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#NoMoreLyes: Our Hair Stories

A collection of Black women's experiences with hair relaxers

Beauty is often complex ground for Black women. Black women have used hair relaxers for various and far-ranging reasons: some Black women relax their hair to avoid racism and hair discrimination at school or work, some do it to better adhere to white beauty standards, some find that it makes their hair easier to manage, and some simply prefer it. For many Black women, the use of hair relaxers is just one of many hair care practices passed down from generation to generation.

It's important to document our experiences and we want to hear all of it! If you'd like to share your Hair Story, click the button below.

Share Your Hair Story
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DJ Mystikle Blue Birmingham, UK
My husband and I had been trying for a baby for a while, and it wasn't an easy journey. I suffered 4 consecutive miscarriages, followed by a stillbirth and then another miscarriage. Added to this I had an ovarian cyst and fibroids that were growing each time I went in for a scan. The doctors couldn't find what was causing all this, so I decided to do my own research — and stumbled upon the correlation between hair relaxers and the problems they cause.

In October 2016 I did the big chop and went natural. After going natural, the fibroids just stopped growing — and in 2018 I gave birth to our son.
Fibroids · Miscarriage · Stillbirth
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Emma London, UK
I first had my hair relaxed when I was around 12. First at a salon, then my sister and friends would do each other's. We had no real idea as tweens that we were administering seriously harmful chemicals to each other — and on many occasions we'd end up with serious, painful, weeping burns at our hairlines or on our scalps. Burns that would not heal for weeks or months, leaving permanent scarring or hair loss.

We could easily buy a huge variety of hair relaxers without ID or age verification from hair shops. The packaging was always pretty, with stunning young women whose hair we aspired to. Those boxes were where we saw who we wanted to be.

To this day, 25 years later, I have severe fibroids so bad that my entire bladder is displaced. I have to use the bathroom every 20 minutes, making sleeping, working, travelling, exercising — even drinking adequate water — really difficult. The fibroids are disabling. Had my mum or I been aware of what is now known through research, I would not have been allowed to use them. Our bodies, our hair and our health is sacred and deserving of safety.
Fibroids · Chemical burns · Hair loss
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Anonymous West Midlands, UK
I had to have a hysterectomy in my early 40s due to fibroids and I know a few other women who suffered the same fate. I have no doubt there is a link with the use of hair relaxers. I wish I had known earlier.
Fibroids · Hysterectomy
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Anonymous East London, UK
I only relaxed my hair for about 5 years, from 15 to 19. It caused burning feelings, lots of scabs, as well as thinning of my hair. Years later I was diagnosed with breast cancer — which praise to God I came through in 2022.

I would not want anyone to go through cancer like I did. Having choices means we can have preventative alternatives for our health without compromising our style. We deserve better.
Cancer · Chemical burns

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Have you been affected by hair relaxers? Your experience matters — and sharing it helps us build the evidence base for change.

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