This Beauty Writer'S Candid Debate About Perms & Black Hair Went Viral

spoonks1: My last relaxer was in 2007, and I have not looked back since. I say if you want a relaxer...get a relaxer. I just wish people would not put out the myth that having natural hair is more expensive than having a relaxer. In the beginning, you may go through a product junkie stage, which is understandable. However, once you truly learn your hair, you realize you don't even need many products at all (nor do they have to be expensive, to achieve the desired result).

LaTeisha Clément: I get it. This is a lot. I'm going through the same process of wanting a perm for style purposes and convenience. Do what you want. Why are we arguing about this? Black women need to stop policing each other. Do what you want and be happy with yourself. Period.

Sharon Laudat: We have fought too long to have the right to do what we want. Our hair is the most versatile on this planet so do what works for you.

Miss Q: A lot of our parents relaxed our hair because our parents didn’t know how to manage it. The idea of natural hair being more expensive than relaxed hair is silly. It’s expensive to manage course kinky curly hair. Doesn’t matter if its permed, if you get a sew in, and if you’re wearing a lace front. Its expensive and it’s no way to get around it being an expensive process. Do what works for you, your family, and your lifestyle but know it isnt gonna be cheap lol

Cecile Dunlap: I was natural for 16 years. So happy with my current relaxer. Make hair care sooo much easier.

Shantelle Holden: I’m natural and have extremely thick and dense hair. A few years ago my air was a little longer than bra strap length and I did a big chop. People thought I was crazy for cutting my hair. It was too time consuming to do all of that hair, especially having a toddler. Let people do what works for them and worry about your own head.

Beverley Husbands: Beauty? Health? Back when I stopped relaxing my hair...I didn't even know about the health issues that these chemicals could cause. I now have grey hair ...don't colour either. I have done crochet braids, extensions and wigs on occasion. No chemicals since 1990s!

Jonsey _: I've had a perm since I was 12 yrs old and I love it! At this point everything causes cancer, so I'm not overly concerned. I do whatever makes me happy.

LadyTina G: I NEVER stopped getting a relaxer and I NEVER will. I NEVER considered going natural. To each their own. I have nothing against natural hair but it’s just not for me. I don’t even prefer to care for my own hair. I leave that to my beautician. Long, thick hair is nice to have but it’s a LOT of work. Relaxer or no relaxer is a personal preference. There’s no right or wrong.

sylvia pointer: I loved this show. It’s great when you hear experiences from real people. Thank you for this .

Kudzayi Khosa: Black women can do whatever they want to do with their hair! Whatever works best for you, works.

Erika Plackowski / Love of Style Co.: Being a confident woman is being comfortable in making choices. Good for Blake and any woman with a relaxer. Also good for woman who go natural. It’s beauty in having a choice.

Valery Taylor: I wore a perm for as long as I can remember. But, in 2017 I stopped perming my hair because of hair loss. I went to my dermatologist and she told me to no longer use perms in my hair. The spots in the area where my hair fell out will no longer grow due to scarring. I went natural and thank God I did. I still have flare ups from the scarring. But my hair is healthier now. I did love my permed hair. I use to style my hair like Tamron. But I paid a price for the prolonged use.

Deborah Woods: I've been natural for 5 years. My hair is growing and it's healthy but there are times I miss the convenience of a relaxer. I encourage women to do what works for THEM. Uplift and support not tear down and ridicule each other. You are beautiful with straight, curly, coily, bald...do you!

Pocahontas: Well about 3 years ago I tried to relax my hair and it came out like tangled up straw. My hair has never handled relaxer well so I can’t say I was surprised. I obviously ended up having to cut it all off and start over. Never again. If my hair responded well to relaxer I probably would. I guess I’ll stick with my braids, wigs and an occasional silk press. My hair was mid back length with my non-relaxed routine.

West: I agree with Blake!! I have always relaxed my hair and I have never even thought about not having one. It’s no one’s business!! Do your hair however you want to! Be happy doing whatever it is that you want with your own hair!

