Relaxers. Good ole “creamy crack” is what it is often referred to. That chemical cream mixture that has the power to take your roots from puffy to bone straight in a matter of minutes.
As someone who had their first relaxer when she was 5 years old, it quickly became the norm in my household, and up until college, my mother was the one performing the treatment on my hair.
Now that I’ve been natural for a little over 2 years, I first cringe at what all I went through to get my hair perfectly, permanently straightened, and then I laugh to myself at the thoughts. Here are 6 things that make me shake my head in remembrance:
1. Relaxer days were rougher than natural hair wash days
A lot of naturals complain about wash days but do you remember relaxer days? Do you?! I don’t know about you but for me they were brutal.
The scalp and edge prep with that balm so you don’t get physical burns, the long process of applying the not so pleasantly smelling cream, and then the wash out that took foreverrrr. And there was no such thing as a wash n go with relaxed hair so you had to style after all of that.
2. Enduring the burn because you want your edges laid for the gawds.
Whew when I think about that tingly sensation that started to creep up when you still had another section to get through I cringe. That only turned into a full on burn that you had to force a smile through because you wanted your edges to be laid.
3. The endless washes until the color coded pink shampoo turned white indicating the chemicals were out.
How many of you used the color coded shampoo? It gave off a vibrant pink color and after each wash, it would get lighter and lighter until it finally got to white, showing that all of the relaxer had been removed. It was a tedious process but I liked it because the last thing you want is remnant chemicals left in your hair.
4. Getting cramped laying on the counter while my mother washed my hair.
For my people who got their hair done at home, I know I wasn’t the only one who laid on the counter when I was younger to get my hair washed. It was much easier than leaning over the sink while they wash and wash and wash.
The only thing is as I got older and my legs grew that counter kept getting smaller!
5. Hair laid flat to your head with no volume for the first week – fine hair probs.
I have really fine hair, so whenever I got my hair relaxed, for the first week I would have no volume whatsoever. I wanted straight roots but it was at the expense of having absolutely no fullness at all. Luckily things would start to improve around the second week.
6. New growth. Hair just wouldn’t lay right with those thick roots.
Ahh, then the joys of new growth. That 6th week would hit and your hair would no longer lay right. Yes, you were happy about your growing hair, but you couldn’t get back to that chair fast enough to get another relaxer to start the cycle over again.
What are your “favorite” memories from getting relaxers?
Quennie Dixon says
The #5 hahahahahaha
Michelle Anderson says
number 5 Tiffany Jayde Anderson
Tiffany Jayde Anderson says
True though ??
Na'Sheela Conn says
How about that feeling after you wash out all the permit out & it feels like you got scalped/ snatched bald… Or am I the only one… Lanisha Taylor Vernisha Williams Crystal J Kelley
Crystal J Kelley says
Girl yes!!! #baldandburing
Kendra Dottin says
Lol
Ashley Blue says
I didn’t just feel bald I was bald with no edges
Sheryl Lowe Johnson says
Very true ?
Angela Elliott says
Wow! It’s been so long, I almost forgot. Lol. When it’s burning, lightly “patting” your head in that spot. Also, lightly scratching the burning spot w/a rat tail comb or spraying Isoplus on it to stop the burning. The after perm tenderness/scab if you did scratch.
Quennie Dixon says
?????? yes!!!!
Jamie Elaine Reed-Anderson says
The smell…mess…burn….
Tamella Williams says
Burn or my hair falling out a month later
Anniese Parrish says
Idk about y’all but my mom used to tell me a couple days before to stop scratching my scalp, cuz the relaxer will burn more
Keiota Jackson says
I remember that. =D
Erra Johnson says
Mines too!!
Lakiesha Duren says
I often think about going natural but actually I’m lazy. When I roller set my hair, I put some coconut oil on my hair to moisturize it each day but I don’t have to do anything to my hair for a week. I have a professional do my hair and I don’t burn. I relax my hair every 2 months and that’s the only time I go to the beauty parlor. Every person’s experience is different.
