The significance of Astrology is that it helps you build relationships with others. You not only learn more about yourself through studying or understanding the stars, but you can also strengthen your connections in life as well. When it comes to building friendships, making new friends, or understanding more of who you are as a friend yourself, you want to look at the 11th house in your birth chart.
The 11th House in Astrology
The 11th house in Astrology rules your friendships, community, social networks, associates, aspirations, and where you find like-minded souls who resonate with you on a deep level. It represents the person you are within your community and the support you receive from others as well.
By breaking down the signs, planets, and aspects of your 11th house, you can further awaken to the beauty of friendship you were meant to experience in this lifetime. The strengths or weaknesses of your 11th house determine what type of experience you have when it comes to friendships and support in your life and how you can grow here.
What Do the Planets in the 11th House Mean?
Venus in the 11th house signifies someone who not only feels a lot of love for their friends but is constantly being reminded how much their friends or community support them as well. They build friendships through love and feel a lot of harmony. Jupiter in the 11th house signifies someone who has a bounty of friendships in life and feels blessed in this area of existence. They are the larger-than-life friend who always has something going on and wants you to be a part of it, and they build their friendships through their optimism and wisdom.
Chiron in the 11th house, however, can signify someone with deep wounds related to their friendships and may have a hard time making friends due to old betrayals or pain stemming from people whom they have associated with. Chiron in the 11th house are the healers in their friend groups and will build good friendships when they approach them with more confidence and understanding.
Saturn in the 11th house will show similar themes as Chiron, but friendships here feel more restrictive than painful. Having Saturn in the 11th house indicates someone who takes their friendships very seriously, but may not know how to loosen up and have fun at times.
Your Astrological Guide to Friendships & Zodiacs
The sign you have in your 11th house is also a determining factor in how you show up best in friendships. Virgo in the 11th house are the friends who are always there to lend a helping hand and build strong friendships through consistency. Sagittarius in the 11th house are the friends you want to travel with, and they create friendships in life through their outgoing and charismatic nature.
Cancer in the 11th house is the “mom friend,” the friend that will take care of you when you’re sick and create friendships in life through their nurturing and supportive energy. Overall, by understanding your 11th house, you understand the role you play within your community, the friendships you make, and the bonds you can build with others.
Read below for your rising sign and sun sign to see what influence your 11th house has in your life:
ARIES RISING/ ARIES SUN
You are the friend that always shows up exactly as they are today and receive support in your life through your authenticity. You aren’t the type of person to beat around the bush, and you are very direct when it comes to what you do or don’t want to be friends with.
Aquarius is your 11th house sign, and you tend to make friends pretty easily in life. You go through moods of being social and needing more independence and time to yourself, but your friends are typically very fond of you nonetheless.
You are an open-minded friend, and support the things in people that others may deem weird or unusual, and tend to attract progressive and inspiring people into your life. You will build strong friendships when you are getting out of your head, allowing yourself to take up space, connecting through social media, and being in spaces that resonate with you on a soul level.
TAURUS RISING/ TAURUS SUN
You are the loving friend. You are the type of friend who doesn’t let go of people easily, and you will put in action and dedication to keep your friendships strong. This can make you a little stubborn at times, but when you are going with the flow more you attract people to you.
With Pisces as your 11th house sign, you bring a lot of love, emotional receptivity, spirituality, and creativity into your friendships. You tend to meet friends in more creative settings or spaces where you are allowing yourself to let go and have fun.
You will build strong friendships in your life when there is a mutual understanding and respect for each other's differences, and you tend to be more attracted to spiritually inclined individuals. You tend to have rose-colored glasses on when it comes to your friendships as you always try to see the best in people.
Plume Creative/Getty Images
GEMINI RISING/ GEMINI SUN
You are the active friend. You are the friend who calls and the friend you can have a conversation with for hours. There is always something to talk about and something to do when it comes to you, and you easily make friends through your communicative approach.
With Aries as your 11th house sign, you are the type of friend who can be a little impulsive and unpredictable at times as well. You keep things interesting nonetheless and are someone who inspires people through your free-spirited nature.
