Source: Maclin, M. 2013, Oct. S2S. Maclin is a doctor who has studied over 70,000 African-American hair loss cases, www.drmacmd@gmail.com
Maclin provided an interesting article of possible relaxed hair care side effect that I thought I would share during Native American Appreciation Month (Nov.)
Maclin provided an interesting article of possible relaxed hair care side effect that I thought I would share during Native American Appreciation Month (Nov.)
- Chemical-Free Curl advised until the age of 16 for healthier young females in our communities.
- Avoid perming/relaxing if you are experiencing current hair loss or scalp issues.
- Avoid relaxers if you have been diagnosed with fibroids or infertility.
- Avoid relaxers if you are currently pregnant.
Why?
- Most hair loss is attributed to early perming and abuse (such as leaving perm on longer than suggested, perming too frequently, usage of the wrong strength of perm for hair texture). Sherlene's advice: I know with my mixed cultural hair I have a challenge with wanting to overperm - make it straight realizing it will only be that way for a few days. How many Native-American females have waited to perm your hair a day or two before an event outing? Are you able to even find a hair spray that will hold that style in place? I like to use a mixture of hair gel and spray, but it holds so well that I have to wash my hair to rid of the hair-do. Then, you have the issue of curling hair with the holding solutions sizzling :)
- A small patch of thinning hair can expand into a circular pattern eventually covering the majority of scalp. This is known as Follicular Degeneration Syndrome (FDS). Hereditary hair loss is totally different and mostly due to dihydrotestosterone (hormone).
- Kiddie perms may have no-lye but they are totally made up of chemicals.
- There could be major adverse reactions to human body hormones: causing a possible link to hormone imbalance, birth defects, breast cancer, and heart disease.
- Girls who use perms too early can have early periods and visual puberty activity compared to Hispanics and White women. A study was conducted and found that a large number of Black girls began their period before age 10.
- African Americans are double or triple the rate of women who have fibroids (non-cancerous, uterine growths that can potentially cause miscarriages or the inability to carry to full term; heavy, prolonged periods; early hysterectomies before the age of 40; infertility).
- I know there are Black and Native-American men who use such chemicals as well. In review of the article, it is my opinion that this would mean, males, you could possibly have hormone imbalance effects due to placing such chemicals on your hair, too.