The pursuit of smooth, straight hair has led many to use chemical hair relaxers. Among these, African Pride relaxers are a popular choice. However, it's crucial to understand the ingredients, potential health risks, and available alternatives before making a decision.
Understanding African Pride Relaxers
African Pride Olive Miracle Creme on Creme No Lye Relaxer Touch Up Kit is one complete touch up kit. The All new African Pride Olive Miracle Creme on Creme No Lye Relaxer Touch Up Kit formula is enriched with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sbhgea Butter for the ultimate in silky smooth straight hair from edges to ends. Our unique StayFresh Creme-on-Creme formula makes touch ups quick, easy and mistake free. Say goodbye to the mixing errors and mess of liquid activators, and thanks to our StayFresh System, it stays fresh longer.
Key Ingredients
Let's examine the ingredients of the OLIVE MIRACLE® CONDITIONING Anti-Breakage No-Lye Relaxer System:
- RELAXER BASE: Water (Aqua), Petrolatum, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Cetearyl Alcohol, Calcium Hydroxide, Ceteareth-20, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-6, PEG-75 Lanolin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein.
- LIQUID ACTIVATOR: Water (Aqua), Guanidine Carbonate, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Linoleic Acid, Green 8 (CI 59040), Green 3 (CI 42053).
- HERBAL INFUSION: Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Petrolatum, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Equisetum Hyemale Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ceteareth-20, Fragrance (Parfum), Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-6, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Red 40 (CI 16035).
This No-Lye Relaxer is specially formulated with Olive Miracle® Anti-Breakage technology to protect and strengthen your hair throughout the relaxing process. After relaxing, treat your hair with the included Aloe Vera Deep Treatment Conditioner sachet. This intensely nourishing treatment is packed with vitamins and powerful ingredients like aloe vera, castor oil, and biotin. Perfect for deeply hydrating, repairing, and protecting your hair from breakage.
Potential Health Risks
Scientific research has linked chemical hair relaxers to several health concerns:
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
- Uterine Cancer: A 2022 study found women who frequently use chemical hair relaxers were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. As stated in the report, “hazardous chemicals,” including those that are endocrine-interrupting and/or carcinogenic, could be responsible for the link to increased uterine cancer occurrence.
- Ovarian Cancer: Scientific research has linked chemical hair relaxers to ovarian cancer.
- Breast Cancer: A 2019 study by scientists with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) documented a link between the use of chemical hair straighteners and breast cancer. According to those findings, women who used hair relaxer products every two months or more frequently were 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer during the course of the study.
- Uterine Fibroids: Uterine fibroids were linked to the frequent use of hair relaxer products in a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Uterine fibroids, also called leiomyomas or myomas, are growths that occur in the uterus and can, in rare cases, lead to cancer.
- Endometriosis: Hair relaxer products are linked to endometriosis through the prevalence of the chemical phthalate DEHP. Endometriosis is a condition caused by tissue that lines the uterus beginning to grow outside the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic.
As stated in the report, “hazardous chemicals,” including those that are endocrine-interrupting and/or carcinogenic, could be responsible for the link to increased uterine cancer occurrence.
What Can Hair Relaxers Do To Your Body? | Dangers of Chemicals in Hair Straightener Products
Understanding pH Levels in Relaxers
The pH balance determines how harsh the chemical is. Research has shown that the lower the pH, the less damaging the product is to your hair. Water has a pH of 7. Anything less than 7 is considered acidic. The lower this number gets the greater the acidity. Any pH greater than 7 is considered alkaline. A one point difference in pH’s could have a significant impact on your hair. A product with a pH of 13 is 10 times more alkaline than a product with a pH of 12. This same product would be 100 times more alkaline than a product with a pH of 11.
The pH levels even tend to vary among the same products from batch to batch. A relaxer that worked great for you the last time you touched up, may cause more damage to your hair the next time you use it.
Types of Relaxer Chemicals
There are several types of relaxer chemicals:
- Ammonium bisulfite and ammonium thioglycolate
- Calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate
- Sodium hydroxide (lye).
The most damaging chemicals tend to be calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate and sodium hydroxide. Most "no-lye" relaxers are based on the calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate chemicals.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
When relaxing your hair it is important to read the product directions to determine how long a specific relaxer should be left in. For fine or previously damaged hair the time should be no longer than 13 minutes, for medium-strength or slightly damaged hair the time should be no longer than 15 minutes, and for coarse, resistant or minimally damaged hair the time should be no longer than 20 minutes.
The importance of a neutralizer cannot be stressed enough. It is needed to stop the processing of the relaxer. It should be left in the hair for a minimum of 5 minutes. It takes at least that long for the active ingredients of the neutralizer to penetrate all three layers of the hair shaft and bring the pH of the hair down to normal. If the neutralizing shampoo is rinsed from the hair too soon, the neutralizing action may stop while the pH of the relaxer is still in a high alkaline state. This can cause breakage and shedding because some of the relaxer’s active ingredients are still in the inner-hair causing rapid deterioration.
Before using any chemical process, please remember that your hair needs to be in the best possible condition. Relaxing damaged hair will only compound your problems. Since relaxing is very hard on the hair, the importance of proper care and appropriate follow-up treatment cannot be stressed enough.
African Pride Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
If you or a loved one developed ovarian or uterine cancer after using an African Pride hair relaxer product, you may want to speak with the lawyers. They offer a Free Case Evaluation.
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
