✨Let’s Talk About the Double Standard in Black Hair Care

There’s a whole lot of judgment floating around in the “Team Natural” space — especially when it comes to Black women who choose to relax or flat iron their hair. But here’s the twist: the same women rocking bleach blonde curls, highlights, copper-toned coils, and protective styles with synthetic hair are often the ones doing the loudest judging.

But guess what? Color can be just as damaging — even more — than relaxers if done wrong. And if you’re not protecting your scalp properly, you’re not just risking breakage — you’re risking chemical burns, permanent follicle damage, and even scalp disorders.

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💣 FACTS: Hair Color Isn’t Innocent — It’s a Chemical Service Too

Let’s break this down clearly:

1.

Hair Color Lifts the Cuticle with Ammonia or Other Alkalis

• In order to lighten or change hair permanently, color must open the hair shaft.

• This exposes the scalp to high pH chemicals — just like relaxers.

2.

Bleach (Lightener) Contains Persulfates

• These are strong oxidizing agents that break down melanin.

• If they touch your scalp directly, especially without protection, they can cause:

  
  

  • Scalp irritation

  • Chemical burns

  • Open sores

• 
  

3.

Hydrogen Peroxide = Oxidative Stress on Scalp

• Hydrogen peroxide is the “developer” in most color systems.

• It breaks down protein bonds to allow the color to set — but it also damages skin cells if not rinsed or neutralized properly.

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🩺 Real Consequences of Poor Color Application:

If color (especially bleach) is applied without proper scalp protection or by untrained hands, you risk:

• Chemical Burns

• Inflammation of the Hair Follicle (Folliculitis)

• Scalp Infections

• Scarring Alopecia

• Contact Dermatitis

• Thinning and Permanent Hair Loss

And the gag is — most people don’t even base the scalp before a color service like they would for a relaxer. So the risks are equal or higher.

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🎯 Relaxers vs. Color: It’s Not About “Better” — It’s About

Education & Protection

• A relaxer, when applied correctly with scalp protection, proper timing, and post-care, can be safe and effective.

• A color service, when misapplied or overused, can do irreversible damage, just like a bad relaxer.

But in the natural community, we’ve been conditioned to think of color as fun, trendy, and safe — while viewing relaxers as dangerous, self-hating, or outdated. That mindset is rooted in respectability politics, not science.

🗣️ It’s Time to Stop Policing Black Hair Choices

Whether you:

• Relax your roots every 6 weeks

• Wear a silk press once a month

• Rock box braids with synthetic hair

• Or go full bleach blonde 613

None of these choices make you “less Black” or “less natural.”

What matters is that your hair and scalp are:

• Protected

• Professionally cared for

• Free from chronic damage

🔑 The Real Message

✅ Educate yourself on the chemistry of hair services.

✅ Use professional-grade protection (like base creams, barrier shields, and timing guidelines).

✅ Stop shaming people for their hair texture or style preference.

Because at the end of the day, the most natural thing you can do is make an informed decision for your own scalp and sanity.