Hairy Struggles- The Drawbacks of Chemical Hair Treatments Chetna Jain April 11, 2023 Health & Beauty 286 Let’s talk about hair treatment, ladies! Coloring, relaxing, and perming have become pretty popular over the years for fashionable divas. Black women love straightening and relaxing as a quick and easy solution to tame their natural curls. Aging ladies like coloring to cover the grays, and even young women want to experiment with highlights and perms. Well, you’ve got to realize that there’s another side of the picture because these treatment options involve the use of chemicals. Did you know that chemical treatment may damage your hair and scalp? And there are a lot more things you’ll come to know if you scratch the surface. Before diving in, you must dig deep to understand the challenges and drawbacks of the process because it has more than you imagine. Don’t worry, ladies, we have a list of facts that will help you decide wisely. Let’s share the potential issues you may encounter after chemical treatment for your lovely locks. Damaged hair This one’s a no-brainer because any chemical can affect the natural texture of your hair. The results are likely similar, whether you try relaxers, perms, and hair dyes. For example, a relaxer contains harsh chemicals that break the bond of the hair and straightens the curls. Of course, you get excellent results, but there’s extensive damage on the other side. The chemicals can strip your tresses of natural oils and cause breakage, dryness, and split ends. You solve one problem, but end up with another one, which is probably more daunting. Scalp irritation Chemicals do more than damage your hair strands. They can also affect your scalp, specifically if you go wrong with the product application. Remember that dyes and relaxers are to be applied on the hair rather than the scalp. The scalp area is relatively sensitive, so the application can cause itching, burning, and hair loss. The risk of allergic reactions compounds if you have sensitive skin. You may even experience irritation if you apply the product for too long. So be careful about the application and do a patch test before the first use. Health risks Besides damaging your hair and scalp, chemical treatments may pose major health risks. In fact, you need to worry more about straightening and relaxing because research studies establish a link between these products and ovarian cancer risk. You can go through articles on hair relaxer lawsuit: exploring your options to learn more about the risk and the alternatives to deal with them. For example, you can look for natural substitutes for relaxers. But what if you’ve already been exposed for a long time? Well, you can seek compensation from the manufacturer if you get a tragic diagnosis and think it’s related to a chemical in the product. Maintenance concerns Well, ladies, if you spend big money on chemical treatment, expect to splurge more on maintenance. Yes, maintaining your hair after coloring, relaxing, or perming can be a lot of work. For example, you’ll need to skip washing them for several days after a perm. And you will also have to use special products to keep the curls intact. Similarly, relaxed hair requires extensive care and maintenance to retain its texture and shine. When you color your tresses, you’ll need to touch up the roots every few weeks to maintain uniformity. That’s a lot of work if you are a super-busy mom or a working professional on the go. Procedure cost The cost of chemical treatment is another challenge you’ve got to consider. You have the DIY option to save some dollars, but it is not always the best one. There’s always a risk of mixing the products in the wrong ratio or erring with the timelines. And you may not get the best results despite using expensive products. It is best to go to a salon or call an expert stylist to color, perm, or relax your hair. Services can cost a considerable sum in the first place. Moreover, the after-care and maintenance products and treatments can burn a hole in your wallet. Wrapping Up So, if you’re planning to get a chemical hair treatment, dig deep and do your research first. Well, you should look at the other side instead of just thinking about the dream texture, right? Talk to an expert stylist about the risks and drawbacks and ensure you understand how to maintain your hair after the procedure. Commit to taking good care of your hair with quality products to maintain the results for the long haul. All the best! SHARE THIS POST