Nessa Zion: It depends on how you view it. For me, God made and knows every strand. Plus today there are so many tools and techniques to manage it affordably, yes it may take experimenting and patience but it is honestly always honorable to see a woman wear her natural hair...and when are we going to properly acknowledge the cultural genocide that kept us from the knowledge our ancestors had about the meaning, maintenance, and beauty of our natural hair?

T2MARA: I have gone natural off and on starting in my twenties which was in the 90s way before the natural hair movement. Then, I went back to relaxers for convenience for probably 5 years. In 2009 something happened that made me go natural and I will never go back to relaxers. I got a relaxer from a professional stylist and I must have gotten a mild chemical burn which caused my scalp to ooze fluid overnight. That fluid crusted over and caused all of my hair to be stuck together. I literally thought I was going to end up bald but I took my time and used oil to unstuck my hair.. Over time my scalp developed scabs which eventually fell away but I definitely lost some hair in the process of the healing. My skin has always been sensitive and I also have fine hair that breaks easily which is why I decided to never get a relaxer again for fear of getting a worse burn and ending up completely bald. I shudder to think what my scalp would look like if I was forced to go bald. The scarring is probably terrible I always had medium to long length hair when it was relaxed but as a natural my hair is almost tailbone length (and I'm 5 ft 9in tall). Even though my natural hair is so long, there are still areas of damage from that incident that will probably never grow back(thinning to non-existent edges in some areas). That being said, women who don't have skin sensitivity probably have had a different experience with relaxers than mine and I don't judge them for doing what is best for them. I agree with the guest. What works for one person doesn't have to work for every person and we should do what makes us happy.

Nicole Milow: Was natautal for 10 years! Healthiest hair I’ve ever had. Then went back to the creamy crack at 35 for that short doo- pixie… I wore that about 2 years let it grow out and I’m back natural 2 years later… it’s fine. I’m a color junkie and for me my hair responds better to platinum blondes, honey blondes and such so I’m natural for now … it’s a choice yall

Dee J: I've been natural for over a decade. I'm over it at this point. I'm about to go back to relaxers myself. I likely won't do it as often since it's a definitely a health risk but so is bleaching and dyeing etc.

dollyrevenge98: I transitioned to natural hair last week however I also loved my relaxed hair and could do any style I wanted with it and wouldn't mind going back again, it's all about choice. Natural hair is more time consuming and it requires to think ahead of time especially for the styling part.

Jasmine: Ummmm I wish people would stop saying it's more expensive or time-consuming to care for natural hair. Just admit you don't know how and not used to it. My hair was natural hair until my high school years so I grew up understanding what my hair needed and so when I went back natural during my college years, I wasn't shocked and knew what to do. And real talk, folks out here buying these ridiculous 50-dollar hair cremes and confused as hell! Also, if natural hair is expensive to keep up, a perm is even more expensive and I won't even get started on the weave, lace front game. I do support black women wearing their hair however they want........but please stop saying the reason for your decision is because your naturally curly, coily, kinky hair is just too much to handle......its wack af and you sound silly.

Excuses TBMOTH: I think there is a link between fibroid, endometriosis, uterine cancer and perms. It also might explain why we are mysteriously more at risk of these problems than other races of women. I could be wrong, but the chemicals in a relaxer are extremely toxic.

Alethia Davis: I wear my hair natural, I have for close to 30 years . I don’t understand why anyone thinks they have a right to tell someone else what to do with their hair. It boggles the mind the audacity of people.

Dacia Drummond: If a woman wants to relax her hair then she should do so. If a woman chooses NOT to relax her hair, then she should do so. Every female's hair is different, so a woman should do what works best for her. I relaxed my hair for about 20 years and I will NEVER apologize for doing so. It's been about 8 years since I relaxed my hair and I make no apologies for that. I'm doing what's best for me.

Carol Rhodes: Your right to each his own. I love my kinky, coily natural grey natural hair. Will never go back to the creamy crack.

