Hair relaxers were all the rage in the late ‘80s and early aughts. These creams, chock-full of chemicals, straightened naturally curly or kinky hair without much effort. No wonder they were much-loved among women with afro-textured hair– kinky, curly, or coiled hair that grows upwards.
However, relaxers are damaging to human health. Substances found in hair relaxers increase a woman’s risk of certain types of cancers. Thousands of Black women claim hair relaxers caused cancer in them. That’s shocking.
Quitting using hair relaxers and finding non-toxic alternatives is the only way you can reduce your risk of cancer. Here is a list of some fantastic hair relaxer alternatives that will make your hair smooth, shiny, and manageable.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Hair Relaxers?
Relaxing your hair smoothens unruly curls and reduces frizz, making them easy to manage. Using hair relaxers cuts down the time you spend styling your hair, yet they damage the hair. That is concerning. But more worrying than that is the fact that hair relaxers are linked with cancer.
Recent research reveals that women using hair relaxers are two times at greater risk of developing cancers. The risk of developing uterine cancer is high among these women. Black women are at greater risk of developing uterine cancer, especially the more aggressive type. Their survival rate is also low.
Another study from Boston University demonstrates that Black women who use hair relaxers more than twice a year or for over five years are 50% more likely to get uterine cancer. Some studies associate chemical hair relaxers with estrogen-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer.
Several chemicals present in hair relaxers are believed to increase women’s risk of cancers. These include formaldehyde, parabens, bisphenol A, and metals. All these chemicals are endocrine-disrupting compounds that interfere with the way the hormones work.
As further research reveals potential concerns, hundreds of women have filed hair straightener cancer lawsuits against big-name beauty and cosmetic retailers. Plaintiffs blame their hair relaxers for causing breast and uterine cancers and fibroid tumors.
TorHoerman Law explains that L’Oreal, Softsheen-Carson, Motions Hair, African Pride (Godrej Group), Dark & Lovely, and ORS Hair Care (Namaste Laboratories, LLC) are named in the lawsuits. Campaigners are urging L’Oreal to withdraw their hair relaxers used by Black women after studies link them with an elevated risk of cancer.
As of March 2024, a total of 8,334 hair straightener lawsuits are pending in multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois.
Thus, it’s best to avoid using hair relaxers. Instead, you must opt for their alternatives to straighten or smoothen your kinky hair.
Alternatives to Hair Relaxers
Numerous studies establish a link between the use of hair relaxers and several different types of cancers. It’s best to stop using hair relaxers and opt for their alternatives that straighten and smoothen the hair without damaging your health.
Here, we’ll discuss some alternatives to hair relaxers.
1. Try Keratin Treatment
An excellent alternative to hair relaxers is keratin treatment. Often referred to as Brazilian blowout or Brazilian keratin treatment, this hair treatment is a semi-permanent hair straightening solution that smoothes frizzy hair and adds lustrous shine.
Keratin hair treatments also strengthen hair. They minimize the appearance of split ends by bonding the hair temporarily and fortifying it. This prevents breakage. However, keratin treatment is expensive. It can cost you anywhere between $600 and $800.
Avoid going for keratin treatments containing methylene glycol, formalin, or formaldehyde. These ingredients on the list mean the solution isn’t formaldehyde-free. Formaldehyde has been classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).
Opt for formaldehyde-free keratin treatments. Go for brands like GK Hair, Kerasilk, and Cezanne. Their keratin treatments are free from formaldehyde.
2. Use Silicone Creams
Women with curly, frizzy, dry, or coarse hair benefit the most from silicone creams because they make hair silkier, straighter, and smoother.
The biggest upside of silicone creams is that they straighten hair without heat or other special tools. You will have to apply them on dry hair.
Note that the results are temporary. They last until you shampoo your hair. That isn’t the only drawback. Washing the silicone cream out of your hair is also challenging.
3. Use a Flat Iron
A simple and effective way to tame your hair is to use a flat iron. It’s probably one of the cheapest ways to straighten your hair, as it costs between $25 and $200.
You need not always make trips to salons to tame frizzy hair. You can purchase a flat iron and straighten your hair at home. However, it’s a time-intensive task. If you have really long and thick hair, it will take about an hour for you to complete the process. Plus, prolonged use of a flat iron damages the hair.
To wrap things up, hair relaxers have been the go-to pick for many because they straighten hair easily. However, it isn’t the only way to relax your hair. There are many more safe alternatives to hair relaxers, such as keratin treatment, silicone creams, and flat iron.
Other viable alternatives to hair relaxers are weaves, wigs, and extensions. These allow you to get your desired look while giving you a break from styling your hair. All in all, these hair relaxer alternatives straighten unruly curls without increasing your risk of cancer. Therefore, these are worth trying out.
