The Dangers of Hair Relaxers
Hair Relaxers are generally used to straighten tightly curled hair and there are two main types:
– Lye Relaxers
– No Lye Relaxers
No Lye relaxers are a milder form of Lye relaxers, however both contain the chemical ingredient Sodium Hydroxide which is also used in various other cleaning detergents. It can easily dissolve through surfaces like fabric, plastic and even the skin. When it seeps through the hair, it breaks the natural bonds that are meant to protect the hair, altering its natural structure. Hair relaxers generally have a PH ranging from 11 – 14 and can easily be described as corrosive as they will either destroy or damage another substance it comes into contact with. Human hair has a PH level of about 4.5-5.5 and after a relaxer has been placed on the hair, a neutraliser is applied. Neutralisers generally have a PH 3 and it is designed to bring the hair back to its acidic range after a relaxer has been used, but this does not make any difference. Once the hair has been straightened it cannot be reversed as the hair follicles are permanently damaged which results in weakened or damaged hair. Breakage can occur when the chemical bonds in the hair are broken. This happens especially in the case of hair that is already damaged or a relaxer that has been applied wrongly.
Continual use of a relaxer can cause alopecia where hair follicles are damaged beyond repair or completely wiped out. This can lead to one being completely bald. Hence why you have many middle aged black women covering their loss with weaves and wigs. I’ve come across many of them in the hair salons and it’s certainly not a pretty sight.
Ingredients to avoid in black hair care products
There are many products out there that claim to help with our natural dry hair condition when really they do the opposite. There was one particular product that I use to use a while back which claimed to condition and moisturise black hair when it was really the complete opposite. It made my hair dry as a rock and the reason being is because it contained some of these ingredients listed below. A doctor often stated that he would rarely put anything consciously on his skin that he wouldn’t be willing to put in his mouth. Why? because when you apply these chemicals to your skin, they enter your bloodstream and become integrated into your body tissues, In fact, it is probably safer to eat these ingredients than to rub them on your skin (although I strongly recommend you don’t do either!).However, if you do happen to eat these chemicals, your digestive system can produce specific enzymes to break down these toxins and excrete them… something that doesn’t readily occur when you absorb them through the skin. Below are a list of ingredients common in ethnic minority skin and hair care products that can potentially be harmful
Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine”, a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.
You pick up a shampoo and you will find that the majority of them have this ingredient as SLS is found in over 95 percent of commercial shampoos. As SLS is a potent de-greaser, acting as a surfactant, binding to the dirt and gunk on your hair and scalp. After rinsing your hair, the grime is dragged down the plug hole by the SLS. SLS takes no prisoners, dirt is zapped away from your hair, but it also takes with it the natural oils leaving your hair even drier. Yet even after rinsing SLS residue may remain on your scalp. This minor exposure itself may be enough to cause problems.
Parabens
These are Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including body moisturizers and hair care products). If you look on the back of your shampoo or conditioner bottle, you might have seen words like methyl paraben, propyl paraben or ethyl paraben.
These are preservatives used to prevent microbial growth and extend a product’s shelf life. The FDA considers the amount of parabens used in cosmetics to be safe, however, some people can still develop allergic reactions on the skin or scalp. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities — mimicking estrogen — and interfere with the body’s endocrine system. If you are suffering from rashes or an irritated scalp, it might be worth switching to an organic/natural hair product line that uses natural preservatives.
Mineral Oil and Petrolatum
Most products geared at black women usually contain Mineral oil and Petrolatum. Reason being is that they are cheap to sell and give an illusive shine. These ingredients have proven to be damaging in the long run as they coat the skin like plastic, clogging the pores and creating a build up of toxins. It is also a suspected cause of cancer and disruptive hormonal activity.
Propylene glycol
This is an active ingredient found in many African American hair products as well as moisturisers in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Propylene Glycol is also a active component of anti-freeze and actually deteriorates the protein and cellular structure of African American or Ethnic hair. Protein is what your hair needs to thrive. Workers actually use gloves and goggles when dealing with this substance due to its chemical side effects and toxicity
Research has also shown it to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
Isopropyl Alcohol
This ingredient is known to dry and break African American hair. It is found in color rinses and anti-freeze. It is also used in keyboard, LCD and laptop cleaning as a strong but safer alternative to common household cleaning products.
Diethanolamine (DEA), Momoethnanolamine (MEA), Triethanolamine (TEA)
Usually listed as an ingredient containing a neutralizing compound, i.e. as Cocamide DEA or Lauramide DEA, repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents are known to form cancer causing nitrates.