I’m sure just about every Natural has had ‘the dream’. The dream (well, really a nightmare) is about a natural going on about her life and for some unknow reason she gets her hair relaxed. You may become aware while still in the dream and freak out or your awareness may only occur once you wake up. It seems so real, so vivid that when you do finally wake up you are sweating and in panic mode at the thought. You reach out to touch your hair and slowly close your eyes as the realization that it was all a dream. You cannot WAIT to tell someone, anyone that you had the dream and so grateful it wasn’t real. Well, what I’m about to discuss is no dream and it should be against the law.
I’m about to discuss accusations of some hairstylists that are secretly using chemicals on patron’s hair. This is happening but I have no real numbers and I add this because I don’t think it’s happening that often. Personally, I feel even just one instance is too much but more than one natural has complained of having a stylist apply a texturizer or a relaxer to her hair.
What is a texturizer or texlax?
A texturizer is considered a lite relaxer but they possess the very same straightening ingredients, either sodium hydroxide (lye) or calcium hydroxide (no-lye). A relaxer completely straightens the hair while a texturizer only loosens the curl because it is left on a shorter amount of time. Texturizers are far more successful on shorter hair and even for stylists it’s hard for a texturizer to keep a uniform texture from touch-up to touch-up. That just means some strands may end up completely straight while others may have a curly or wavy pattern. In some cases the texturizer cannot turn the kinky/coily hair into a curly texture but rather dry damaged hair.
I recently heard a woman in a facebook group complain of having this done to her. She went into a salon to get her hair straightened. The stylist said she was giving her a deep condition and when she felt something was wrong she didn’t question anything. After her visit her hair looked great but she’s allergic to relaxers and her eyes were slightly swollen. Despite her swollen eyes, she still didn’t question it. It was when she was washing her hair a week later and the sickening smell accompanied by stringy straight hair made her all too aware of what happened. She had been given a texturizer against her wishes and her hair was texturized.
Many in the group told her to sue, beat the stylist up, beat her up some more and sue even more. What she will choose to do is left to be seen but it got me wondering…how often is this happening? How often are natural haired women going into salons for one simple straightening service and ending up chemically relaxed?
I’m not trying to cause any alarm or make rash accusations. I’m merely passing on information given to me. With that being said, I’m friggin scared silly about going into a salon! I’m not worried about getting a texlax or a relaxer but more afraid of heat damage or having them cut too much. I’ve since distanced myself from salons and the one last service I did get from a salon (a trim) will be my last since I can do that myself. I’ve had my issues with salons for a while now, Hair Styler bullying, and I’m not seeing a trip to one anytime soon.
I hope I’m not stirring the pot but I am curious about this act of deceit. It’s unbelievably wrong and yet it appears to be happening. So, I ask all of you…have you had this happen or have you even heard of it happening?
Take care Naturals,
Sabrina
I posted a video on this very topic on slimwavy a bit ago. So, yes, I've heard of this happening. What I don't understand is why a stylist would do it. Sure, the rationale might be easier styling, securing a repeat customer by default . . . but the risks are far greater. Punch in the face, a lawsuit, an angry client that maligns your business. It would just seem like a dangerous and stupid thing for a stylist to do. I haven't been to a stylist in years and I have no plans to visit one anytime soon. You are so right about the things you have to think about . . . them cutting too much or, better stated, being in too much control of your hair. And once it is done, it's done. The only way to recover is with time. Yes, now . . . if that happened to me, I'd be one hot natural. Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad. To keep everybody safe, I will continue to do my own hair.
Hey lady! You are not by yourself. A salon will not be seeing me because if this happened to be there would be a big story on the national news about a natural haired woman whipping up on some ass in a salon! My nerves are too bad now and with me being so paranoid about my hair I would rather do it myself. Some of these stylists are really bold or just haven't come across a throwed off woman such as myself! Thanks for sharing.
This happened to a friend of mine. She was not informed what tge stylist was putting on her hair. She also received severe burns and lasting damage from the service. I definitely dont use any salon or stylist that i dont know AND trust!
That's awful. I cannot even imagine what your friend had to go through and to have lasting damage…I feel for her. Thanks for sharing.