Hair relaxers release the hair's natural curl pattern by entering the cuticle and cortical layers of the hair shaft and straightening it. The hair becomes fragile, brittle, and prone to breaking as a result of this process. It can also burn the hair skin, damage the scalp permanently, and cause hair loss.
The majority of people who decide to straighten their hair in the first place generally already have curly, dry hair.Even though natural hair is all the trend right now, many people still prefer the look and convenience of straight hair. However, a poorly applied relaxer can result in permanent harm. Regrettably, some warning indications that a relaxer is causing damage to your hair are widely accepted.
Before considering if relaxers cause hair loss, let's look at some advantages of relaxers.
• It is convenient, and it makes hair care much easier and less time-consuming.
• There's no need to be concerned about naturally curly hair reversing when silk pressed.
• Provide permanently straight hair.
• If the hair is adequately relaxed, it will take less time to eliminate tangles
• The hair will be porous and will easily receive moisture from conditioners.
Do Relaxers Cause Hair Loss
While using relaxers might have some styling perks, the effects of relaxer treatments can cause lasting damage, such as:
1. Burning
Some people believe "Beauty is pain". However, this isn't always the case, and it certainly isn't the case with any burning sensation caused by relaxer chemicals. Don't assume that the pain is just caused by leaving a relaxer on for too long. Chemical burns can occur if a certain formulation is applied to the scalp for an extended period of time.
Ignoring the time frame instructions is a recipe for disaster, both temporary and permanent.
2. Sores on Scalp
Along with the burning, sores on the scalp may appear shortly after relaxing the hair, thereby causing damage to the hair. The sores may exude fluids or crust over in some cases. This is a dangerous situation that may result in infection or permanent hair loss. No matter how long the chemicals are left on the head, a reaction to them may cause sores. It's possible that the user is allergic or that the relaxer is of poor quality. Any hair breakage indicates that the relaxer has gone too far.
3. Scalp Inflammation
If there are burns or cuts, even after the skin has healed, the scar may still be visible. The scalp goes through the same process and it is more likely to be scarred. The scalp will become inflamed as soon as a relaxer burn occurs. As a result, hair loss in that area is expected. It is possible for hair loss to be temporary or permanent.
1. Breakage
If your hair doesn't seem to be growing, it could be breaking at the same pace (or faster) than it grows. It's tough to do an excellent job of applying a relaxer on the back of the head at home unless you have an experienced partner to assist you. Overlapping is a regular occurrence that results in breakage.
Detecting breakage can be difficult because humans shed hair on a daily basis,. However, if short hairs are often seen lying around after styling, it's likely breakage.
3. Dryness
Relaxers are designed to disrupt the disulfide bonds in the hair, and as a result, they can cause harm by their very nature. The hair shaft undergoes such a transformation that it becomes weaker than healthy natural hair. The hair doesn't keep moisture as well as it used to as a result of the damage, resulting in extreme dryness.
Conclusion
A good way to avoid the damage that may be caused by relaxers (possibly hair loss) is to see a professional who specializes in curly hair and prioritizes the health of the hair and scalp above all else. If any of the symptoms listed above appear after a relaxer treatment, the hair or scalp has been harmed, which will cause hair loss.
Regardless of whether a hair relaxer is used or not, make sure the hair and scalp are as healthy as possible before undergoing any chemical procedure. The odds of a favorable outcome will increase while lowering the chances of permanent or temporary hair loss.