Blacks vs Lice?
When was the last time you heard of a black woman infested with head lice? Or better yet, have you ever had to deal head lice? Hmm.. Before we dive off into research, consider how uncouth the Europeans were and how much the darker toned people 'cleaned up their act' back in the day. As they hated, they destroyed the mind by building a whole body of commandments as to why straight hair was the appropriate style for women of color, and how they were to be superior among other things. Though there was nothing that would had straighten it back then, that hate sure stuck around for decades later until it became popular to add heat to naturally curly hair, and semi-permanently press it. But with these future inventions, one thing African Americans reign superior over is pediculosis prevention.
I found an interesting short article from ABC.com entitled, "Your Family's Health: Coping with Lice" (2009, January). "Six million to 12 million school-age children in America get head lice every year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics." African Americans barely, almost never, become infested because of the "oval cross-section" that impairs the parasite to grip a strand of our hair. Everyone else has "round cross-sectioned" hair that is easier for the bug to grasp its claws. "The lice that's predominate in the United States are thought to have arrived with the early Caucasian settlers."
Nonetheless, black people are less apt to deal with head lice, because the kind of parasite cannot hold onto the texture- be it relaxed or natural. African Americans produce oils from the scalp that protect the hair from root to the precious ends.
The National Pediculosis Association reported in 2004, "African Americans have a lower incidence of head lice than Caucasians, Hispanics or Asian Americans by less than half of one percent. Among non-black schoolmates, usually more than 10 percent become infested with head lice."
Though this may attest to immunity, there have been studies where ticks were found in an African American child's head. According to an article Family Practice News (2004, February)., a group of dermatologists and epidemiologists teamed up with Dr. Andrea Beth Trowers from the University of Miami, to test 10 black children who coincidentally had head lice. The children were as young as 3 years old to 9 years old. Oh.. all girls. By the end of the experiment, the writer says that most of the children with thick kinky hair had lice.
Quoted from the article:
"Most of the children with lice had thick, kinky hair, although some had fine hair. The heaviest infestations were in children with thick, kinky hair and hair extensions or hair wraps.
Dr. Trowers noted that the incidence of head lice studies in the United States has been reported as 2%-25% of white children and 0%-0.3% of African American children."
In other words, there's about a 3% chance of a black kid being infested, versus a 25% chance of a white kid having lice.
An article from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, entailed 19 frequently asked questions regarding lice and its relationship with humans and its growth our hair raising question came up toward the end of the conversation :
Head Lice: Frequently Asked Questions
by Barb Ogg, PhD, Extension Educator & Soni Cochran, Extension Associate :QUESTION #17: There is a black child in my child's class at school and her mother says that she cannot get head lice because she is black so she doesn't need to be checked for lice. Is this true?
ANSWER:
"It is pretty evident that European colonists brought head lice with them to America because our lice are best adapted to infesting non-African American children. In 1985, a study showed that only 0.3% of African-American children were infested with lice compared with 10.4% of non-African American children. This study has been repeated, with similar results. However, in these surveys, there were still a few, rare cases of head lice among African American children."
Interestingly, in Africa countries, native children are infested, but their head lice are adapted to hang onto the oval cross section of curly hairs.
"Various studies have shown that less than 1% of African-American children suffer from the problem of head lice (however the result varies from one place to another; in countries like Brazil or Nigeria the number of black children suffering from this problem, is more)." The strands are more elliptical than that of the other races, hence the lice finds it difficult to grasp on to these kinds of hair strand. Thus, the number of black people getting infected with head lice is less. However, children in Brazil or Nigeria have got more lice in their hair despite having the same hair characteristic. This is because the lice in these areas are more adapted to get a better grasp of elliptical type of hair."
As a kid I had what people consider "good hair," and at eight years old it was so easy to create the puffy, high top ponytail laced with cute headbands and clips. When I was ten years old, my mother thought it would be cute if I had singles. You remember those Moesha braids with the Yaki hair and the odd smell from burning the tips..
Yup those. I HATED THEM. Styling them took too long for my liking, and Momz always wanted to watch Lifetime, smh. Every movie was her favorite movie.. now I think about it she probably planned out when to do my hair so she can watch them shits.. Either way, after 3 long months with this style, my hair would grow long and full. And I liked that part.
But on one unexpected, late summer evening after hours of sour pickles and 'Hot Cheetos", Momz announced that it was time for me to have a new hairstyle. I had a week to prepare for the damage I'd later learn to despise; "don't scratch your head.. just pat." On the first day of 7th grade, I had my first 'Just For Me' relaxer. SMH.
Getting a relaxer on African American hair isn't totally a bad thing though. There are plenty of African American females who have been successfully getting 'perms' all their lives and still maintain a nice length of hair. The trick is however, the length of the hair at the time of a relaxer for the first time, is considered to be the desired limit length afterwards. And if after one awesome trip to the salon, after taking out 4 month old kinky twist, micros, quick weaves, etc.. and the result is longer than you've ever had it... ENJOY IT. After 2 months believe me, IT. WILL. BREAK. OFF!
The chemical ingredients in relaxers both No-Lye and Lye, have toxins in them to create such straight hair. The amount of time put into killing the hair follicles, and damaging the scalp determines how long the solution will last before it is time to re-relax the hair. Anytime a chemical substance is introduced into the hair, and it subsequently alters the natural condition of the hair, understand that it is damaging. Chemicals like sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide are found in hair relaxers that disturb the natural oil creation the scalp makes.
Before I decided to cut my relaxed ends completely, I planned to transition for 18 months. But after two weeks with different textures on my head, I had two options to consider; either relax my hair after not doing so for ten months, or just big chop. I really did not like the idea of cutting my hair, but it was best for me to do so because I became irritated with the same styles I had done all through high school. Kinky twist. Relax. Break off. Repeat. Six months later, I'm back to my original length I would have after one kinky twist-relax cycle. Nonetheless, I have never dealt with lice personally, and do not know of anyone who has. Black or white. Aside from what history tells us, we must all practice good hygiene and stay free from infections, sicknesses, ticks, bed bugs, etc. As your current hair advisor though, I believe that African American women who have had issues with finding a style, are confused about which relaxer kit to use, and or that hair just won't grow; if you are EXHAUSTED with using glue or sewing tracks to give you that desired 'beautiful' look, take the time out and TRY NATURALITY!!
It's winter now. Those quick weave styles and kinky twists, can be utilized during these colder months. Set a goal. By the time May gets here, you can take them out and document your hair growth from there. Cut those relaxed ends off and watch YOU unfold. I promise there's no wrong turn afterwards!!
-Peace
As a footnote: enjoy these awesome hair pics!!
courtesy of google images
