Everything you need to know about Relaxers ,Texture Release and Gina Curl | Episode 9

Have you had or ever considered getting a relaxer, texture release or Gina Curl?
Short hair Specialists + Colorist Oluchi Zelda joins us for this episode of Black Girl Curls Podcast to chat all things relaxer, texture release and Gina Curl.
Although Black Girl Curls purely focuses on tight curl + natural hair we wanted to bring on an expert to chat about these different chemical options. As we know that a number of you have come across these various options. Some of you may have even considered choosing one of these options...so we want to make sure you all have all the information you need to make the best choice for your hair.
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[@adamadoumbouya418]

Hi I am black Italian and you from the states are such a model to me. I’ve learned lots of styles from you

[@ossier2796]

Great conversation but I don’t miss relaxers and no plans to ever use them again but I say to each his own.

[@hopeful9160]

This still does address relaxers in the way I was hoping I don’t want to hear the side stories. The other lady you started this movement with was very direct and didn’t talk in circles.

[@BlackGirlCurls]

@@hopeful9160 what do you fell like didn’t get addressed?

[@sandyhowdoi]

I've had a texture release, best thing i ever did. I love my natural hair. I got it to cut down my detangling time because my hair is so thick. Now my wash days dont take allllll day, love it.

[@allysonbailey9131]

Over the years went from Relaxer, blond buzz cut (most fun😊) then wash go Go when I discovered Keziah and Black Girl Curls during the COVID pandemic (as could not get to barber and hairdresser) Wash n Go really did not look the best at the start and a close family member strongly (you know😂) recommenlnded I get a relaxer, braids do something else, sort it. Because of the mindset education of Black Girl Curls and Keziah which helped me better understand society perception and conditioning that played a part. More importantly I acknowledged to myself it did not look the best and learnt to be realistic on where I was at and decided to stick with it and give it time - that's key. With patience my Wash n began to look cool and compliments came and my relative became impressed and even asked me to try it on their hair! Still on the journey constantlyrealigning. It was a learning curve for me to have resolve on something so visible. I aked mysekf what do I want and had resolve because the help was there. Still on journey. Agree once you educate yourself on process, maintenance and risks for you should do what you want with your hair.

[@ossier2796]

Oh wow after I grew out my relaxer I had an amino acid texture release before I became a career natural and it was just as much work as a relaxer but I thought it was safer for my hair. I had it done by a professional.

[@BelindaAJones]

Enjoyed you ladies❤

[@byashleerene]

Great conversation Ladies! As a licensed cosmetologist and a “career natural” I definitely align with a lot of what you ladies shared! Thank you!

[@ossier2796]

Thank you Aishia and Zelda.

[@hopeful9160]

This still does address relaxers in the way I was hoping I don’t want to hear the side stories. The other lady you started this movement with was very direct and didn’t talk in circles. This was so unhelpful

[@BlackGirlCurls]

@@hopeful9160 I’m super curious to know , what questions or concerns about relaxers were you’re looking for that we did not address?

[@michelleej]

My relaxed hair was easy for me. Maybe it was my hair. It was also familiar (great point). I don’t think it’s unicorn hair. I washed and styled it every two weeks, and rolled/pin curled/wrapped it at night. I never put heat on it between washes. After reading so many comments, I realize that a lot of the issues people experience with relaxers are exactly what you’re both saying. Incorrect use of the chemical, mainly overprocessing the hair - relaxing the whole strand, leaving it on too long, combing it through, sitting while their scalp is burning, getting retouches too frequently. I’ve been fortunate to have competent professionals retouch my hair.

[@cmw1336]

(39:32) This right here is THE reason - the only reason - I went natural...I had just purchased a house and no longer had the same amount of disposable income to keep up my relaxer and biweekly blowouts.

[@cmw1336]

Before I started following BGC, my go-to gel was Wetline and the new formulation has sodium hydroxide. Since that is the ingredient in relaxers that straightens the hair, would a gel like Wetline relax the curl pattern over time??

[@BlackGirlCurls]

Not necessarily. Zelda pointed out sodium hydroxide is present in a number of products. However the active agents aren’t present to make it straighten our hair. When it comes to wetline it’s important to be intentional about how it’s used on the hair.

[@iateyursandwiches]

If ita low in the ingredients, it functions as a pH stablizer. Same with citric acid

[@suzetteg2846]

43:12 amino acid based texture release intrigues me. I followed BGC for a while, my technique is better but the shrinkage in FL in my tightly coiled hair just ain’t it. My hair would have to be 30” long to appear 10” long lol I will check look into this more

[@BlackGirlCurls]

The thing about shrinkage is that it’s more about our mindset around it than the actual shrinkage itself. Everybody with curly hair has this to one degree or another. The beautiful thing like Zelda talked about (I hope you watched the whole Ep) is there are options available to us to get the desired look we want.

[@liazamor285]

i used to live in Florida and did my wash n go's with no problem. a lot of the botanical gels are humectants and attract water, so that's why you get shrinkage. an anti-humectant gel will resist the Florida humidity and make your sets last longer. I used to use XPO H2O The Curlformer-- created by a stylist in Miami for humidity.

[@Meera436]

an anti humidity gel as a topper might help. ouidad has one

[@BlackGirlCurls]

@@Meera436 that gel isn't enough to stop humidity.

[@mswhunter118]

Shrinkage is a sign of health. Change your perception and assumptions about shrinkage.

[@cmw1336]

(15:25) Wait...if you get a keratin treatment, you're no longer natural? I thought those were temporary and that the hair reverts back after a few mos?

[@iateyursandwiches]

No, your hair needs to grow out. The amount of heat applied to the hair for smoothing it straight absolutely compromises your hair. Think if it as the straight version of a curly perm.

[@killahkurlz7157]

is the beautiful textures naturally straight tms considered a texturizer?

[@BlackGirlCurls]

It’s a texture release system. Texturizer isn’t a product but the use of relaxer on the hair that isn’t left on the hair for a short period of time.

[@killahkurlz7157]

@@BlackGirlCurls thank you