Why do so many black women swear that relaxed hair is "more manageable"?

Question

Every time I ask someone why they relax their hair, they tell me "Oh, because it's more manageable."

Really?

Last I checked:

-Retouches have to be done every 4-6 weeks and cost $30-$65 depending on where you go
-You can't get your hair wet at all, and if you do, you have to spend a hefty amount of time getting it "straight" again
-After washing the hair, you have to condition it and waste precious time under the hair dryer so that the conditioner sets well
-You have to wrap your hair every night to prevent breakage and such

Not to mention the damage that the dangerous chemicals in relaxers have on the hair that:
-Prevent it from growing
-Damage the scalp
-Result in hair scalp
-Thin the hair
-Smell effin' horrible

Now, ladies, what gives?

It's great that I'm not getting any real answers, rather "Well if you don't want to, don't!" Lay off the defensiveness. I asked a simple question and I don't think it would kill you to answer it without getting personal.

Why is relaxed hair "more manageable"?

I used to relax my hair and flat iron it and all that stuff our community tells us will make us "prettier" but I find that I have to spend less time on natural hair styles like braids and twists and such things. I'm about to get sisterlocs, which is a very versatile hairstyle that you can do anything with and is very low-maintenance, so it's untrue that relaxed hair is "more manageable" at least in my case.

Answer 1

Preach on.

It really ruins your hair over time and damages your scalp irrevocably even if you do have a professional doing it (a black dermatologist told me that) and you don't need them. Get braids if you feel like your hair is too hard to deal with. There are plenty of styles that make it appear that your hair is loose if you don't like the look of braids. Or, if you don't like braids, they have ionic flat irons that work very well with no heat at all (though the ones that are legit are like $300 or more). You'll be happy that you did when you get older and your hair begins to thin naturally. It's not just about your hair, it's about the health of your scalp.

An even better question to ask yourselves is why you think that straight hair "looks better." Does it really? Alicia Keys looked pretty fabulous with her braids and afro puffs.

Princess Temptress: I've been trying to get an afro for years to no avail. Be proud that you've got one because I would love to have one if only my hair would cooperate...

Answer 2

Hey there ;) I totally agree, i hate all these over produced hairstyles plus make up etc... Go natural! Even if it takes a while to grow out, just go for it. In the past, i have dyed my hair every colour i could think of, had a mohawk one min then grew it down to my *** then repeat a few times :s crazy! Every time i have regretted going for an unnatural look. So I have since grew out all the colour and just keep it trimmed shoulder length, nice and easy. I didn't like it so much when it was growing out but it was def worth it, its my favourite look so far.... good luck!

Answer 3

It costs alot,$$$ to straighten hair with chemicals usually.
I have natural hair and it takes alot of time to do, but i like it! It's cute and unique. I know no one with my haistyle.
Relaxed hair is only more manageable if you go to a hairdresser all the time.
I wish more people could learn to appreciate their hair type, whatever it is. It took a while for me to. I used to get my hair straightened. I think that relaxed hair is loads better than extensions. They take ridiculous amounts of time and cost that much too! And they're fake! I'd take an afro or locks any day. I, myself have twists. I wish there was a YA avatar with twists!

Answer 4

You're right, it isn't more manageable. I used to hate having to get perms when I was younger. I remember asking my mom to let me cut my hair but she wouldn't let me, she'd rather spend all that money on getting my hair relaxed. I had to wait until I joined the military to cut my hair and I love having my hair natural. Having a short cut truly is the most manageable hair style a black woman could have - ever. I get a fresh cut every other week and that's it. You can't get more easier than that.

Answer 5

I don't care for relaxers personally because of the chemicals, and how they thin and weaken the hair. When I want my hair straight, I just use a flat iron. Otherwise, I just wear it natural.

Answer 6

I have reverted back to my relaxer ways, I however only relax every 6 months and my new growth I just straightened with a flat iron every time I wash my hair (about every 2 weeks).
Also, who cares if someone wants to get their hair relaxed, to some people it's more manageable that way. They don't want to spend the time having to chop their hair off and wait till their natural hair grows back, or some people just don't know what to do with their natural hair. Also if you have an experienced professional doing your relaxers and deep conditioning it after, it does not damage your hair and your hair will grow, my hair is thick and healthy and I've been relaxing since I was 13.

Answer 7

Honestly, it depends on the person definition of "manageable". What may be manageable for one, someone else might think it is a hassle. Secondly, healthy hair is determine of how you take care of your hair and maintain it weather it is relaxed or natural which comes in many different textures and types. Hair is about personal style and preference. Some black women like their hair natural while others prefer it straighten. My hair is naturally curly, sometimes I straighten it for a different look. It is all based on the person. Remember hair is an expression of your personalty and style.

Answer 8

my hair isn't manageable right now b/c its been 6weeks since i had it relaxed...so I'm looking rough right now. but sometimes I feel like cutting it and just get a texturizer...all u have to do is rub activator through it.

Answer 9

Years ago --before the Civil Rights movement-- black men used to "conk" their hair too. But, I believe that came to be seen as a form of "self-hate" and was discarded afterwards --except by men like Billy Dee Williams and James Brown.

Apparently, for women, it is still okay inspite of the hassles involved there.

Answer 10

CHEMISTRY. and i just got a relaxer back in my hair from a years delay, and it does (depending on the hair texture) makes hair more managable, its better than having to deal with natural hair to try to do certain styles that u would need a relaxer with but hey

diffrent outcomes on the relaxer comes from diffrent people