Cosmetic Chemical Warfare: Hair straightening and the mutilation of black women

[XXPANTHAXX]

The Mantidote



Are you straightening your child's hair? Are you straightening your own hair? Then you should look closely at this mantidote. Never mind what Donald Rumsfield is telling you about chemical warfare... you are already a victim of chemical warfare and you don't even realize it. I am not going to focus on self-hatred and hair straightening(that much), but the biochemical effects of repeatedly putting cosmetic chemical weapons in your hair. Are you being your own Chemical Ali?

Pay attention to the following picture on the bottom left. This is the back of a commonly used hair relaxer that says on the front "NO LYE RELAXER," as if you should be assured that it is safe to use. Yet on the back, it says "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS CALCIUM HYDROXIDE AND GUANIDINE CARBONATE (TOXIC). YOU MUST FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY TO AVOID SKIN AND SCALP BURNS, HAIR LOSS AND EYE INJURY." It gives an entire list of things to do and not to do, including "IF RELAXER CAUSES SKIN OR SCALP IRRITATION, RINSE OUT IMMEDIATELY AND WASH WITH AN ACID-BALANCED SHAMPOO. IF IRRITATION PERSISTS OR IF HAIR LOSS OCCURS, CONSULT A PHYSICIAN." I laughed at that part because I thought, "It would be a bit late to call a physician after HAIR LOSS wouldn't it?" But it is no laughing matter.

Relaxing African American hair is extremely dangerous. Note that this thing basically told you that YOU ARE PUTTING TOXIC INTO YOUR HAIR. Even if nothing goes "wrong," it would only be smart to wonder exactly what you are doing to your hair. http://www.peterschemical.com/calciu...cium Hydroxide is also known as "Hydrated Lime." In general, it is a chemical designed to break down things into components, as acids do. Acids donate a proton in a chemical reaction. A "Base" accepts the proton. Something that is neither an acid nor a base is called "neutral" and has a pH level of 7. When an acid and base come together, they balance each other out but can sometimes produce very violent chemical reactions. So exactly what does "ACID-BALANCED" mean? Does it mean that the acidic effect of the perm is balanced out by a base or does it mean that it has a neutral base? Funny that a perm info site comes up when you do a search for the term "acid-based" on yahoo. On this particular perm site is a section on "acid-balanced perms" that says, "acid balanced perms have a pH range of approximately 4.5 to 6.5 and usually penetrate the hair more slowly." Hmmmm... but what about "acid-balanced shampoos?" Most of them are the same way... seems like "acid-based" has been a commercial term for "relatively low acid." But the acid is still there.

I have heard reports of Autopsies of black women where there have been found astonishing and horrifying amounts of lime under their scalp. Now you know where it comes from. It comes from hair straightening products. The label also mentioned a toxic chemical Guanidine Carbonate , which is also a commonly used for pesticides as well as explosives! Really, is it worth it? Is it worth whatever cosmetic goal in which a sister is trying to obtain committing harmful acts of chemical warfare upon herself and/or her children?

As fo the brothers reading this mantidote... I pose a question for you... is your standard of beauty harmful to the health of black women? committing harmful acts of chemical warfare upon herself and/or her children?

[Akyeame Kwame]

<<<<<<< >>>>>>>

[Mosi Ngozi]

There isn't nothing more beautiful in this world than to see a sister sportin a natural and no make up.

[Akyeame Kwame]

There isn't nothing more beautiful in this world than to see a sister sportin a natural and no make up.

BlackSolutely!!!!!!

AK

[Mamazen]

I chopped all of my (texturized) hair off three weeks ago down to a half an inch of new growth. I had great difficulty finding haircare products for natural hair that worked. After visiting and joining these sites, I found that what is currently on the market in stores are ineffective in taking care of our natural hair.

http://ourhair.net/component/option,...page/Itemid,1/
http://www.naturallyyoumagazine.com/
http://www.naani.com/index.html?lmd=38689.730903

The above links are some of the sites that I discovered for natural haircare.
Not only do they address nautral hair but they also discuss transitioning from processed to natural hair.


