There was a time I wouldn’t be caught with new growth. Once my undergrowth started showing, I’d quickly fix a salon appointment to relax it. I loved how sleek my hair looked afterward, the shine, the flatness, and the neat finish. I was firmly in the relaxed hair geng and proud of it.
But that routine didn’t come without a price. Every visit ended the same way, with a burnt scalp, stinging pain, and a recovery period that left me unable to style or touch my hair properly for days, sometimes even a week.
At first, I thought it was just normal. That maybe I had a “sensitive scalp” or that the stylist was just being too harsh. But it kept happening. And the more it happened, the more I dreaded relaxing my hair. In 2023, after yet another painful salon session, I finally said, “No more.”
The Turning Point
That was the year I decided to go all natural. It wasn’t easy at first. The transition came with its own challenges, figuring out a new routine, finding the right products, learning to style my natural hair, but I’ve never looked back.
No more chemicals, no more burns, no more forcing my hair into something it wasn’t. And since then, my hair has never felt more alive. It’s fuller, stronger, healthier, and has a kind of freedom I didn’t know it could have. I now understand that my hair doesn’t have to be straight to be beautiful. It doesn’t need to be “tamed” to be styled.
There’s a certain joy that comes with watching your hair grow and thrive without fear of breakage or chemical damage. It’s not always easy, but it feels real. And more than anything, it feels like me.
The Health Wake-Up Call
Beyond the physical discomfort, I began to read and learn about the possible long term effects of relaxers.
Research has shown that some hair relaxers contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and phthalates, substances linked to serious health concerns including hormone disruption and, in some studies, an increased risk of cancer.
A study by the National Institutes of Health even found a potential connection between frequent use of chemical hair straighteners and uterine cancer.
That knowledge shook me. Because while we’re busy chasing beauty, we sometimes forget what we might be compromising in the process. Our health, our hormones and our future.
Natural Doesn’t Mean Unkept
Let’s be honest, there’s still some stigma around natural hair. People will say it’s “too rough,” “hard to manage,” “not professional,” or “too local.” But the truth is, our hair in its natural state is not the problem. The problem is the mindset we’ve inherited, the idea that our beauty needs fixing.
Wearing your natural hair isn’t a rebellion. It’s a return. A return to what’s true. To what’s safe. To what’s whole.
Yes, it takes time and care. Some days it will frustrate you. Some days you’ll want to cut it all off. But if you stay with it, nourish it, understand it, you’ll discover something so powerful about yourself.
My Hair, My Choice
This post isn’t about judging relaxed hair. If relaxing your hair brings you joy and ease, that’s your personal choice and it’s valid. We’re all just trying to do what works best for us. But if you’re tired of the pain, the fear of long-term health risks, or you’re just ready for something new, maybe it’s time to consider going natural.
Because truly, your hair should be something that empowers you, not something that hurts you.
