Thinking about relaxing your hair but worried about the risks? For decades, relaxers have been the go-to for people with naturally curly hair to straighten their hair, but with growing concerns about chemical damage, many are left wondering if it’s really worth it.
The History of Relaxers
Hair relaxers have an interesting history that began with a discovery made by young American inventor, Garrett A. Morgan over a hundred years ago. He accidentally found that the chemicals he used to repair sewing machines in his workshop could also loosen curls. After testing this on a dog’s fur and his own hair, relaxers were born.
Since then, hair relaxers have remained a popular choice for people seeking to alter the natural curly state of their hair. In this read, we’ll cover what hair relaxers are and do, the potential disadvantages of relaxing your hair, and answer your burning question: Are relaxers healthy for your hair?
What are Hair Relaxers?
Hair is primarily made up of protein, and relaxers are chemical products that break and reform the protein bonds in your curly hair, making it straighter. The two types of relaxers are lye relaxers and no-lye relaxers, as explained below.
Lye Relaxers contain sodium hydroxide and provide a quicker, longer-lasting straightening effect, making them popular for professional use. However, because of how fast they work, they can be harsh on the scalp, and if not washed out completely or on time, can lead to scalp burns.
No-Lye Relaxers contain calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or guanidine hydroxide. Although these are gentler on the scalp, they can cause calcium buildup which makes hair dry and brittle.
Each relaxer type has its pros and cons, and so do relaxers in general, as you’ll soon come to see.
Potential Risks of Hair Relaxers
Despite concerns about hair health and damage, many people continue to use relaxers for the manageability and versatility of straight hair. Relaxed hair is believed to be easier to style daily, and switch between styles in. It also requires less daily heat and is straighter for longer than the results from temporary straightening methods such as silk presses.
In spite of the seeming convenience and appeal of these benefits, the potential risks of relaxers to hair and general health are too serious to ignore. Since we’re trying to find out if relaxers are healthy for your hair, here are some hair-specific cons of relaxers:
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Chemical Damage: Relaxers work by breaking down the natural protein bonds in the hair, which can lead to weakened hair over time. This makes the hair more dry, prone to breakage, and split ends.
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Scalp Irritation & Burns: Because relaxers contain strong chemicals, they can cause burns, redness, and irritation if left on the scalp too long. Sensitive scalps may experience discomfort, scabbing, or even permanent scalp damage.
- Hair Breakage & Thinning: Over time, continuous chemical processing can lead to brittle, fragile hair, increasing the risk of breakage and hair thinning. Frequent relaxer applications on previously processed hair can also worsen this issue.
Knowing there’s a possibility hair relaxers damage your hair, if you choose to use them, it’s important to incorporate proper hair care practices and techniques.
How to Maintain Healthy Relaxed Hair
We’re well aware there are people who prefer their hair relaxed and straight, so we’ve come up with ways that you can relax your hair without damaging it. Follow these tips for healthy relaxed hair:
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Optimize The Process: Apply a protective base cream (such as petroleum jelly) to your scalp, hairline, and around your ears before relaxing to prevent skin irritation. To avoid hair damage, relax only the new growth and never leave iron for more than 30 minutes. After washing out the relaxer, wash your hair with a neutralizing shampoo to get it out completely and stop the chemical process of relaxing. In addition, avoid applying relaxer to previously processed hair (e.g bleached hair). Relaxer touch-ups should be at least 3 months apart, depending on hair growth.
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Regular Deep Conditioning: Relaxed hair tends to be drier, so using a moisturizing deep conditioner once a week, as well as after every relaxer session helps replenish lost moisture and reduce breakage.
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Protein Treatments: Since relaxers weaken the hair’s protein structure, use a protein treatment every month to help restore strength to your hair.
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Use Gentle Styling Techniques: Avoid excessive heat styling, tight hairstyles, and harsh brushing, because relaxed hair is already fragile. Opt for low-manipulation styles like buns, roller sets, or loose braids.
- Trim Regularly: Trimming off split ends every 10-12 weeks helps prevent breakage and keeps your hair looking healthy.
As stated above, there are ways to achieve healthy hair with a relaxer, but if you’re still worried about damage, there are alternatives for you.
Alternative Options to Relaxers
Here are some great alternatives to relaxers that won’t damage your hair:
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Texturizers: When we think of relaxers that won’t damage hair, we think of texturizers. Texturizers are mild chemical alternatives that loosen curls rather than straightening them completely. They require similar maintenance to relaxers but cause less damage.
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Heat Styling: From blow-outs to silk presses, and a little run of your hair straightener through your hair, heat styling makes your hair easier to style without using a relaxer. Just be sure to use heat protectants and avoid frequent use to prevent damage.
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Embracing Your Curls: Additionally and perhaps ultimately, you could just choose to embrace your curls. Keeping your hair well-moisturized with deep conditioners, leave-ins, and oils makes your natural curls easier to style and maintain, giving you a beautiful, effortless look.
Beyond the above-listed, other ways to maintain your hair without relaxers include protective styles like cornrows and braids, and non-heat stretching methods such as African threading and twist-outs.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to relax your hair or keep it “natural”, proper care, hydration, and protective styling are key to keeping it strong and healthy.
At the end of the day, the best choice is the one that aligns with your hair goals, lifestyle, and commitment to hair health. Whatever you decide, prioritizing hair care and nourishment will always lead to healthy, beautiful hair.
Before you go…
We appreciate you taking the time to read this blog to the end, and we hope you found it helpful. Please allow us to introduce ourselves quickly.
Shanyi Organics is a brand focused on providing high-quality, safe, and effective hair care products for men, women, and kids. Our products are infused with Ayurvedic herbs and African botanicals to promote hair growth, with the general goal of catering to every hair type, style, and texture.
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