Chemical relaxer burns are the number one reason African-American women loose their hair. Chemical services can be very damaging to the hair, but more importantly, are extremely damaging to the scalp. If your hair breaks off, it will eventually grow back, if your scalp is burned, your hair will never grow back. The scalp’s job is to produce new hair, once it has been irreversibly damaged, it is unable to do so.
What you may not realize is that chemical burns have an accumulative affect, even if you do not feel a burning sensation, the chemical is still causing a burn. As the scalp heals it produces scar tissue, this tissue continues to build up with every 6-week touch-up. Multiply that by the number of years you have had a relaxer, and that is how much build up scar tissue you have.
Eventually the scar tissue covers the hair follicles (the pores the hair grows though) and prevents the hair from making its way to the surface. When this happens we hear women saying “my hair used to be really thick, but now it’s getting thinner and thinner”. If you look closely at your scalp, you will see the clogged empty hair follicles, some are damaged beyond repair and others are merely trapped by scar tissue. The result – permanent hair loss.
My first recommendation is to transition out of this chemical service, because eventually you will experience irreparable hair loss. My second recommendation, if the first is not acceptable is to make sure that your chemical service is administered by a competent licensed cosmetologist that is conscious of the adverse affects that chemicals have on the scalp, and possess the ability to effectively address it.
These are some of the things you can do, to help minimize excessive scalp damage:
- ♦ Drink at least 16 ounces of water prior to service – you will burn faster if you are dehydrated.
- ♦ Do not shampoo hair at least 7 days prior to service.
- ♦ Do not scratch, brush, massage or stimulate the scalp at least 7 days prior to service.
- ♦ Do not wear caps or wrap hair with scarfs.
- ♦ Do not roll hair, or sleep in rollers at least 7 days prior to service.
- ♦ The evening prior to service, gently apply hns oyl™ to scalp to condition and protect.
- ♦ Always make sure your stylist applies a protective petroleum base to your scalp prior to chemical application.
- ♦ Ask your stylist to apply the chemical to the most sensitive areas last.
- ♦ After relaxer has been thoroughly washed out, rinse hair with cool water to calm the scalp.
I formulated hns oyl™ for the sole purpose of transitioning my clients out of chemical relaxers, to prevent and avoid the usual dryness and breakage that generally results from the process. Should you choose to transition, you will find that hns oyl™ will serve you well in your journey.
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