Chemical Relaxer Research Paper

They go from straight to wavy to their natural state a lot. Whitney Bellinger (2007) explains in her article why African American of the younger generation use the term “good hair” in order to understand why they change there out of the “natural” state. Throughout this research conduct she gives more details towards the women no longer want to stay towards the historical norms wanting to have a White appearance but states it “claim they change it because their hair’s chemical make-up time, ease of styling and the creation and perpetuation of healthy hair.” (Bellinger, 2007, p. 63) Some don’t change their hair because of racial pride taught by their mothers. An example of a way young women change their hair was with chemicals such as relaxers or perms and color dye. While conducting this research Bellinger also discover the main reason why the younger generation change their hairstyle is because seeing their parents change their hairstyles. The older generation then believed if they had “impression of Caucasian hair” they would be promoted in the job force (Bellinger, 2007, p.

There has been a notable amount of conversation on the internet on the rebirth of the natural hair movement. Cherise Luter (2014) states that despite afros and the natural hair movement not being a new concept (i.e. the Black Power Movement), it has gone under what she calls a “refreshing change”. Furthermore, what used to be “I’m black and I’m proud”, has been replaced with “I’m me and I’m proud” (Luter 2016). So, what is the natural hair movement? It is defined as a movement where black women decide to not conform to the social norms of chemically altering their hair and wearing it in its natural, kinky, or curled state (Joignot 2015). The movement could also be considered as an outlet for black women to display their racial and cultural pride or to articulate their “political position (Brown 2014:297). However, simply the terminology “movement” is something that should be shocking to many. There is a great amount of historical context behind the continuous influence Eurocentric beauty ideals have had on black women for centuries. According to Nadia Brown (2014), Black natural hair throughout history has proven to be recognized as “either unintended or intended personal and political statements” (298). the beauty standard in Western society which praises European hair textures, has influenced many black women to be critical of other black women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, accusing them of being subservient to the dominant and pervasive racist

For years, African woman have been the prime consumers of chemical relaxers. We all have experienced similar outcome from the substance. The main result we love most about it is that our hair is so easy to manage and is straighter without our natural curl pattern appearing. Even though we lust to have straight and manageable hair, we neglect to actually think about what this substance is doing to our hair, better yet our bodies and children. So, by questing that, I would like to share the benefits and non-beneficial effects of the chemical relaxer, and introduce the other alternatives for straight hair because women need to completely stop using chemical relaxer and open her mind to a safer and natural

African American women have different types of hair. For example hair can either be course, fine, and medium textures. The way hair is determined its by circumference and the condition of the cuticle. Fine texture has a small circumference and closed cuticle. Coarse hair it has much larger circumference and the cuticle is much more open. They are often broken down into different types of hair such as African Caribbean, Asian, and Caucasian (European). African Caribbean is usually displayed as a tightly curled and often very dark. “African Caribbean hair is almost kidney shaped when seen in cross section.” (Anoymous, 2013) This type of is usual damage easily. Asian hair is usually “often straight and has a tendency to be lank.” They come in variety of colors for example a dark to medium brown. It usually is thick and strong. Then you have Caucasian or European which can be straight, wavy or curly. They are usually from a dark to medium brown and it also can be thick and strong. “The texture of hair can be vary significantly according to hair color and racial type” (Anoymous, 2013, p. 1)

The Mintel market intelligence agency has some thought provoking research on the Natural hair movement and sale changes over the years. From the years 2008 to 2013 hair relaxer sales have declined 26%. From the years 2013 to 2015 hair relaxer sales have dropped 18.6%. These reports really show how natural hair is really changing. This also leads down the road or how prevalent relaxed hair is. Yes, Garrett Augustus Morgan did create the relaxer on accident almost, but why did it take off and become almost the social norm amongst African

Most African American women get their hair advice from low class salon who are self-taught. Low class salons have no knowledge of black women's natural hair texture nor natural hair styles that will protect their hair to keep it from breaking off. These salons use hair relaxer products on their African American clients because it is a fast process and are able to quickly move on to the next client. However, African American woman does not have the option to choose between a relaxer or a protective hair style when dealing with these salons, As a matter of fact, The New York Times mentions, plenty of salons are educating themselves on natural hair styles. “Many wear their twist, locks or teenie-weenie Afros”,” proud to have not given in to the

In the late 1890’s Sarah developed a scalp disorder which made her lose most of her hair. To help her scalp she made a product called glossine. This hair care product helped treat