Leah !!!!!!!: My last relaxer was 2010 However I still believe you can perm your hair safely once or twice a year The rest of the year use safe heating tools to style

Angelia Anderson: Recently, there's been a correlation between the harmful chemicals in relaxers and uterine fibroids. For this reason alone. It's a no for me. I'll figure it out.

marsh washington: I’ve been natural for 8 years and I’m considering texturing my hair. I’ve always kept my hair short but long enough to do a bun. It is VERY expensive and I’m at the point where I’m over it.

R Davis: I think some people need to hold back on negative comments and maybe be less self-centered. Just because you want something or something works for you doesn't mean it works for someone else. If someone hasn't figured out what to do with their natural hair or looks for ways to make hair styling easier, haters say they hate their own hair because they chemically treat it. That's ludicrous. If someone falls in love with someone in a different ethnic group, it doesn't mean they hate their own ethnic group. Does wearing make-up every day mean you hate the way you look without it? That's ludicrous. I've seen people look like a completely different person with make-up on. If that makes them happy and works for them, then do you Boo. My mother was no good at styling hair and that was passed along to me. Too much emphasis on hair. To women who think they should be negative about what other women are doing, I hope one day they wake up and are concerned about their own life and health. Everyone has to make a decision for themselves. Have a beautiful day!

TheYamayah: I went back to a relaxer this summer. I love my short cut and I'm in and out of the hairdresser in 1 hour. Love it and myself.❤️❤️ I was natural all through the pandemic.

Gaphne A Stanislaus: I love Tam blouse. Someone told me straighting my hair with a relaxer caused fibroids.

brooklynforever1990: Hair is personal. I’ve had all the phases relaxed, press n curl, natural and now locs for the last 20 years. But considering I also color my hair with chemicals the argument can be made that I’m not fully natural. All that matters is, I’m happy with my process.

J B: Tam needs to bring on the young girls on the "Relaxer Boxes" that admitted they were never relaxed they were all natural for the photoshoots ‍♀️

Angie: I think is someone wants to relax their hair that is fine as long as it is not because they think natural hair is ugly or inferior and it's obvious she doesn't feel that way.

MsMaureen1975: I have natural hair and I make my own hair products, I like to experiment. I tried the store products when I first went natural, but they didn't work for me. I might be an outlier, but my afro hair care routine is inexpensive and it's not time consuming. I use a comb type blow dryer, and I only spend about 20 minutes drying my hair after I wash it in the shower, which is what I did when I had a relaxer. But I do understand why Blake and other women go back to relaxing their hair, you gotta do what works for you.

Colette Emery: I tried going natural for barely a year because my stylist would not color my hair with a relaxed hair. I totally get that! However, with my night sweats and hot flashes... Guuuuurl I need a relaxer again. Going natural was a nice journey short lived though, but my hair became too frizzy. I tried it. Loved my natural curl. Embraced it. I would prefer a mild or texturizer to tame this stuff.

Bonnie Sturdivant: Diversify is the key! Black women are the most beautiful on the earth. We can we are hair anyway we like. Do you boo!

brandie aleman: My hair my choice. I choose not to put anything on my hair that causes alopecia. Understandably working in corporate America it is easier to assimilate with relaxed hair. But I embrace the nature of what I was born with on the top of my head.

SANDY MILLER: I'm a natural hair woman who mostly wears crochet braids and braids. What l don't understand is why does she cares what people on social media think. They're not living your life or paying your bills. Be who you are; make your decisions and love it. It's your life who cares.

Dawna Porter: I’ve relaxed a couple months ago. My natural hair was difficult to maintain. It never flourished. I’m saving more time and money by being relaxed.

Rivka Ruth Golan: It’s the market and media pushing us to very expensive beauty standards.

Dijaworld World3: Both have worked for me but I personally love my natural hair. Do what works best for you period.

kamala b: I got my last relaxer October 30, 2000. I started locking my hair July 3, 2003. Still have my locs

Shawna Starks: People should do whatever they want with their hair. That being said; my opinion on this matter is that black women are the only group of women that find their own hair to be so problematic, that a billion dollar business has been built on our insecurity. It further perpetuates the notion that we aren't good enough.

