Should You Relax or Perm?

Not everyone is blessed with hair that falls perfectly into place. Some need to coach their hair a little to get the look they want and others fight a never-winning battle when it comes to taming their tresses. In order to help in this battle, many turn to chemical relaxers and perms to make their job easier. Should you?

The first thing to remember when choosing to perm or relax your hair is that chemical processes can cause damage to your hair. This is important because choosing the wrong procedure at the wrong time can leave you with a mess that’s harder to deal with than what you currently have. So, before you decide to perm or relax, make sure your hair is in the condition to handle it.

Another thing you should think about is all of the state-of-the-art ceramic thermal flat irons and curling irons that are on the market. If you can achieve your look with one of these, you might be able to pass on the chemical process. And with the new ionic technology available, even the kinkiest hair can be sleek and shiny.

So, when should you relax or perm? Follow these guidelines:

• If your hair is stubbornly kinky curly or coarse and straight, getting a relaxer or perm can make your hair more manageable. A relaxer will change the texture of your hair and make it easier to work with. A perm will help break down your hair so that it is easier to curl and style.
• If your hair is fine and limp and there is not much of it, a perm can give you much-needed body. Wearing a perm will make your hair appear thicker and fuller than it does straight.
• If you have ethnic hair, it is almost always a good idea to relax. Extremely curly black hair can be a hassle to deal with. It gets tangled easily and is impossible to comb. It also never gets longer, just bushier which limits your hairstyles dramatically. By getting a chemical relaxer, you can get length and manageability in one easy process.
• If you like the look of a perm and don’t color your hair, you should get a perm. If you do color your hair often, perhaps you should try out some different thermal curling tools to minimize the damage done to your mane.

The bottom line is this: choose a chemical process when it is in the best interest of your hair’s health. If the process would cause more damage than do good, maybe you should wait.

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Comments on this article:

» left by Happy2BNappy from Kinksville (3 years 80 days ago.)

Jenny, this article shows a lack of research and complete ignorance on your part about the qualities of naturally textured Black hair. I suggest you put in a little more work- maybe consult an expert-before you mislead folks with this rubbish.
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» left by Anonymous (242 days 9 hours ago.)
i was reading this and felt the same. where is jenny's information coming from?!

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» left by Kayon from Stone Mountain, GA (3 years 79 days ago.)

I find this article offensive as I am a Black female with natural hair. I do NOT feel that my hair is unmanageable and difficult to comb. Everyone has the right to wear their hair in it's natural state. Straight is NOT better.
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» left by Currently Maintaining from Dallas Tx (225 days 18 hours ago.)

Jenny is not saying that straightis better that it  is what every women should have if you pay attention to the world today most of all the african-(american) women teens and even little children are wearing their hair STRAIGHT they pay to go and get it done and some even do it themselves at home. Believe it of not most african women from nigera and barbados and africa are coming and going wearing their hair straight. Now you may not want to, and the other ppl leaving these absurd comments may want to be STRAIGHT but most want to be able to handle their hair. Get up on a sunday morning and not have to worry about what The HELL to do with my hair . alot of women want to be able to maintain so yes your different you like natrual but not everybody is A natrual KINDA girl.!

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» left by kelly from tallahassee, fl (3 years 79 days ago.)
"ethnic hair" does retain length and there are MANY styling options that don't require straightening. if you have "ethnic hair" it is a good idea to do your homework and learn how to take care of it. it's very manageable if you know what you're doing
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» left by currently maintaining from Dallas Tx (225 days 18 hours ago.)

You said it "if you know what your doing" some dont thats why they perm.! DUH and plus its their opinion they might like it straight . walk through wal-mart or the mall or even the hair salon and you will see either women have weave or a perm but some type of straightness ! (wow ignorant ppl )

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» left by mrsloh (3 years 77 days ago.)
Become more informed before posting an article like this. Don't just post one sided opinions on black hair. Some black people don't see their hair as hard to manage. I am one of them. This article is biased and gives wrong info on black hair care.
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» left by currently maintaining from Dallas Tx (225 days 18 hours ago.)

Once again you are wrong! its not bias you just happen to be able to handle your hair nappy or straight. this is for ppl who asked the question if it didnt pertain to you then y  are you leaving a comment when you so called" can manage your hair" leave. let the ppl who need help like girls who go off to college and has never done their hair before hhmmm or 16 year olds who want to look good for the dance or school pictures .. your Slow !

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» left by MICHELLE R from DALLAS, TX (1 year 176 days ago.)

