I finally looked up the real numbers on chemical burns from relaxers

I was cleaning up after a client last week and found an old bottle of relaxer in the back of my cabinet. It got me wondering about the actual risk, so I did a quick search on my phone. I found a study from the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology that said chemical relaxers send over 13,000 kids to the ER every single year. That number floored me. I've been doing hair for eight years and I've seen a few minor scalp irritations, but I never thought it was that common. It made me really look at the consent forms we use at the shop in Phoenix. They don't say much beyond the basics. Now I'm thinking we need to have a much longer, more serious talk with every single client, especially parents, before we even open the kit. How do you all handle the safety talk for chemical services?

2 comments

2 Comments

lopez.wren18d ago

Nah, I gotta disagree. Those ER numbers sound crazy high compared to real life. Most stylists know what they're doing and do a proper patch test first. Adding a huge scary talk before every relaxer just freaks people out over a very small risk. It's like warning someone about plane crashes every time they buy a ticket. The consent form covers it, and a good stylist already watches for any reaction. Making it a whole big thing is just fear mongering.

zara_patel5718d ago

Have you ever actually seen what a bad relaxer burn looks like? Because I have, and it's not a small risk if you're the one getting your scalp melted off. A patch test doesn't always catch everything, especially if your skin changes or you used a different product. If the risk is so small, why are those ER visits even happening at all? A quick, clear warning isn't fear mongering, it's letting people know what they're signing up for beyond a piece of paper they don't read.