GH: Perms hurt my follicles from 5 -21, that now I have no hair. It exacerbated an underlying autoimmune disease.

NaNa: Do what works for you, everything is a big deal in this Country

SayItLoud: I love relaxed hair and will NEVER go natural because I don't LIKE natural hair ON ME. I look better personally with relaxed hair. I love what grows out of my head and I LOVE straightening it too.

hey there sunshine: Relaxed or natural do you ..but any hair maintenance will cost...I personally don't think permed hair is less expensive. Products still have to be bought to maintain health. To me the least expensive hair is fades..or bald.

Mira M: I'm noticing women with a certain texture going back to relaxer and sharing it via YouTube. That's not a coincidence...at all. I feel for them.

Renee Mathis: It's her business if that's what she wants to do but I have found that going to a Dominican salon has prevented me from my experience tortuous experience with relaxers. I get the relaxed look from the Dominicans. Everyone's texture is different also. In the end....it's really nobody's business what a person wants to do with their own hair.

thehoneyeffect: The goal for a lot of Black women is to look as much like a white woman as possible but no one is ready for that conversation and deny its a factor. Natural hair is only difficult when you're trying to contort your hair into a eurocentric-looking style.

Adero Prescott: Maybe because my hair isn’t long, it’s not expensive to manage. But I definitely pay less to do all my natural styles and buy product vs. when I was relaxed. Black women should definitely do what they want with their hair. The only thing that’s kept me from relaxing for 20 plus years is the high potential risk for ovarian cancer from the chemicals. If it weren’t for that and the chemical burns, I’d have a relaxer.

22221mm: You can get much more affordable, higher quality products. I used Jane Carter Solution products and they work great for my hair.

Carolyn Lockett: I went back in June 2022 after being natural for 5 years.

Tik Tok Challenges🤣: It would have made more sense to me if this show had a balanced view on this. Where is the segment encouraging natural hair? Like it or not, our hair is not meant to be straight, hence why you have most women out here walking around with 3 strands of relaxed hair on their heads. Talking about expensive, the most expensive hair is the horsetail called lace wigs black women are carrying around

valerie jones: People should wear their hair as they choose however I don't spend more for my natural hair products. I found what worked for me and ignored all the other hype. I also wear mine short because my goal was to spend the less time to maintain and definitely less money. I go to my barber every 6-8 weeks depending on my mood.

Elle Ivers: Wearing your Natural hair is not the same for everyone, It depends a lot on YOUR natural grade of hair. I say its easier and more versatile if you have some length. My 4c hair is short to medium in length (it does grow faster) I've been natural for 8yrs its been a struggle for me since I don't know how to manage it (probably spent hundreds $$ on products) Still have back up wigs, Will probably get relaxer this year.

freemindsloveforever: Why didnt you just buy an over head dryer? Youd be done in less than an hour. Plus there is scientific studies concludinh that the chemicals in relaxers create more risk for uterinr cancers. Why take any of that risk?

A D: I feel they were shaming the maintenance of nature hair

Michelle Downer: Do what is best for you ❤️❤️

Sesh Divine: Why ?? I’m tired of talking about it. You want a relaxer …fine .The issue is more about the chemicals and our health. People care about health in different ways. It’s not a whole show… just my opinion.

T: Glad Tamara clarified 'some people's

Lisa Hobbs: I pray that her health won't be affected in the long run.

Marvellous M: Locs black woman here over 15 years and I have no intentions of using the creamy crack again. It works for me! I take my 5 hours to wash and style if i want to. Salon once a year to interlock. I had perm and did my own hair. Went to the salon once a year

Carol Winters: I got my sit under table top dryer for $40. They are not that expensive and you dont have to wait 24hrs for your hair to dry. I used to get scabs from burning with a relaxer (even after basing the scalp). I wouldn't go back.

