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Why Is Society OK With Chemical Hair Products For White Kids But Not Black Kids? (Video)

by Tj Sotomayor July 27, 2014 6 comments

Their Hair Vs Our Hair!

By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

So a black women by the name of Jennifer Miranda sent me this photo via email and when I read it I was like, maybe she has a point.  But like I always tell all of you is to make sure that you read something in its entirity before giving your half witted opinion on it so I did.

The photo started off asking a valid question of why is it that its ok for white kids to have products advertising that they bleach their kids hair blonde but not ok that black kids have products to straighten their kids hair.  Now me not being an advocate of perms I was caught in my realm of being fair and using logic so I thought if this is the case then yeah they have a point.

I mean I know nothing about bleaching a kids hair but Im sure its not that safe of a process so yeah I gave her a point until I read farther.

Jennifer let me know that the bleaching a white girls hair blonde prodect on the left was actually a fake but the Just for me box on the right was as real as you and I so here was my response to her email!

Now I am not a scientist or am I a chemist but I do know that perms burn like hell!  I also do know that doing this process to a child is torture!  I have seen the damage done to the skin first hand and I think any parent doing this to their child should be reported for child abuse!

The little black girl on the box has a huge smile on her face as if relaxing a childs hair is like a walk on the park.  And even if it doesnt convey that, what it does show is that the straighter the hair the happier the child and we as black people need to stop brain washing ourselves and our kids into believing that!

I am going to revist this subject but for now I want you guys to take a look at this article about Relaxing hair!

What You Need to Know About Chemical Hair Relaxers

Hair breakage, hair thinning, lack of hair growth, scalp irritation, scalp damage, hair loss: these are just some of the complaints from many who experience problems due to the misuse of chemical hair relaxers.

In fact, the FDA lists hair straighteners and hair dyes among its top consumer complaint areas. Yet, in so many stores around the country, chemicals are available for everyone to use, without much instruction, a powerful process which transforms the very chemical makeup of the hair strand.

Before beginning any hair treatment, especially one that introduces chemicals to your hair, you owe it to yourself to be well informed. Armed with a better understanding of this process, you will be able to make good decisions with regard to hair and scalp care.

If you have naturally tightly curled hair you have the option of styling it using products specifically designed for your hair type as it is, or the option to straighten the hair which opens up further hair styles to be available to you.

However,chemically straightening the hair should be carefully thought out and thoroughly studied. We have compiled essential information on chemical hair relaxers and urge you to read the following carefully and, if not for yourself, share it with a friend.

Hair Relaxers: Hair Discovers Lye

His name was Garrett Augustus Morgan and he was born the seventh of eleven children of former slaves.

He is best known for his invention of the automatic traffic signal and gas mask.

But it was around 1910 that he stumbled upon what would become his contribution to the hair care products industry and what would pave the way for several other entrepreneurs and manufacturers over the next hundred years.

While working in a sewing machine repair shop attempting to invent a new lubricating liquid for the machine needle, it is widely believed that Morgan wiped his hands on a wool cloth, returned the next day, found the woolly texture of the cloth had “smoothed out”, and set out to find how the liquid chemical had changed the texture as it had. He experimented on an Airedale dog, known for their curly textured hair, and the effect was successfully duplicated.

Morgan then tried his lubricating liquid invention on himself, called it a “hair refining cream”, and thus patented the first chemical hair straighteners.

He founded a personal grooming products company which included hair dying ointments, curved-tooth pressing combs, shampoo, hair pressing gloss, and the one that started it all: the “G.A. Morgan’s Hair Refiner Cream” (advertised to “Positively Straighten Hair in 15 Minutes”).

“Lye” or “No Lye”: The Truth

Sodium Hydroxide is the strongest type of principal chemical used in some chemical relaxers because it provides the most long lasting and dramatic effects.

However, this same sodium hydroxide is found in drain cleaners which well demonstrates the strength of this chemical.

It is what is used in products that are referred to as “lye” relaxers. The strength varies from a ph factor of 10 to 14. With higher ph, the faster the straightening solution will take hold, but the more potential the damage.

Guanidine Hydroxide is the other common option of relaxer chemical used today. This is what is referred to as “no-lye” relaxers.

This label can be misleading to some consumers. It does not imply that there aren’t any strong chemicals used or that the chemicals used are somehow less potentially damaging.

Some have mistakenly thought that with “no-lye” relaxers there are less steps and all the worry of chemical hair straightening is removed.

Although this type of chemical hair relaxer can be less damaging than its counterpart, the hair and scalp should be in top condition before attempting treatment, and this type also requires special care when applied.

All relaxers require conditioning treatments before and after application. The decision to straighten the hair chemically requires much forethought and really a commitment to healthy haircare treatments over a long entire period of time.