Relaxed Hair is hair that has been chemically treated in an effort to make it more manageable or mimic a European hair texture.
Unfortunately, chemicals used to treat black hair has resulted in numerous cases of illness ranging from burns to alopecia to even cancer.
The current trend in natural hair has created a dramatic shift in the African American hair care industry. As a result, many new products are rolled out and many black women have become entreprenuers as a result of creating their own products. Additionally, many hair care companies have changed their business models and products to accomodate this new and ever growing market.
Many African American women have moved away from using chemicals to "relax" their hair and they have embraced beautifying and taking care of their own hair in it's natural state. Natural means no chemical has been used to achieve the hair's current texture.
Historically, black women have been raised to achieve the American (European) standard of beauty, but have recently returned to natural hairstyles. As a result many styles are found within one of four stages of growth ranging from short to long.
Hairstyles for women who are "natural" are varied and currently very trendy. The limits to what this hair can do is often reached by the exhaustion of imagination.