Kelthe8thMan: Thank you Blake. Some women think going natural means don't comb or style thier hair. Just get out the shower and keep it moving.

shae carter: hope we don’t segway from the harsh chemicals in relaxers

Carolyn Fitzgerald: I love your beautiful hair. Miss tamron hall, great job hairstylist.

jean williams: I was natural for 6 years I went back to a perm 2 years now

Traci Howard: Her body, her hair

Mrs. Adriann: Dude really it's NOT that serious. We change clothes and fashion every day why can't a woman change her hair????? Some women wear and prefer makeup, others don't. It's JUST a preference and how an individual woman wants to see and present themselves.

Ms. Shura: Mind ya business! That's the biggest thing that folks can do. Its not for us to judge anyone. everyone has their own testimony ----- live and let live. Geez.

Tyresha Reed: Funny because I just relaxed my hair October 8 after 10 years

Allen Y. Bird: It's seems that the cultural shift back to doing what works for the individual woman will uher in a new era, a renaissance even, of our beloved black hair salon industry. I've been in this industry for over 25 years. I've seen a time when salons where packed with Cosmetologists and their clients. It so amazed me that I actually left the Marines to be a part of it. Still, we've endured a time in the wilderness over the last 15 years as the cultural shift to styling relaxer free hair, which we have always embraced took hold. Unfortunately for our industry, propaganda and myths about the relaxer's purpose( European desire) and its ingredients causing negative health outcomes, not only stigmatized the relaxer, it also stigmatized our industry. We were looked at as the "Crack Dealers" and a bond was broken. Trust was lost. Long standing realionships where broken. The largest sisterhood watering hole dried up. Where did they go.. ? They went to the big box retailers and their non licensed " Natural hair Social media Influencers" Who because of the trust lost they had more clout than we did. So many professional salon brands where lost. Mostly the regional ones. The larger national ones where acquired or went OTC leaving the stylists behind to follow the customers who were now being directly marketed to. As for the remnant that remained and the new generation of young women and men who are just starting their journey, I am so thankful we wont be the last generation. They threw everything at us....we were down for the longest period I can find in our history. Yet we are rising again. Ever more humble, more aware of their clients time, more aware of professional services. Let's repair this bond and bring the salon industry back to it's rightful place in the Black women's hair experience. Lastly I am one of those black owned hair product companies. I can say this with all the legal and scientific certainty there is. 1. There are ZERO parabins or any preservatives in relaxers. Why? Because the ph is <12 making it an alkaline product. No microbials or fungus can grow in this alkaline environment. We've always known it. I believe the PHD scientists and authors of these studies knew this as well. That's why they would always say" We didn't test any brands or look at specific ingredients in our study" 2.The last study included a very misleading question. It asked How many times did you " Straighten" your hair in the last 12 months. Straighten was to include...get this...Pressing, Flat Ironing, Smoothing treatments, and Relaxer. What does the former three have to do with a relaxer.? I'll let you answer that for yourself.

Leslie Lewis: I believe do you what is best and works for you. You are the only one that knows you and nothing best but to do works best for you!!!!

kaywisseh: I agree we should be able to do whatever we want. But for ME, I will not be putting that stuff in hair. I don’t impose my views on others. It’s just not for ME.

Noc TV: In this case on the Tamron Hall show about hair, the statement "...Black women, do what you want..." is ONLY a reasonable argument, if she grew up loving the natural way God created her hair. Most Black youth learn disdain for their natural hair from older Black people, and TV. Young Black girls get the most compliments from the Black people in her family (the most influential people in her life BTW) after her hair is straightened. That broken thinking (training) is nearly impossible to reverse after growing into an adult, after hundreds of hours of TV American commercials, after hundreds of hours of American movies and TV shows by people that (trained to) prefer straight hair, and when most of the Black people you know (also trained to) believe in "good hair vs. bad hair". Reversing that training is like moving a mountain, but it's possible. Black women, love yourself, teach your little girls they're BEAUTIFUL the way they were created, and if she grows up feeling the self-love, and she wants a perm for a style, after many many years of loving her natural hair, "...beautiful Black women, do what YOU want to do." Love and blessings.