Here are some links to natural haircare products. These are the two that I use and I must say that they do work. They are all natural and Afrikan owned.

http://qhemetbiologics.com/
http://www.kemilabs.com/home.html

Peace

[WombanAuset]

Im as real as they get..no artficial colors,flavors,no fake hair,no korean nails...no maybelline mask
Just as afroblackalicious as they get...hair in a fro...got my cowry shell choker with an ankh necklace and im good to go

[Brother Tarikh]

As fo the brothers reading this mantidote... I pose a question for you... is your standard of beauty harmful to the health of black women? committing harmful acts of chemical warfare upon herself and/or her children?

Alafia,

Very interesting piece bro. Very interesting. To answer your question above, no, my standards of beauty are in no way harmful to the health of Afrikan women. To quote one of our most esteemed ancestors: "give me a black goddess sister, i can't resist her. No stringy-haired, blonde-haired, blue eyed, pale skin; butter milk complexion. Grafted, recessive, depressive. ironing-board backside, Straight-up, straight-down; no thrills no frills, ms. six o'clock, subject to have the itch. Mutanoid, caucasoid, white cave bi*ch!"

This goes for sisters as well, who aspire to the above quote. Natural or Nothin!

I AM SOULONE.

[Brother Tarikh]

Im as real as they get..no artficial colors,flavors,no fake hair,no korean nails...no maybelline mask
Just as afroblackalicious as they get...hair in a fro...got my cowry shell choker with an ankh necklace and im good to go

True Indeed!

I AM SOULONE.

[Erzulie Danto]

peace family,

i will continue to maintain that for African women natural hair is a primary step towards de-colonization and self love. humbly but firmly i overstand that lye poison on one's crown is a reflection of white supremacist conditioning, period. that includes so called texturizers.

and XXPANTHAXX, give thanks for the question. brothers can have a great impact in influencing sisters to move toward the health of natural hair. hair is such a sensitive issue for most Black women. so brothers please remember that even a subtle preference for long dreads over short, silkier locs over natty, fluffy afros over tight nappier coils, can reinforce Black women's fears of African hair as ugly and unkept. sisters AND brothers need to be sure to affrim the range of beauty in all our African features sincerely. i always go out of my way to give props to sisters with natural hair. and i always accept compliments on my dreads as word power to strengthen my spirit against the daily barrage of whiteness.

so for me, it is clear that the products in lye and hair relaxer are harsh toxins. ironically most sisters would be against of putting such chemicals on their face, but for many it is normal and preferred that African hair and scalp be abused and burned into straightness/whiteness through toxic processing. yet, it would more productive to know what exactly these chemicals do. i vaguely remember hearing about some links between lye poisoning and mental illness in Black women as these toxics are seeping into the blood vessels of the brain and wrecking havoc, but what are the "facts" on this? clearly with simple awareness one can intuit that chemicals on the head is a no-brainer no-no, but it would be more powerful to share with perming sisters the exact costs of their so called beauty habits. how does lye/relaxer effect the body? does any one have more info on this?

another natty rebel here!
danto's daughter

[RecoveringAA]

Greeting of Afreekan Love Family,

I AM Queen Warrior Abena, a RE~covering Afreekan amerikkkan and RE~presentative from the Voices in the Margins.

Wow! Great find and Bump up AK!

BlackTasTic Post Double X


I just had to post a response to this thread. When I even think about hair straightening I have flashbacks of the smell and feel of LARD burning on my scalp, scabs in my 'kitchen' (back of neck), sore scalp for a few days and all for about 5 hours (if i did not play too hard) of "doesn't she look pretties" smiles and comments. This ish was pure torture for me from the ages of @5-10/11.
I am reminded of that sad little girl (the one Mekeda7 used in her signature a few months back....cause i swear...that little girl was me), the pain and agony of having hair like "steel wool" ...the hair all the adults just hated and taught me to hate.

Then the perming started and I needed the "supers" to get mine st8. I wore a wig @ the age of 14 or so after losing it (my hair) to those, and of course, that brought it's own set of woes. I eventually learned how to do it myself (perms, straightening) and got by ok till braids came to the hood.

Wearing braids (extensions of course), I remember receiving my first real compliments about my hair and being pretty in the same breath from my mom. @ age 20. This lasted for just a couple years then the jerri curl came out. Did that for a few years. My hair actually grew with the curl, however, when i stopped the curl, my hair fell out.

