Hair relaxers are designed to straighten tightly curled or coiled hair by changing the structure of the hair. Products marketed as “natural” or “herbal” should not automatically be considered safer or more effective simply because they contain plant-based ingredients.
The term “natural hair relaxer” can also be misleading. Ingredients such as rosemary, nettle, coconut oil and other plant extracts may be used in hair-care products, but their presence does not mean a product can safely produce the same straightening effect as a chemical relaxer.
Research on herbal ingredients for hair care is still developing. A recent review found that some herbal treatments show potential for hair growth or scalp health, but many studies have been small or short-term, and stronger research is needed before their benefits can be established.
Coconut oil and other conditioning ingredients may help improve the feel and manageability of hair, but that is different from chemically relaxing or permanently changing the hair’s structure.
Relaxers can damage hair and skin
The American Academy of Dermatology advises people who use relaxers to take precautions to reduce hair damage. It recommends having chemical relaxers applied by a professional stylist and spacing treatments two to three months apart, applying the product only to newly grown hair rather than previously relaxed sections.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also warns that hair relaxers can harm the skin, hair and eyes if they are not used carefully. It advises following the product directions, avoiding leaving the product on longer than instructed and rinsing the scalp thoroughly after treatment.
These risks are different from those associated with some hair-smoothing products. The FDA says many smoothing or straightening products can release formaldehyde gas when heated, creating an inhalation risk, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces.
What about long-term health risks?
Research has also examined possible links between chemical hair straighteners and certain health conditions.
A 2023 study of 44,798 Black women in the Black Women’s Health Study found an association between long-term chemical relaxer use and increased uterine cancer risk among postmenopausal women. The researchers did not find the same association among premenopausal women and noted limitations, including a lack of information about the specific brands and ingredients used.
Earlier research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health also reported an association between frequent use of chemical hair straightening products and uterine cancer. The researchers stressed that more research was needed and could not determine which specific ingredients were responsible.
The evidence is not completely consistent. A 2025 systematic review of studies involving Black women in the United States concluded that the overall epidemiological evidence did not support hair relaxers as a cause of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, while acknowledging limitations in the available research.
That means claims that any particular relaxer is either completely safe or definitively responsible for a disease should be treated cautiously.
Choosing hair-care products
People considering a relaxer or another straightening product should look beyond labels such as “natural” or “herbal.” The ingredients, directions for use and potential effects on the scalp and hair are more useful considerations.
Anyone who develops scalp irritation, raw skin, scabs, unusual hair loss or another reaction after using a hair product should stop using it and seek medical advice. The FDA advises consumers to report serious problems associated with hair dyes and relaxers.
For people who want to maintain natural curls or reduce breakage, a dermatologist or qualified hair professional can help identify hair-care practices suited to the individual’s hair and scalp condition. Persistent thinning or other changes in the hair should be assessed by a dermatologist rather than treated solely with home remedies.