Brenda L Gillis-Da'Cruz says
I relax my hair every 6 to 8 months and I use coconut oil on my hair. My hair is half way down my back….I was natural. For years. My first perm was in my late 20’s….my natural hair is wavy and curly.
Ashley Blue says
I’m almost 2 yrs natural and it’s been a long time since I had thick long hair. I don’t miss relaxers
Mary L. Hart says
I was natural and decided to get a perm it burned badly I was complaining and the hair dresser (that’s what we called them) said something has to burn you to get your hair straight.
Quennie Dixon says
I know how that feels ??? I used to perm my hair too, but now I’m transitioning ?
Erra Johnson says
My favorite part is staying at home, and not going to the salon for hours around a ton of people. (social anxiety)
Sheryl Lowe Johnson says
Big chopped 2 weeks ago and my last relaxer was December 2015 … Loving it so far think the real work will kick in as it grows but my edges were getting weak and my scalp super sensitive!!! It would always burn the hell outta my scalp so nar not missing it at all
Apria N. Gallman says
All facts!
Cb Sampson says
THE BURNING SCABS THE FRYING OF MY HAIR
Tiffany Wright Thomas says
I’ll take a perm any day over my scalp being sore from combing through all the naps, my combs breaking bc of my thick coarse hair, my hair breaking bc of me tugging at the thick coarse hair. With a perm, you only endure the perm process every 2 to 3 months. With a natural, you dealing with the drama every day. If you’ve had burns and scabs from perms, your stylist didn’t know what she was doing. Some hair is beautiful natural, some hair is a nightmare natural. I perm my nightmare.
Leah James says
Thats not true . I dont comb my hair everyday and Im natural. I comb once a week on wash days . Alsoyou are suppose to comb your hair with alot of conditioner or moisturizer in it NOT when its dry. When its dry its at its weakest point. Do research on what products work for you and how to take care of your hair first before you complain ! All natural hair is good hair and beautiful NOT a mess.
Alana Griggs says
I miss my hair being bone straight, but the application, smell, burning & the whole process in general I don’t miss at all.
Geraldine Clay says
Yep
Jennifer Barlow-Boatner says
I never get the burning and the scabs! I wouldn’t miss relaxers either if I went through all that! Sheesh…
Leah James says
When your mom put the relaxer in your hair and said to rinse it when your scalp starts itching and burning. The smell of those chemicals . The pain I felt in my neck from having to hold it in a certain postion when she applied the relaxer.Ugh . It took a while to rinse out . Having to go through this ever month. I would never go back . I love being natural. Im natural for life.
KO Ren says
oh God!!!! My hair would probably be down my back
Quennie Dixon says
The #2 and #5 hahahahaha now I’m free!!!
Emma Abboh says
Thank you for reminding me why I don’t want to relax my hair again lol
KO Ren says
Megan Rochelle this you
Smile AllDay says
my hair was so much longer an grew faster #Stuck
Adrienne Blair says
Nothing.
Valerie Johnson says
Ha when it won’t lay right after a few weeks…also that lack of volume the first week…I can definitely relate.
Ro Jenny Jacks says
My hip length , thick, relaxed hair has been relaxed 23 years and never has those issues. No it’s never limp , I do not get chemical burns, and new growth is manageable .Relaxer day occurs 2 to 3 times a year and it’s a very easy day . That’s my relaxed hair opinion.
Karen Bryant says
Keep it real there are a lot of kinky heads walking around cause they’re to lazy to do anything else!
On my train commute I see people on their way to work/school with their so called “natural” hair styles still smashed on one side from last nights pillow imprint or lint all stuck to their hair that they never bother to remove .
It’s not always about being natural it’s a good excuse for some lazy ass people that could careless about how they look
Valerie Johnson says
I agree just because it’s natural doesn’t mean you don’t have to style it.
Kerimah Rogers says
I still get relaxers and don’t go through all this. My busy life doesn’t allow me the time to sit and comb through and deal with my natural hair. Thank God our hair is versatile and we can do so many different things with it!