0 Finally Watched "Good Hair"- Relaxers

"Good Hair" is a "documentary" (their words not mine):
"According to Rock, he was prompted to make the movie after his 5-year-old daughter Lola asked him, "Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?"[3] During the film, Rock delves into the $9 billion black hair industry, and visits such places as beauty salons, barbershops, hair styling conventions and scientific laboratories (to learn the science behind chemical relaxers thatstraighten hair).[3][4]

Rock intended for the film to uphold a sense of seriousness, yet at the same time remain humorous.[4] The movie features interviews from hair care industry businesspeople, stylists (Derek J, Jason Griggers and others) and their consumers, and celebrities such as Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, T-Pain, Raven-Symoné, Maya Angelou, KRS-One, Salt-n-Pepa, Kerry Washington, Eve, Reverend Al Sharpton, Tracie Thoms, Lauren London, and Meagan Good[3][5]as they discuss their own experiences with their hair, and how black hair is perceived in the black community."  (source Wikipedia)

Sarenzo Beads Hairtie

This is a movie where you have to really chew up the meat and spit out the bones and there are a lot of bones. In the movie they spoke about relaxers, I believe there was a lot of misinformation or not enough information given about relaxers. There is a right and wrong way to use relaxers.

The Dangers of Relaxers

Noted in the film, was the chemical sodium hydroxide which is a very dangerous chemical and can cause serious injury of not used properly. Yes, if you soak a can in straight sodium hydroxide for 3-4 hours, the can will dissolve into nothing. This is (as Chris Rock failed to note) because cans are made with aluminum. Sodium hydroxide and aluminum cause a reaction that will dissolve aluminum (google it). This is why when working with sodium hydroxide when making soap, it's best to use high grade plastic (yes plastic) or glass to mix the lye and water.

So, the question is then asked, why do people put this on their skin?! Well, no one should be putting a relaxer on their skin. A relaxer when used CORRECTLY should never dissolve the hair or burn the skin. With every box of relaxers, you get a pack of vaseline/ petroleum, this is to be used to "base" or coat the scalp, neck, and forehead and prevent the relaxer from getting on the skin. Scalps burns, alopecia (from scalp burns), etc, are all the result of improper uses of a relaxer. This is all clearly stated on each box and container of relaxer. Though very few will admit it, many people don't use a relaxer correctly. Reckless and improper use is not the fault of the relaxer but, of the person applying the relaxer.

Gloves are also given in each box to keep the person who is applying the relaxer from receiving burns on their hands. It is also advised to work in a well ventilated area as not to directly inhale the fumes.

I hear many women tout that a relaxer is absorbed back into the skin through the scalp, this is false. Hair is dead so the relaxer does not go up the hair shaft and into the scalp. Where you apply the relaxer is where is stays, unless you improperly apply the relaxer and get it on the scalp, this is the only way it can be absorbed into the skin. Hair products are not absorbed into the scalp through the hair. This is how many of us can have moisturized hair but, a dry scalp.

Now, I don't want anyone to think I am saying relaxers are safe or that I endorse them. I just need people to be factual and use common sense. Yes, you can have healthy relaxed hair. Yes, relaxed hair can grow long. Everyone who uses a relaxer does not have chewed up edges and short choppy hair. Sorry.

I do not agree with relaxers for children. This is just wrong. I especially don't agree with relaxers being used improperly on children.

Many relaxed women have YouTubes, blogs, etc. where they explain how to properly apply and maintain relaxed hair.

I'm natural and don't think I will ever go back to relaxers but, I still respect the decision some people have made to relax their hair. Their hair, their choice.

Were you ever relaxed? Did you relax your hair properly? Did you suffer damage?

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