the rest of this article click here–> Ebony


Well just to address the “widespread notion that only natural hair is healthy hair” or “health” of relaxers, let me break it down. Chemicals act as a sponge and can deplete the strands of most of its real moisture (no matter how mild the treatment), just alone the process of lanthionization (relaxing) disintegrates the hair’s disulfide bonds, reaching the cortex, altering the stability or durability of the chemical structure in return causing the strand to weaken. Of course you have to take into account many factors of the individual including the finest or coarseness of the strand, hair practices as well as how often the hair is chemically treated and potency of the chemical. I am in no way reprimanding those who choose to relax their hair as I said before, you can never judge a book by its cover but strictly speaking of the physicality, some hair types can maintain weakened hair better than others but to be honest let’s call it what it is, a rose is still a rose and no one’s hair is immune to the damage that chemicals cause to our hair, no one and damage does not equate “health”.

Ladies, when you have read this article in its entirety let me know your thoughts. I am really interested in what you have to say because I know there is a boatload that needs to be addressed. When you read the rest, you will definitely get my meaning, lol.

DELUX Magazine
Follow Us
Latest posts by DELUX Magazine (see all)