Kareem Azeez
In Africa, interest in natural hair products is growing alongside the sales of relaxers, as compared to some years ago. Hair relaxer treatment is a permanent way of straightening curly or tight hair.
When your hair is relaxed, it will not return to its wavy nature until the relaxed hair strands grow out which takes months and years.
In recent years, a growing number of Black women in the United States are ditching chemical relaxers amidst health concerns, embracing their natural looks.
Studies have linked frequent use of hair relaxers to increased risks of uterine and breast cancer, prompting a shift in consumer behavior among Black women in the U.S.
The Guardian Nigeria has recently reported on how to use hair relaxers as well as its risks. You can access it here
While the European Union has banned some harmful ingredients, the U.S. lags behind in regulating cosmetics. In Africa, countries like Nigeria have issued warnings about specific chemicals in hair products.
Nigeria is currently ranked 5th in Africa for countries who still patronize chemical hair relaxers, with a percentage of 3.4% as compared to Tunisia with 10.7%, the number one on the list, in Africa.
Meanwhile since this varying choices by more African women, there has been a decline in relaxer and perm sales by about 9% between 2017 and 2022.
In response to the changing market landscape, natural hair care products are gaining traction, particularly in the U.S. Caro Bush, a research analyst, observes a growing demand for natural alternatives to chemically altering hair texture.
“Consumers are apprehensive of the chemical composition of these products and their impact on health,” Bush said.
A report by Capital news, shows how many African countries are shifting their trends and choices to more natural look.
The video below captures 28 year old Moraa, who lives in Nairobi and alternates between faux locs and natural hair styles. Over the years, she said she used almost every relaxer on the market, from TCB Naturals to Dark & Lovely.
She said she quit straightening her hair only recently because it seemed relaxers caused it to thin, embracing a more natural look.
