I’m Caucasian with curly hair and I would like to straighten my hair. Can I use hair relaxers that are popularly used to straighten ethnic/African curly hair to straighten my hair?
Many people with curly hair wonder about this. Are hair relaxers only meant for African hair?
The answer is yes and no.
Yes:
Many hair relaxers are made for and marketed to ethnic people with curly hair. This means that the manufacturers have this specific segment of the population in mind mostly because many people with African heritage tend to have curly hair.
No:
Anyone who uses hair relaxers regardless of their ethnicity or race will straighten their hair. It does not matter whether one is black, white or any other color.
Hair relaxers are chemicals that permanently change the hair texture and as a result leave them straight. Because they are made of chemicals, they can lead to hair breakage. This is however a separate question from whether hair relaxers can be used by people of different races. So yes, you can use hair relaxers to straighten your curly or wavy hair.
In the video below, a Caucasian You-tuber with curly hair demonstrates how he uses a popular brand of hair relaxer to straighten his hair.
Write a comment
Faith Campbell (Tuesday, 08 January 2019 02:17)
My hair ends look like they are burnt. Is this normal?
Black Beauty Store (Tuesday, 08 January 2019 04:13)
Hello Faith,
Thanks for writing in. No that doesn't sound normal.The best thing would be to look for a hairdresser with experience to have a look at your hair.
Kassidy (Tuesday, 16 April 2019 07:19)
My husband's biracial (black and white) with super straight, Caucasian like textured hair and he hates it so much. Hes been talking a lot lately about trying different chemical based products made mainly for black hair to get some texture/curl to his hair. Is this possible to even do? Is there anything I can recommend for him to try?
Black Beauty Store (Tuesday, 16 April 2019 09:31)
Hello Kassidy,
Thanks for getting in touch. It is not so easy to make straight hair curly. The change is also usually not permanent. You could have a look at our products for curls and waves and see if you find anything interesting.(https://www.blackbeautystore.eu/hair-styling/curls-waves/)
Daphne (Tuesday, 30 April 2019 02:57)
I'm a white chic n I used a motion no lye relaxer my hair is coming out is it going to make me go bald?
Black Beauty Store (Tuesday, 30 April 2019 15:25)
Hello Daphne!
Thanks for writing in. When hair is over processed, it usually breaks. Over processing happens when one uses relaxer that is too strong or let's it stay for too long.If your hair is falling off, it is possible that this is what happened. The best thing to do is to consult a qualified professional.
Ny (Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:03)
To Kassidy he can use a men's texturizer kit. I can't remember if it is pro line but in a green and black box with a man on the front. It comes in regular and super.
Jane (Sunday, 02 June 2019 07:56)
Caucasian people are an ethnic group too.
Halle (Wednesday, 04 September 2019 14:28)
I'm white by my hair is super curly! I've had my hair relaxed once before and it's great! My question is that right now I just got it relaxed again, and I was told I cant wash it for 3 days, but it wasnt styled. I usually use water and a leave in conditioner but I was told I cant for the next 72 h. How can I style it?
Black Beauty Store (Saturday, 07 September 2019 07:54)
Hello Halle,
Thanks for your inquiry. Conditioning sprays usually work well for relaxed hair. You could just spray it and then comb or brush it.
Best regards,
Customer Care Team
Tammy (Wednesday, 25 December 2019 01:42)
I'm south asian and i have thick coarse wavy/curly hair, summer of 2018 i bleached my hair twice and then dyed it red and kept it red for 2 months and then dyed it black again I was wondering if i can relax my hair or will my hair fall off ? I searched it up and I'm getting mixed reviews ?
Vanessa (Thursday, 20 February 2020 20:51)
I was wondering does relaxers work on hair that is simi straight?
Prissy (Tuesday, 17 March 2020 21:57)
Do perm feel burn
Jay (Sunday, 05 April 2020 09:06)
I'm white with really long hair passed my butt. I've never put any chemicals in my hair but I've been thinking about doing a relaxer. Is this a good idea or no?