Friendships for you tend to be short-lived, and if you want to build a more lasting community of support around you, being in spaces where you feel passionate, energized, and free will help you meet those people. You will build strong friendships in life when you let go of more of your competitive nature and when you focus on more harmony in your friendships.
CANCER RISING/ CANCER SUN
You are the homebody friend. You are the type of friend who will cook, host, and throw a friend a surprise birthday party. You are the thoughtful one in your friend group, and people deeply feel the love you share.
With Taurus as your 11th house sign, it takes you some time to come out of your shell, but when you do, most of the friendships you form in life are here to stay. You are the type of friend to know the best restaurants, and the best places to go to, and your friends see you as someone with impeccable taste.
You tend to attract more luxurious or high-status friendships into your life, as your love for luxury puts you in these spaces to meet these types of people. You will form strong friendships in life when you are doing the things you love and that put you at ease, and when you find friends who you share mutual interests, aesthetics, and tastes with.
LEO RISING/ LEO SUN
You are a fun friend. You are the type of friend who is always up to do something, and you like to stay active and be on the go. With Gemini in your 11th house, you are the more outgoing, talkative, and social friend.
In group settings, you don’t have a hard time making your voice heard, and there is something different and intriguing about you that attracts many people to you. You may have to be careful with gossiping when it comes to your friendships, however, as with Mercury influencing your 11th house, communication is important to your friendships.
All in all, your friendships strengthen when you are in dynamic and inspiring spaces and when you are checking in with people and building friendships rather than just forming associations. Your friend group will most likely be all different types of people with different interests and this is energy that you thrive in. Community is key, and thinking about the group more will sustain your friendships.
VIRGO RISING/ VIRGO SUN
You are the type of friend who gives great advice. You are always there for your loved ones, and the people in your life are often going to you for help or support. With Cancer in your 11th house, you are the friend who approaches people with open arms.
You are a safe space for your friends and community, and you truly love the people that come into your life. You love to have people over and you are someone who forms strong bonds with others in the home or more intimate atmospheres.
You are the type of person to still have love for or emotional attachments to people you knew when you were younger or don’t even talk to anymore because your bonds are forever. Friends are like family to you, and you build strong friendships in life when you are being supportive when you are in a safe atmosphere, and when you allow people to support you the way you support them.
LIBRA RISING/ LIBRA SUN
You are the type of friend that people love to have fun. You are open-minded, loving, confident, and not to mention, have great taste. You are the friend who knows what’s happening and where and who loves to be social and meet new people.
With Leo in your 11th house, you are the type of friend who shines when they walk into the room. You are the leader of the group, tend to be the center of attention wherever you go, and are also a little more dramatic than most, which keeps people entertained.
You are the type of friend who is confident in yourself yet also lifts people up and makes them feel good about themselves, too. You attract people to you and build strong friendships when you allow others to take up space and support the people in your life without losing your own authenticity in the process.
SolStock/Getty
SCORPIO RISING/ SCORPIO SUN
Friendships for you are about building deep, emotional connections, and you need consistency in your friendships. You strive in a group setting where there is reciprocal love and understanding, and around people who understand your more intuitive and introspective nature.
With Virgo being the sign in your 11th house, your friends see you as the wise one. You are always there for your people, and you are often the person your friends go to for help.
You prefer friendships where you can do daily tasks together, run errands, or share a mutual duty or interest. In your community, you have the power to bring healing into the lives of others, and you are usually dedicated to an important cause. You will attract support and good friendships into your life when you are approaching things with logic, practicality, and sincerity.
SAGITTARIUS RISING/ SAGITTARIUS SUN
You are the type of friend who likes to have fun and is always up for something new. You are exciting, adventurous, and outspoken when it comes to how you show up in group settings.
You have Libra in the 11th house, making you someone who generally has an easier time making friendships and finding communities that feel right for you. You openly give love and support to others, and in turn, receive this love back to you.
You are someone who brings people together and makes new friends wherever you go. You are the friend who is always dressed well, always surprises everyone in the group with your latest tea, and keeps people on their toes. You can build strong friendships with others by being more of the peacemaker, communicating, and approaching things with a balanced perspective.
CAPRICORN RISING/ CAPRICORN SUN
You are the friend that people can depend on. You are very selective of the people you let into your life, and you tend to keep the same friends for years. The community you build around yourself is very important to you, and you are dedicated in this area of life.
