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| notice the full fro on the model |
During my last visit to my local library, I decided to browse through the Magazine section to check out what's new. Because the library carries so many different magazines, I decided to focus on business and Black magazines. While flipping through one of the Black magazines, I noticed that almost every issue had an advertisement section for natural hair products, which is a good thing for us naturals. However, while flipping and browsing, a
Dark n Lovely Anti Shrinkage product advertisement quickly grabbed my attention, as I couldn't understand why shrinkage is such a problem that Naturals are encouraged to fight it. I immediately took pity on women who haven't fully accepted the natural characteristics of their hair and are being capitalized on.
Now, it's obvious that relaxed hair care companies are loosing out on sales, as more and more women and children are embracing their kinky curly/coily hair. And so these companies, like many other companies with the same issue had to come up with new products to target a growing profitable audience.
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| I love my shrinkage, thanks very much! |
Regardless of the sales drop these companies are facing, I believe they should focus their energy on what they make best, which is relaxers. It's like having a fast food company come out with a new weight loss menu. This isn't only contradictory and confusing to consumers, it's also hypocritical. The fact that they have to make an anti-shrinkage product line
shows that they're not happy that you've gone natural and they are still convinced that you would really look better with looser curls.
I mean, I get anti-breakage, anti-dryness, anti-baldspots, anti-receding hairline; but anti-shrinkage? They might as well change the label to anti-coils!
It is these offensive product labels that makes me stay away from products made by relaxed hair care companies and so called "black hair care" products. Instead, I buy "white" hair care products, although my plan for this year is to transition to Black hair care products made my other women with natural hair. This way, I won't have to worry about offensive product labels, since these women are happy with their coils and would love for other women to be happy with theirs as well.
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| I know what to do to reduce shrinkage, so thanks, but no thanks! |
Update (Feb 6). Jc of Natural Haven (our Natural hair scientist), explains the Junk Science behind this product on her blog and on
BGLH(Black Girl Long Hair). And if you're into reading ingredients, she also discovered something strange with the ingredient list.
BGLH, one of my go to natural hair sites
The Natural Haven Bloom Blog
Do you buy products from Relaxer companies? Would you purchase this product?
Do you think relaxer companies should just stick to making only relaxers? What are your thoughts on the offensive product label?
That's what I thought too when I saw that Anti-shrinkage line. As if it's a problem that needs to be fixed. But...I do notice a lot of natural ladies who actually see it as a problem.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't buy this product. It feels weird to buy an anti-shrinkage product while I actually like shrinkage and the versatility it brings :P Love your hair by the way!
I don't really blame companies that make such products. A lot of ladies go natural for the wrong reasons. We forget that the nature of our natural hair is to shrink when moist. Personally sometimes I hate shrinkage and other times I embrace it.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with Onyeka! I definitely have to post on this too, thanks for the inspiration
ReplyDeleteWELL SAID!!
ReplyDeleteIngredients rule. So regardless of who makes it, though relaxer companies ingredients are usually sub-par by my standards, I buy based on that. Now I'm glad to hear you say you'll be buying black from naturals just DO observe those ingredients because some of us (them) might as well be a relaxer company with the craptasticness they are packaging.
ReplyDeleteDesign Essentials is a relaxed line that makes great natural products, so I don't hold that against them. I also get why hey would advertise anti-shrinking. (I want big hair) But as it was stated above, it's all about the ingredients, so I probably won't be making this purchase.
ReplyDeletethanks @jaleesa.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you @Onyeka, a lot o naturals still think their coily hair should behave the same way their straight hair did.
@Jc, i'm happy to be an inspiration for your "Junk Science" series. @mika, thanks!
@Amena and anon, ingredients do rule, however, only a handful of people actually reads ingredients and understands it. Most just buy based on product label and the attractiveness of the packaging. I also agree that a few "natural hair" companies aren't using natural hair friendly ingredients.
I just find it offensive that a relaxer company would make such products because as far as i'm concerned, they haven't completely embraced the nature of our kinky coils which is happy when shrunken.
Funny enuff....dis line of product is actually very nice. I had seen so many reviews on youtube some negative n some positive. From the reviews i figured dat the whole "anti-shrinkage" was a marketing strategy just to bring dem out i guess....but i still bought dere whole line to try it out...n i must say...its actually very nice and i can buy it again. i just wish dey wud rebrand n remove the whole "anti-shrinkage" thing cuz its actually kinda silly.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right the "anti-shrinkage" marketing slogan is very silly. I'm glad your hair responded well to the product.
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