Ella (Thursday, 16 April 2020 10:11)
Hi there,
I’m white and I have really frizzy hair I use straighteners on my hair but most of the time they don’t work. I’ve read mixed reviews on hair relaxers and I’m not sure whether to buy one.
Would it work on frizzy hair?
janet (Wednesday, 10 June 2020 11:46)
can the genletreatment relaxer be used like a perm to curl hair?
Joy (Saturday, 11 July 2020 11:05)
Hi I was wondering if i could use a relaxer on my public hair as it's so curly and I keep burning myself using straighting irons... Thanks
Loc (Wednesday, 15 July 2020 03:28)
Ayoooo that mfer asked if they can relax their pubic hair tho ��������
Joey Lee (Friday, 23 October 2020 18:46)
Tammy ! I’m am a licensed barber in Mississippi and I just wanted let you know that after doing lightening process of any kind whether you bleach all over or just highlight you should not use a relaxer or a perm solution on the hair because, it will BREAK ! Please look into maybe a keratin smoothing treatmet or the Brazilian blowout method and let a professional do it ! I’d hate for you to loose your hair girl ! But please do not do the relaxer or a perm it will fall off in the sink ! And that goes for anyone else on the page ! You can use relaxer on your hair whether your white black brown tan but once your hair is bleached with a lightener please do not use relaxers or perms!!! And even if you dye your hair back brown or black after lightening the hair is still over processed from the lightening and will still damage with the relaxer or perm bc the hair is still over processed under the black color you put on. I recommend please go to professionals and be truthful about whether you have bleached your hair before and when! :) thanks y’all I hope this helps !!!
Dayle (Tuesday, 31 May 2022 19:22)
Thank you! Good job.
Brianna (Thursday, 22 September 2022 22:49)
Thanks for the article but please dont refer to Asian people as yellow �
Alanna Mitchell (Thursday, 23 February 2023 20:25)
As a licensed cosmetologist, I would not recommend doing this! Your hair will look fried and break. It’s not worth it! Instead try to find ways to manage and style your curly hair or use a flat iron with heat protectant if you really want it to be straight. Look at all the comments from people who tried it and it ruined their hair. Also, chemical relaxers aren’t safe and neither are Brazilian blowouts and other straightening treatments as the contain formaldehyde-releasing agents and can cause cancer. There is a lawsuit going right now about it causing uterine cancer and I can’t say I’m surprised.
Debra Ann Mitchell (Thursday, 20 April 2023 20:18)
Debra Mitchell
H. (Monday, 08 May 2023 19:02)
I disagree with your statement that it works for everyone. My sis and I are biracial Korean & African American and our hair is an even mixture of both. Curly, thin, with a smooth soft texture. Throughout our lives we had tried every relaxer that was available to us: store bought and different salons. Not one has EVER straightened our hair. The only thing that has ever worked is a straightening iron or brushing with a blow dryer.
Hay (Wednesday, 28 February 2024 17:23)
I’m white with 2a virgin hair, My hair it’s super thick and a little wavy I wanted to use a relaxer that doesn’t do to much damage but allows my hair to not get puffy/frizzy after I shower. When relaxer be worth it if so what should I use that won’t make my hair fall out.
ISandy (Monday, 20 May 2024 09:26)
I permed my hair then tried to straighten it with a straightener solution and my hair is falling out in clumps and is very course. Looks and feels like black people hair. How do I get it to look somewhat normal again? HELP
Ros (Sunday, 23 June 2024 02:41)
I am 75 and white. I have very curly hair. Since I was 13 I have been relaxing my hair about twice to three times a year. My hair needs to be relaxed now. All this talk about the relaxers causing cancer . Are there any relaxers safe and if not what do you suggest? I tell myself God is in control of birth and death but he did give us a brain to use. So tell me should I continue with my relaxer or do you have a solution? New safe relaxer or what?