With Scorpio as your 11th house sign, you are the more emotional friend who takes their friendships to heart. Since you are such a private person, it takes a lot to let people in, and when you do, you do so with the intention that it’s going to last forever.
You are fiercely protective over your people, and you are the type of friend who makes people feel cherished. You will attract friendships, support, and community into your life when you are trusting your intuitive hunches on people when it comes to whom you truly resonate.
AQUARIUS RISING/ AQUARIUS SUN
Friendships are a big part of your existence, and the way you see life is often colored by the friendships you build throughout life and what they have taught you. You are someone who is outgoing, interesting, and friendly.
Sagittarius is in your 11th house, and you will attract friendships to you while traveling, exploring the world and different cultures, and getting out of the norm. You are the friend who is always doing something and who brings that shock factor.
You may be a little hard to reach at times, however, and are also the friend who may take a few days or weeks to text back. All in all, your strength in friendships comes from your optimism and charisma. You will build strong friendships when you are being open-minded and having fun.
PISCES RISING/ PISCES SUN
You build friendships that last a lifetime. You form bonds with others on an emotional level, and your soft side usually comes out more when it comes to your friends.
With Capricorn your 11th house sign, you attract friendships and support to you by being there for others. You are someone others feel like they can rely on and you are the type of friend to always show up.
You have a strong loyalty to the people you love, which is why your friendships typically are for years. You also typically make friends with people who are older than you or exude a sense of maturity and accomplishment. You value history when it comes to the people in your life, however, you will be able to attract more support to you when you are open to meeting new people rather than just giving your energy to people you already know.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images
- 9 Things To Normalize About Friendships ›
- The Kind Of Friend You Are, According To Astrology ›
- Zodiac Compatibility For Love, Sex & Friendships ›
RELATED
Pluto goes retrograde in Aquarius from May 4 until October 13, and this will be a time of remembering your power when it comes to your purpose, innovations, and the ability to attract support into your life. Mercury moves into Taurus on May 10, making this a good time for negotiations, creating new plans financially, and sticking to your word on something that holds value to you. The Full Moon of the month occurs in Scorpio on May 12, and this is the Flower Moon of the year, signifying growth and seeing the beauty in your life.
This Full Moon is all about letting go of what doesn’t feel authentic or resonate with you emotionally, and about experiencing more closure and healing within relationship matters.
Your May 2025: A Monthly Overview
Gemini Season officially begins on May 20, and we enter air sign energy, which is good for communication, business, and coming up with inspiring and new ideas. On May 24, Saturn enters Aries, beginning its new transit where it will remain for the next few years. Saturn in Aries is bold, direct, and straightforward, but so are its lessons. There is a gift in resilience and finding your strength during this time, and this transit will show you where your power is, but it may challenge you to confront self-limiting behavior in the process.
Mercury enters Gemini on May 25, and Mercury loves being here. Mercury in Gemini is the creative genius, and this is a month of aligning yourself with this energy. On May 26, we have a New Moon in Gemini, and it’s time to set your intentions for where you want a communication breakthrough in your life, and what new ideas you want to start planting the seeds for. This is a good New Moon for networking, exchanging ideas, having more fun, and getting inspired.
Article continues after the jump.
We Are/Getty ImagesMay 2025 Horoscopes for Every Zodiac Sign
Keep reading for your sun, moon, and rising sign below to see what May has in store for you.
ARIES
AriesKyra Jay for xoNecoleThe impact from April is finally behind you, and you get to move forward this month, Aries. After a month of retrogrades and Eclipses, you are starting to see the progress of what you have been working towards financially this year. The Sun is in your 2nd house of abundance, self-confidence, and values this month, and you are putting your dreams here first.
With Venus also in Aries for the entire month of May, you are feeling the support within and without this month, and this is a beautiful month unfolding.
On May 24, Saturn enters your sign, beginning its transit in Aries, which will last for the next few years. Saturn is the master of tough love, and you are going to be learning a lot about yourself during his time and going through a growth spurt. The New Moon of May is at the end of the month on May 26 and will be giving you the answers and clarity you have been looking for, highlighting open communication in your life. Overall, this is your month of fewer obstacles and more progress.