Lorraine Mccullough: A couple of thoughts 1. Since Ms. Newby wears weaves, it seems irrelevant as to whether the hair underneath her weaves/wigs is relaxed or natural - maybe it's a convenience thing for her‍♀️ 2. Natural hair is indeed a lot of work & the hair products are too expensive - which is why I recently loc'd my 10+ years natural hair 3. Hair always has been & it seems it always will be the Black Woman's Achilles Heel - it is what it is‍♀️

melodramatic7904: I really hate this "to each their own argument" It is nothing about style. Relaxers are literally toxic. They cause permanent hair damage and they cause uterine cancer. There's a reason why black women have fibriods than any other race. Also, i find it hilarious that she said she was doing more damage to her natural hair with the style and then put a relaxer. A relaxer is 10 times more damaging for the reasons I stated above.

tndyamond2: Natural hair is not expensive.

Be Yourself: Who said it wasn’t a choice? I don’t get this conversation because as far as I know in the Caribbean people do what works for them..l

Dana Stirling: she must have a weave or wig because you cant relax and bleach and she has blonde streaks

VG: To each it's own. BUT!

A D: It’s just unhealthy first off.

sharpaycutie2: Evey woman should have the freedom to express their self esteem show her style they do choose. Now anyone can do something for the wrong reason but it’s not people place to bully soemonw to do something their not ninto because they assume soemthing

Coco Puff: she has in weave

Ama Olivia: HU You Know!

Jae Carli: Everybody just go on and relax those bonds down. Hair management is key when Relaxer assists so much towards your daily goals. Do it Do it! I have a girlfriend running from relaxer and her hair looks so dehydrated and unhappy. But she doesn’t listen to me. When I cared for her hair, it was always versatile and easy to manage. Now‍♀️‍♀️ Looks like she’s always been in a fight

Lilli L'amour: And her hair looks bad in this piece. lol

L'Nya Williamsmoorell: Righteous mankind will receive perfect human life forever in paradise on earth under heavenly kingdom rule coming at anytime Now and this system of things will be forgotten forever! (Psalms 37:10,11,29; Isaiah 65:17,25; Matt 24:3,14,36-39,42,44;Rev 21:3-5)

Conscious Anfesia Shapsnikoff: I decided to go natural and press my hair. I'm going to relax my hair tomorrow. Why? My roots have my scalp too sore from the new growth.

Ms Chollis: I don't care what the naysayers say.....but I was natural for 4 years from 2011 to 2015 and to be honest I hated every minute of it. I didn't want to be natural, but I allowed this dude who I once knew who wore dreadlocks to influence me into going natural. And my natural hair texture was very tough to deal with. I did not have 4C hair I had 4 ZZZZZZ hair absolutely no curl pattern no matter what product I used. I hated the way I looked in the mirror and I could never get my 4ZZZZZZ natural hairstyle to look right. Before I became natural (( and I don't care what nobody say )) I looked a lot more attractive and I got alot of looks from men and compliments, I used to catch men starring at me all the time, and it felt wonderful. But as soon as I became natural whewwwww chile dem men hurry up and looked away hundreds I was walking around probably looking like Celie from the Color Purple......I used to looked in the mirror and cry because my natural hair didn't do what I wanted it to do......so anyway I got tired of (((( pretending))))) that I wanted to be natural when wasn't my idea to be in the first place......I was only going by what some dude was telling me about natural hair.........so I went back to da Creamy Crack and I ain't going back.........I look so much better and "attractive" with relaxed hair and my relaxed hair can behave that I want it to behave without a "fight" and I still love the attention that I receive from men when I wear my hair in certain styles By the way I just got my relaxed hair styled very similar to Tamara Hall's and I absolutely love it (((( I have no regrets hunnie cause natural hair ain't fah me period )))))

W Coston: Nope

Lois Lane: Nope

Carolyn Hughes: More and more women are going back to relaxers

Lettie Grant: It's okay to have your natural hair but but it's not okay to walk around with your hair not combed and using the excuse of this is natural. Too many black women do not even comb their hair. It's ridiculous and it's just being too lazy to comb your hair.