A queen... a princess... a winning beauty pageant contestant... They all share one magnificent thing in common... a crown. Being adorned in such ornamented glory makes a woman feel incredibly special. The same is true as it relates to another crown that she wears - her hair. For African-American women, hair is an especially serious matter. When its not right, it has the power to impact the emotions as well as the physical appearance. This is one of the main reasons why most women desire to keep it strong and healthy forever. It is no secret that the structure and texture of African-American hair is very different from textures of most other cultures. Yet, African-American women are deeply influenced by the general cultural expectations of American society. As a result, few African-American women wear their hair in its natural state, and frequently use chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, and other forms of lye that threaten the health of the hair, especially when not used properly. Improper use of chemicals will not only damage the hair, but can eventually also cause severe permanent hair loss. Sodium Hydroxide (lye) is a very caustic chemical. It was not originally designed, nor purposed to be used on hair, or to ever come into contact with an individuals skin or scalp. The intended usage of the chemical was to burn through substances, such as oil and grunge on engines and garage floors for cleaning purposes. It is also partly used as a drain cleaner. If this agent is powerful enough to burn through corrosion in a drain, it is certainly capable of burning through your scalp and causing permanent damage. The beauty of living in America is having freedom of choice. If you choose to have relaxers applied, using wisdom is imperative. Here are the steps that you should take in order to avoid the unpleasant outcomes that so many African-American women have experienced when it comes to receiving chemical applications. • Find a beauty industry professional who values hair care, and not just hair presentation. Not all hairdressers are created equal. It is important to distinguish the true professionals from those who might be talented artists, with no true concern for hair health. Choosing a hairdresser who is not serious about hair care can end in disaster. Choose a reputable hairstylist who works very fast with chemicals and has the ability to get the relaxer in and out of your hair within a short specified period of time. The amount of time it should take will vary depending on whether you are receiving a relaxer retouch, or what is often referred to as a virgin relaxer (a chemical application to hair that has not been relaxed previously). • Understand how the chemicals should be applied. With a virgin relaxer, the product should be applied to the entire hair strand. With a relaxer retouch, product should only be applied to the new hair growth close to your roots. If you have only grown 1/2 inch of hair, and your hairdresser is applying the cream to 2 or 3 inches of your hair, your hair strands are going to become over processed and damaged. • Never allow anyone to apply a “Super” strength relaxer to your hair, unless you want to end up super bald. • Whether you have a sensitive scalp or not, base your entire scalp with something that has a heavy petroleum base prior to relaxing. This will help to prevent the chemical from easily seeping through your scalp pores, which in the long run can destroy your hair from the root. Finally, rethink the bone straight goal. The straighter your strands become through chemical alteration, the more vulnerable it can become to breakage, because the chemically altering process strips a large portion of the hairs protective cuticle layer, which helps prevent damage. One option that some women are choosing is to keep the relaxer cream off the scalp during the application process. This will leave the roots less straight in comparison to the rest of the strand, but semi-straight, as the product will eventually travel and come in contact with the roots at some point during the application process. Utilizing this method may also help spare the scalp some trauma. If your hair does not seem as straight as what you are accustomed to, keep in mind that in most cases, you will more than likely be receiving further straightening through blow-drying, curlers and flat irons, which will eventually give you the appearance you might be aiming for. Finally, understand that manufacturers of products that contain caustic chemicals are not concerned with the health of your hair. They are concerned with one thing - their bottom line. Take care of the beautiful hair God blessed you with, so that many years from now, you can still be proud of your healthy, shiny crown.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:13:07 +0000
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