I went back to the braids for several years until I got tried of the long process going in and out of braids. i.e hours to get it done, amount of time to take them out for redoing....what to do with it in between re~upping. During this time, Sisters kept the braids in for MONTHS...at least 3..never this 2 week minimum stuff...heck, it cost enough in time (7-8 hrs) getting it done and finances to take them out to soon. Anywho....it just made good dang sense to allow it to grow as the Creator made it too.......I went for the locks and have never looked back!

and i must say....IT WAS THE BEST HAIR MOVE I COULD HAVE EVER MADE.....IT HAS TRULY BEEN A HAIR EXPERIENCE BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS!!

Today, I am so HAPPY TO BE NAPPY....I get stopped on the street all the time by folk complimenting my hair and asking how to start they locks and other questions......who would have ever thunked it

My hope is that anyone reading this thread who has an Afreekan girl child at home or close vicinity (relative) and who has difficulty managing thier hair....cause it's like "steel wool" allow nature to DO it's thing....it will grow like 'lamb's wool' if you let it. FREE HER MIND AND YOUR'S AS WELL. DON'T BURN IT UP...PLULEEEEZZZEEEEEEE

I'll stop now and leave it right there.

Medaase Pa for allowing me to share

[JrFem]

Greetings,

I recently returned to philadelphia - and after being one of the only chips in the cookie at my school in california...i notice black people more,

I was waiting for the trolley with my friend, and asked him how many women in the crowd of about 50 had natural hair or what looked like natural...we counted about 3 (including me). I dont understand how a majority of women of a culture consider that chemicals in their hair is a good thing. Why isnt black hair beautiful, if black skin (or carmel colored skin) is beautiful. Why isnt the afro, the puff, locks, non-extension braids...practiced more often?
African women have always been great hairdressers, as much as some pictures of africans show african women with no hair or a little afro, some African women have the large and intricate coiffers...curly hair is versitle, but it seems like no beauty shop will acknowledge nappy as beautiful...

And the beauty shop is considered part of 'black' culture. Everyone goes there, converses about life and love...to find some fellowship with other women, without considering the processes they do to their hair.

My grandmother still comments on my hair, and that i should get it done.
I went once (since she was paying) to see if they could do something...The hairdresser told me that both me and my sister had beautiful hair, we had alot of it, and she wasnt very good at doing it, cause most people ask for a perm or straightened

I still have trouble finding a salon that would do a nice style for my hair without being shocked that i havent permed my hair in 5 years. I've found only 2 places in philadelphia that specialize in dreds and natural hair. Natural hair styles are not the norm in a city full of african people...even africans who own the braiding shops perm their hair...

Like Abena, many people comment on my hair, especially when i had it in twists...I like my hair, and i like how it feels, and how it looks. Its not the dry straw of a perm, and it moves much more freely...i dont have to worry about running to the salon if i have new growth, cause it looks like my hair!

I'm happy being nappy...
or i'm happy in my own natural beauty. I wish other people would jump on board...

[Epitome]

Alafia,

Very interesting piece bro. Very interesting. To answer your question above, no, my standards of beauty are in no way harmful to the health of Afrikan women. To quote one of our most esteemed ancestors: "give me a black goddess sister, i can't resist her. No stringy-haired, blonde-haired, blue eyed, pale skin; butter milk complexion. Grafted, recessive, depressive. ironing-board backside, Straight-up, straight-down; no thrills no frills, ms. six o'clock, subject to have the itch. Mutanoid, caucasoid, white cave bi*ch!"

This goes for sisters as well, who aspire to the above quote. Natural or Nothin!

I AM SOULONE.

damn! jasel oughta read this one...if you don't understand go to my post on can black people be racist. lol

[Epitome]

and by the way, i agree. i wont even look at a sista with a perm i dont care how fat her assets are! give me locks , an afro or sme cornrows or even a fade but that perm sih is not "Just for ME" and looking at my woman's ahirstyle, this is no BS from the kid

HOTEP

[Nefertiti]

Im as real as they get..no artficial colors,flavors,no fake hair,no korean nails...no maybelline mask
Just as afroblackalicious as they get...hair in a fro...got my cowry shell choker with an ankh necklace and im good to go

EXACTLY! GIRLFRIEND