The article is GOOD but I don't like that statement: "If you have ethnic hair, it is almost always a good idea to relax. Extremely curly black hair can be a hassle to deal with. It gets tangled easily and is impossible to comb. It also never gets longer, just bushier which limits your hairstyles dramatically." I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TRUE. ETHNIC HAIR IS BEAUTIFUL. AND A PERM IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO TAME EXTREMELY KINKY HAIR. HAVE YOU HEARD OF A HOT COMB?
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» left by Africamychildren from US (1 year 139 days ago.)
Dang, the black women jumped at Jenny like hawks. I bet she didn't intend to be mean. As African I always relax my hair because that's seems to be the acceptable way to get professioanl jobs. But I really like the Afican hair styles before the European colonization.
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» left by Carlisha from Atlanta, GA (1 year 82 days ago.)
You all need to chill and read what she said about the whole situation. Ethnic doesn't always mean BLACK. Quit it with BLACK here and BLACK there because she didn't say BLACK but ETHNIC people. ETHNIC doesn't mean BLACK and black folks are not the only ones with curly or hard to tame hair. I have long black and curly hair that is hard to tame and I am not BLACK but a Pacific Islander. I have a few friends from different backgrounds and races that have the same type of hair. One is Asian, the other one is Puerto Rican and White. Don't be quick to point a finger at the person writing the article because she actually stated that you do have a choice in the matter and you know your hair better than anybody else and this is not about individuals being African American. Gosh you all are sad for thinking that this article is racist especially if this comment is coming from somebody that is minority which is myself. Would you prefer Jennifer saying Ethnic or African American or Indian? How about Hispanic or Hawaiian? You who are being negative about the article thinking that it is racist need to hush. If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all. We are all suppose to help each other out. If it didn't work for you then maybe you should go into specific details on why it didn't and not try to jump to conclusions that the article is RACIST. If it did work for you then share the experience so it would benefit the other readers that are in need of answers on the specific topic.
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» left by Bristar007 from Montreal, QC (1 year 23 days ago.)
Hmmm...I think everyone over reacted here. It is clear that some vocabulary could use attention, but the majority of bi-racial or "black" ppl I know do relax their hair, either chemically or topically. They have explained that there is far more density to african or arabian hair, and by relaxing it, they find it more manageable. I think Jenny was simply expressing advice, that is all.\ I do, however, agree with these comments. My said friends who do wear their hair either naturally or naturally have NOTHING to feel, um, "badly" about. But our hair is personal, and if one wishes to see onself with straight hair, regardless of ethnicity, then healthy looking hair, be it straight, curly or otherwise, is our own decission. We need to be able to discuss these things, not call ppl racist for impressions or data. I hope this helps

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» left by Anonymous from Maryland (1 year 3 days ago.)

I found this article very informing....i am considerin gettin a perm and i found the information u gave useful....i think people over reacted on ur comments...but yeah thanx

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» left by thehennalady from Union, NJ (184 days 22 hours ago.)

The next thing I will probably read on an internet beauty site is that dark brown skin (or yellow, or golden brown for that matter) should be possibly altered or how to round out slanted eyes. When white women embrace something into their beauty standard, it is considered beautiful. When women of other ethnicities do what they have been doing for generations, it is considered "folk", "ethnic", "different" and worse "unattractive". However, we all are beautiful when we have good teeth, healthy hair, bright eyes, a sweet voice and little stress. Why process and process and process you hair and then spend hours doing Yoga, getting Reiki, etc. just to destress?

 

I have been "natural" and "relaxed". When I was "relaxed", my hair had no life, and somehow I felt different. Now when I want to wear my hair straight, which is not very often, I either use a hot comb/ceramic iron or put on a wig. I am well over 50 and have beautiful, long, natural kinky curly hair with very little thinning and good growth. My husband and son think I am a natural beauty. My daughters say they want to be me when they are my age. I think that's a success.

 

thehennalady, union, nj

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» left by Anonymous (125 days 6 hours ago.)

I do find my hair annoying to manage. Its thick, beautiful and full of tight curls. It also looks shorter than it is. I just want it to hang a bit more.I don't want straight hair. I love my curlz. I just need something to make them loosen so they hang. It's very frustrating. Products are not strong enough for my tight curlz and I don't like the texture of too much gel. A hair stylist said relaxing could losen my curlz. I'm sort of considering it but I don't know.

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» left by Rosa from New York (124 days 18 hours ago.)

There are newer products and techniques that can relax or loosen your curls.  The biggest problem I have had in the past was finding a professional who knows how to work with curly hair.  In the NY metro area there are number of excellent hairdressers who know what they are doing.  I will check back at this site to see if you respond.  Maybe there is a way where we can exchange e-mail addresses and I can forward you additional info.

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» left by Anonymous (75 days 23 hours ago.)

Hi Currently Maintaining. Just for your fyi Barbados is a country in the Caribbean ... not Africa.

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