In our #TribeTuesday feature today, we look at the controversial hair product known as a “relaxer”. Infamously called the white stuff or creamy crack, relaxers are a contentious topic among black sisters (all over the world) and has divided many into the ‘pro-relax’ team or ‘no relaxing, natural look’ team. No matter which side of the coin you sit on, do you know the history of relaxers and where this notorious hair product originates from? Let us school you!
According to literature, hair relaxer can be traced back to a black American man named Garrett Augustus Morgan in the 1900s. Morgan is the original inventor of the hair straightening prototype, which was initially marketed towards both men and women in the early 19th century. It is said that in 1909, Morgan, who had a tailoring shop, accidentally founded his hair straightening cream when he was trying to find a solution to “ease friction of his sewing machines”.
Once finished, Morgan proceeded to test the cream on the fur of his neighbour’s dog and realised it did magical things to the canine’s curly fur – it completely uncurled and straightened its hairs by altering the hair’s curl pattern and texture. He then tried the cream on his own head and the chemicals reacted the same, giving him the same straightened results as the dog.
After realising this gold mine formula, Morgan then established G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company and began selling this ground breaking product to black people in America; before being bought off by Proline, the manufacturers of Dark and Lovely. Other brands then started to emerge, also developing less harming formulas to curb the scalp burn and damage relaxers give. His hair company also began making dye ointments and other hair processing creams.
Morgan was a child of former slaves and was said to have “an eye for inventions”. He invented many other objects that are today used for public safety. These include; the gas mask, the traffic signal (which is now traffic lights/robots) and the self-extinguishing cigarette.
Before the obvious import of the hair straightener in South Africa, many African cultures used a certain type of clay to help untangle their hair, aid in its manageability and curb the dreaded shrinkage – the modern day equivalent is the likes of Bentonite Clay which is used by naturals all over.
The psychology and politics of hair, especially black people’s hair, goes deep, and if ever you want to open a can of worms, just start a conversation about black hair or delve in topics about natural versus straightened hair.
But, no matter which team you root for, hair remains to be a personal matter and having “good hair” is subjective! In essence, “do you boo”!
Did you know that the relaxer was created by a black man?
Which team are you? Pro or against the cream crack? Do let us know.
*Historical facts from ehow.com
