Is it Safe to Relax Dry Frizzy African-type Hair?
by Camilia
Hello, I'm 16 years old and I have mixed African hair. It's dry, thick, very fizzy and and a mixture of wavy and curly, but it's way softer than the usual African hair. Since two years I've been straightening my hair using just blow drying. I apply hot air until it's straightened. My mom wouldn't let me use an Iron for my hair, and I use oil bath and conditioning as much as I can but every time I use the blow dryer, my hair would get even dryer. Recently I've gone tired of blow drying my hair, but of course without it my hair would be so curly and I like straight hair. Now I'm trying natural methods like using oil bath using natural oils and leaving them in my hair for 3-4 hours, and use other natural things for my hair. But the thing is that I'm not consistent on it, like I just do it 2 time a month only and I like fast result and I'm not that patient. So do you think I should use a relaxer? I heard that people are using it and it make hair so straight, but then it leaves the hair in a bad condition, what brand should I use if want to it? (I've never used a relaxer before ) Thank you. ********* You know, this is hard for me to answer cause of the differences in phraseology between our two countries. I am not sure of the ingredients that are in what you call 'oil bath'. I can tell you that natural oils, like argan oil and coconut oil are really good for your hair. It sounds like you might already be using some of these? Relaxers work wonderfully well for many women of all hair types but you'll need to research the products that are available in your country. They would differ from the products that are available here in the US. Some relaxers are gentler on your hair than others. It sounds like your curl pattern isn't too strong so a gentler perm/relaxer might be perfect for your hair. You should amend your dry hair condition as much as you can however, before trying one. In fact, be sure to condition well before and after you get the relaxer too. Your mom is very smart not to allow you to use a hot iron. Over time, these can really damage your hair. In the US, you can buy what are called 'thermal heat protectors' to apply to your hair before you iron it. If you could find them in the UAE, maybe your mom would consider you using a hot iron occasionally. You can also relax your own hair without chemicals using natural type relaxers. Here are a couple of homemade hair relaxer recipes to try! Recipe One Combine together 3/4 cup of freshly prepared coconut milk and juice of 1 1/2 lemons in a small bowl. Mix well and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Apply it to your hair, making sure you get complete coverage. Finish by wrapping a cap or towel around your hair for about 1 hour. (Stay in a warm room or use a thermal cap for best results.) Wash your hair with a good shampoo and condition again if you need it to detangle your hair. This recipe is best suited for those with softer curl patterns. Recipe Two Combine 1/2 cup of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of a good quality hair conditioner. In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over a how heat. When it is warm, add the conditioner. Stir well with a wooden spatula, until you get a smooth consistency. Remove from heat and allow it cool. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave on for for 10-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Just remember you must always make the time to take care of your hair. You have to work a bit to have beautiful, lustrous hair.
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