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Odd-Independent6177 t1_j6akg0p wrote

The products that will straighten hair and that will dye hair dark colors are extremely toxic. All women are under strong pressure not to have gray hair and women with curly ethnic hair are under extreme pressure to straighten it to be seen as attractive and professional. This is still true, but was even more true in the past.

Link re: PPD key ingredient in permanent dark hair dye https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5261844/ main alternative also toxic (coal tar dyes) https://www.gao.gov/products/hrd-78-22

Hair straightener products risk: https://dtsc.ca.gov/scp/chemicals-in-hair-straightening-products/

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tallgirlmom t1_j6al2h6 wrote

Is hair relaxer more toxic than perm solution?

Seems to me that all hairdressers are exposed to awful chemicals.

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Odd-Independent6177 t1_j6ata0l wrote

It’s still an active area of research, but quite possibly, yes. There are multiple chemicals involved that are being studied as endocrine disrupters and carcinogens. The background document at the link I posted goes into some detail.

The main chemical in perms, Ammonium thioglycolate, is also not great for you, but mostly functions as a strong irritant and sometimes allergen https://www.barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/permwav_lfs11.pdf

Perhaps more importantly, though, perms are generally an option used for variety when they are in fashion. Even as a former fan of the perm, I haven’t had one since the ‘80s. Straighteners and relaxers have been treated as necessary for women of color with curly ethnic hair to be seen as professional and presentable. This means repeated regular use for decades.

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tallgirlmom t1_j6avaey wrote

Perms are a very common thing in Caucasian women once they hit their 60’s and their hair thins out - unless you want to look like a plucked bird. I suppose black women get their poisonous styling done earlier in life.

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