Hair relaxers for kids are available as serum, liquids, or creams. They are used for straightening hair, and making them soft and supple. To know if they are actually safe for the scalp, read on.
Hair relaxers are meant for untangling curls. These products are mainly applied for kids who have curly and thick hair growth. It becomes very difficult to comb their hair, and the tangles further aggravate this process. Hair relaxers for kids, available in the market, act directly on the follicles, making them manageable. Parents usually prefer them because it’s an easier technique than straightening with hot iron or a hot comb. However, the kiddie relaxers promise that they are mild on the scalp, and do not contain any harmful chemicals.
Are they Safe?
There are numerous brands of hair relaxers for boys and girls. Choosing the best quality is a daunting task for parents. However, before making a purchase, you need to find out the composition of the cream, serum, or the lotion. The product should be free from lye or sodium hydroxide, which is one of the most dangerous chemicals accentuating hair loss. Sodium hydroxide is caustic in nature, that immediately softens hair fibers due to instant penetration into the cortical layer of the scalp, breaking the cross bonds. This relaxes the hair from tangles. The cortical layer is responsible for the elasticity of the curls, and when the bonds are broken, they get loose. Hair is made up of protein, that promotes strength, growth and health of hair. The relaxers or de perm creams rearrange the protein bonds, and gradually destroy the texture of the hair.
Products containing guanidine hydroxide are considered considerably safe on hair. Still, 100% assurance is not guaranteed, as they might de-fat the scalp. The solution is actually a mixture of calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate, that acts as an activator. Chemicals like ammonium thioglycolate relaxes the curls by acting on the cystine linkage. This action is different from the rest, and is known to be safe on the scalp and hair. Products like African Pride, Soft and Beautiful, Cream of Nature, African Gold, Dark and Lovely, Just For Me, Empress, and Motions contain lye in them. These products have a pH 12-14, which is known to render the scalp extremely dry, enhancing hair loss. The side effects are associated with early occurrence of the disease alopecia areata, a typically patterned baldness visible in both boys and girls.
The Verdict
From the above discussion, the inference is that hair relaxers are not considered safe by dermatologists and hair experts. Children between the age group of 5-10 years show maximum growth of hair. These products not only damage the quality of hair, but also hinder the growth process. However, there are some herbal products that remove the curls naturally. It’s always advised to get it done only occasionally, and from a professional. Experimenting with hair at home is never a good choice. The formulations that are completely free from lye can be applied twice or thrice a month, but not regularly.
Other hair products for kids like conditioners and curling/de curling gels, enriched with moisturizer and vitamins, are relatively safe. They keep the scalp moisturized, and do not cause much damage. However, it’s very difficult to find out which is the best hair relaxer for kids. Coconut Dream Conditioner, Curly Cutie Cleansing Cream, Moist Curls Moisturizer/Detangler, Mimosa Curly Q Elixir (Natural Oil Blend for Sheen and Hair Growth), Curly Q Gel-les’c, Curly Q Milkshake, Curly Q Creamy Curls Kit, Curly Q Custard, etc are good brands for children. They are laden with natural ingredients like carrot seed oil, coconut milk, coconut oil, mimosa juices, etc., causing no damage to the scalp.
The texture, type, and quality of your kid’s hair is natural. Natural hair relaxers for children can be applied once or twice. So, let them not get exposed to harsh chemicals at that tender age, rather massage the scalp with almond, coconut, or olive oil regularly to enhance the strength of follicles, and then wash off with a mild shampoo. This is the best nourishment for hair.