They were taken from their home and forced to work as slaves in a place they have never seen before. They were dehumanized and ripped of their culture by getting their hair shaved or cut off, trying to make them forget where they came from and who they were. After having to work under the hot sun, in a field, they never had time to take care of their hair nor did not have the same products that they have always used, so they were forced to wear scarves and forget about taking care of their hair. Due to not being able to properly take are of their hair, African American women hair were mocked and turned into jokes, which lately turned into not being social acceptable due to their hair. Resulting in Madame C.J Walker creating a cream to turn their hair from kinky curls to bone straight. Fortunately, years later African American women waned a change and felt that their hair should not be hidden. Slowly but surely African American women started to follow this wave and started to become natural, but another obstacle stood in their way, learning what to do and getting ahold of the needed items. Social media was the only way to gain the information that was needed to learn how to properly take care of their hair. Without the use of social media, it would be difficult for African Americans to get the natural hair care products that they need because in major department stores, the sections for black hair is very vague and even if they did have the item one was looking for, it is usually not in stock. More research should be done to understand why is it still difficult in some areas, Nationwide, for African Americans to get access to the hair care products that they need but not the same for other hair types? The sales for natural hair products are growing online, yet still not occurring in stores. Why is

Since the early 1900s, Black women have had a fascination with their hair. More explicitly, they have had a fascination with straightening their hair. The need to be accepted by the majority class has caused them to do so. Though the image of straight hair as being better than coarse hair still hasn’t left the Black community, there has been a surge of non straight hairstyles since the nineteen sixties. Wearing more natural hairstyles, which ironically enough include ‘weaves’ and ‘hair extensions’ has been considered to be more empowered and more enlightened. However, this image comes with a price, and though it appears the ‘natural’ hairstyle movement has advanced Black women, it has actually set

Hair product companies that are owned by African Americans are created to help the black community enhance their kinky-curly textures. From natural hair products to permed hair products, many companies are making millions among millions of dollars for providing the best shampoos and moisturizers. Many of the natural hair companies were influenced be a woman who created a new regimen for hair growth and created handmade hair products. Sarah Breedlove, who is also known as Madam CJ Walker, gained knowledge about caring for coarse hair and started her own product line. Her first hair product was Madam C.J Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower and her reputation skyrocketed because of the good reviews about her new creation. Not only she was an entrepreneur, she was also a philanthropist and a helpful Civil Rights activist throughout the early 1900’s.

In the late 1960s, the Afro hairstyles became a political statement, announcing, “I am black and proud” and challenged white aesthetics. This movement asked Black people to show their natural beauty without shame, spreading to the world that black is beautiful (BlackHistory.com). However, two decades later, this statement has slowly faded away and has been replaced by fake hair weaves and hair straightening chemical creams. Today, African Americans spend over half a trillion dollars on hair care and weaves, more than any other racial group. Majority of African American women do not feel the need to wear their hair naturally, and choose to chemically straighten their hair (Johnson & Bankhead, 2014).

There are various techniques that are used to straighten hair. African Americans straighten their hair by using a curling iron or a relaxer. I thought it was interesting how Chris Rock included the soda can experiment using a relaxer to show the health risks from a relaxer. I did not realize that a relaxer can burn your hair really bad until seeing the soda can experiment. I have never gotten a relaxer and I will never get a relaxer, but I thought it was interesting to hear about what it feels like when someone does get

Many people have compared natural hair and relaxed as both being healthy. I strongly agree that natural hair is healthy for various reasons. I agreed to that because you not using the chemicals that you use for relaxed hair. For natural hair all you need is water, wild growth and moisturizer. Relaxed hair make your hair look very thin also you using perms which has chemicals that's not healthy for your hair. Some women think relaxed hair is better than natural. Why is that ? It’s because they think when your hair natural it’s very unlikeable. Natural hair has all the components to grow healthy, long, and thick hair.

Paul Mitchell straighteners come in different packs and prices for every user. With a brand name that spans many years; the company uses ionic tourmaline technology in all its products. This technology reduces the damage done to the hair; making it smoother, and shinier. Some of the major straighteners from this company will be explained in this article.

My hair has always been curly. When I was a small baby, my hair was black, thin, and there was TONS of it. It was quite the mess for my mother to handle, so she often just brushed it after my bath or let my hair go crazy on its own. Now that I am 17, bad habits have been formed, and I am currently working on demolishing them. I am trying to nourish my curls back to good health; after all, they have been through a lot. They went through the classic, middle school phase which consists of frying my hair with an overheated straightener every day. My historically luscious curls also went through a seven-hour salon session of bleaching, and barely survived the phase of putting my hair in tight buns on the top of my head. Needless to say, my hair is damaged, broken, and hurting. Getting it back to healthy, beautiful, and happy hair is going to be the biggest challenge of my lifetime.