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Curl-pocalypse now!: would you take hair straightening pill?

Written by Danielle Belton
Friday, 08 January 2010 00:00

I never really thought of my naturally kinky-curly hair as a DISEASE, but apparently a pharamacy thinks I might need to be cured of my beloved naps -- forever.

Found on Essence.com:

According to NaturallyCurly.com, the Australian scientists that discovered the curly gene (aka trichohyalin) are now working on creating a pill that would "cure" genetically textured locks. This pill would render relaxers, texturizers, and flatirons obsolete--but it could also signal the end of luscious, Tracee Ellis Ross-type curls, forever. The thing is, if scientists can isolate the gene that causes curly hair, what's to stop them from one day reversing or removing the gene altogether? It's a chilling thought.

First off, I don't even want to know what the side-effects of this puppy would be. I have a fear of going bald and if ANYTHING sounds like it could make you bald a pill that makes your curly hair straight sounds like one. But what's fascinating (and sad, kinda) to me, is that if this pill is created and works with side effects someone can live with (like say, dry mouth), how long do you think before black beauty salons across the nation would be closing up shop? The perm is the bread-n-butter of most beauticians. You can charge tons for it and you get that repeat customer business coming back every four-to-six weeks. If you customer can just pop and pill and get the straight hair she's always dreamed of won't she just drop you? Folks HATE going to the beauty shop anyway. It takes FOREVER. Your appointment is almost never the time you actually make it. This could be potentially devastation. I'm talking a beauty shop apocalypse!

I also wonder what the attitude would be towards such a pill. While folks stateside frown on skin lightening creams and such, tons of people from Rev. Al Sharpton to Beyonce rock straight hair. And while I can see there being some push back towards folks who would take a pill to have straight hair, the reality is the medically straightened could just lie about their hair. Yeah, sure ... I gotta perm still! Girl, you know I wouldn't take something that would harm my body! I mean, really, the only folks who would know would be you, the pharmacist and whatever doctor signs the scripts.

Again, if the Aussies pull this off it'll be interesting to see if A) the side-effects don't include blindness and B) if this would become the great Curl-pocalypse. Because for every three black girls who love their curls, there's about seven who are like "Fuck this! I need a perm!"

Would you take it?

Danielle Belton is a writer and freelancer whose works have appeared in The Huffington Post, The American Prospect and Essence Online. She is the author of the blog: http://blacksnob.com/