Hair

[Lowther]

Black women who use lye-based hair relaxers at least seven times a year for 15 or more years have a 30% increased risk of breast cancer.
I have just read this in the Guardian.
It goes on to say that some of the beauty products marketed for black women are more carcinogenic to us.
I'm going to have to read and learn a lot more about the products I and daughter use. Think we all need to take note.
Any thought?

Lowther I was reading the research from Boston University on this. It's frightening.
www.bu.edu/articles/2021/does-using-hair-relaxers-cause-higher-breast-cancer-risk-for-black-women/

I read this too, it's really worrying. Pushe me even further towards just having my hair locked!

Thanks for this. I'm not surprised but its frightening.

Not surprised Blbut who is relaxing their hair seven times a year?

That equates to a touch-up approx every six weeks when the recommended gap between relaxers is 12 weeks.

@twilightcafe

Not surprised Blbut who is relaxing their hair seven times a year?

That equates to a touch-up approx every six weeks when the recommended gap between relaxers is 12 weeks.

I thought that too!

Relieved that I no longer relax mine (more than 15 years ago the last time). I had forgotten about the nasty chemical odor and frequently getting my scalp burnt. Why do we do it?!!

Yeah, nobody relaxes their hair that often!

It seems to be more the old lye products they are on about.
I read it again and it is " not conclusive".

Do people still relax their hair? With the sea of wigs floating about it's hard to tell.

This research has been out for while. What amazes me is the lack of laws in place as a form of guidance.

I'm just putting this link here. They also have an online support group.
Please pass it on, if you know of any sister who might find it helpful.
www.blackwomenrisinguk.org/

@HmmmmmmInteresting

Yeah, nobody relaxes their hair that often!

I think it's those who retouch every six weeks. People used to do this.

Years ago I heard about a connection between relaxed hair and fibroids, though I don't have a link. I'm not surprised to hear lye could also be cancerous. I expect there hasn't been huge amounts of research because it predominantly affects Black women, though I understand some Asian and Jewish women used to use these products.

Unfortunately a lot of Black women do still relax their hair, and do so very regularly, particularly with home kits.

I say unfortunately because of the awful damage relaxer does to perfectly healthy hair, and how much our hair radiates when left in its natural state.

Thank you for the link @EchoNan.

^^Unfortunately a lot of Black women do still relax their hair, and do so very regularly, particularly with home kits.

Yes I'm still one of those. My daughter is trying to reeducate me and I am going to listen to her too.

There are a great many lovely natural styles these days, or alternatively wigs if you're not quite at that stage yet, or prefer a "grab and go". I have a few friends who wouldn't be without wigs, particularly the micro braid ones.

I'm about to cut my hair again, as it's not grown did a while, which I think is down to the stress I've been under this past year or so. I want to do something tapered like this, though I don't have so much on the top!

That is a stunning hairstyle @Starseeking. You will look amazing.
How beautiful is that model!
@Lowther sometimes our daughters speak a lot of sense.
( Not always though, ha ha, just in case mine is looking in!)

@EchoNan

That is a stunning hairstyle *@Starseeking*. You will look amazing. How beautiful is that model! *@Lowther* sometimes our daughters speak a lot of sense. ( Not always though, ha ha, just in case mine is looking in!)

Haha, thanks @EchoNan. I can only dream of looking like the model, but I really fancy having the back and sides so closely cropped. It's probably the last time in my life that I'll be able to do so gracefully, as I'm almost 41 now!

My hair was first relaxed from about 8 years older, and from then on until my 20's, it was that or curly perm, with plaits to give my hair a break every now and then. Growing up in the 80's, everyone had relaxed hair, and our mums (usually first generation in the UK) had been told it would make our hair "easier to manage."

I lived in short plaits as a child, (brought up by white family members)
Then short hair "easier to manage".
I've always had very short hair.

You will look amazing Starseeking I'm sure.

My auntie relaxed her hair that often until just a few years ago - she's in her late 70s. I think it's her generation. She's also had breast cancer (and is fine now thank goodness).

I've switched it up between a TWA and braids or twists forever now and when I get these braids out I'm definitely trying a cut like that, Starseeker - thanks for the inspiration!

*Starseeking sorry

Thanks @Wroxie! Just had my latest big chop, and am really pleased with it; it feels so fresh and funky, like I'm carrying my new beginnings (following a relationship breakdown) on my face.

There were at least 4 women in the salon getting regrowth touch ups on their relaxers. It didn't have that "eggy" smell I remember from childhood, so perhaps formulas have been improved over the years. Even still, burning natural hair into straightness doesn't seem like a great idea.

I'm still relaxed...relax every 8-10 weeks depending on how thick my roots are. It's a personal preference for me.

Avoid a product called DMDM Hydantoin it's linked to cancer it's in a lot of black hair products.

@twilightcafe

Not surprised Blbut who is relaxing their hair seven times a year?

That equates to a touch-up approx every six weeks when the recommended gap between relaxers is 12 weeks.

Exactly

I used to have very coarse/strong and fast growing hair and would relax it every four to six weeks. I also used to wonder about its health effects as there were no studies. Went natural for two years, the. back to relaxing but not too often then completely went natural 11 years ago as I really started dealing with colonial/racist harm in me. I don't even care whether it "beautiful" or manageable. I just love that am on my own path.