TAURUS
TaurusKyra Jay for xoNecoleTaurus Season is officially underway, and you are the main character right now, Taurus. Remember that. This month is about trusting your intuition and the timing of things, and knowing that things are working in your favor. With Venus, your ruling planet, in your 12th house for the month, you are seeking a lot of closure and culmination right now and are healing what was. Mercury enters your sign from May 10 until May 25, and it’s all about the perspectives you are gaining right now.
Don’t be afraid to ask the important questions and get down to the bottom of things that have been worrying you. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in your 7th house of partnership, and you are closing the door on what has not been working for you in love. You are seeing the clarity of what you need within your emotional world and how you want to navigate the changes you have been through here now.
GEMINI
GeminiKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is a new beginning for you, Gemini. You have a lot of energy and vitality with you this month, and you are ready to accomplish some personal goals and intentions of yours. For most of the month, the Sun is in your house of closure and healing, and you are finding yourself rejuvenated from the transformations you have been through. Gemini Season officially begins on May 20, and with the Sun in your sign, nothing is holding you back from shining and living in your truth right now.
On May 25, Mercury enters Gemini until June 8, and Mercury loves being in your sign, as this is your planetary ruler.
Mercury in Gemini is forward-thinking, quick, and intelligent. You are coming up with solutions to previous challenges or obstacles, and overcoming something that has felt restrictive mentally. Before the month ends, there is a New Moon in Gemini on May 26, and this New Moon is one of the best times of the year for you to set your intentions and manifest your dreams. Remember you are worthy of what you are setting out to accomplish this month, Gemini.
CANCER
CancerKyra Jay for xoNecoleCancer, this month requires you to slow down, take care of your health, and allow things to come to fruition the way they are meant to. There is a chance you could be overthinking more than usual this month, and you are being reminded that there is only so much that is in your control, and to give yourself some more grace. The Full Moon in Scorpio on May 12 will help you gain a little more clarity of the heart and is going to be a time of feeling the love and appreciation in your life.
Saturn enters your 10th house of career on May 24, remaining here over the next few years, and you are getting an opportunity to grow and discover where you may have been limiting yourself professionally, socially, or within your aspirations in life. This time is all about reminding yourself that you deserve recognition for the work you do, but that you must also be the one believing in yourself as well. On May 12, there is a New Moon in your house of emotional healing, and you are seeing the gifts of alone time, safe spaces, and tending to your creative inklings at the end of the month.
LEO
LeoKyra Jay for xoNecoleThis month is an opportunity for a new beginning in love and progress within your emotional world, Leo. You are learning to trust your intuition more, and you are putting more of your energy into your heart’s desires. With the Sun in your 10th house for most of the month, you are shining in your truth and remaining confident in your goals in life.
Venus is in your house of adventure for the entire month, and this is a good time for experiencing romance while traveling or getting out of your comfort zone a little.
Saturn makes a significant move from Pisces into Aries at the end of the month and enters your 9th house. With Saturn here, you will be learning more about what mental growth and clarity mean to you, and this is a good time to dedicate yourself to higher education, traveling, gaining a new perspective, and honoring your integrity and values. The New Moon of the month is on May 26, creating magic within your friendships and community.
You are leaving this month with hope in your heart and new plans for the future.
VIRGO
VirgoKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is a month of abundance and fruition for you, Virgo. Your dreams and intentions are coming to fruition, and you are owning that which you have created for yourself. With Venus in Aries, this is a good time for seeing support in your life financially, dedicating yourself to your commitments and responsibilities, and seeing the gifts in that. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in your 3rd house of communication, and this is an intuitive time for you, giving you the strength needed to close the chapter on what you don’t resonate with anymore.
On May 24, Saturn enters your house of shared finances, rebirth, intimacy, and resources, and over the next few years, you will be learning the importance of connecting with people who truly have your best interest at heart, and not committing to what feels unstable. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini in your house of career, and this is a good time to manifest and set your intentions for where you want to see professional growth in your life.
Overall, May is about embracing your freedom while honoring the people and connections that help you grow and make you feel more secure in life.
LIBRA
LibraKyra Jay for xoNecoleThis is a month of feeling empowered and ready to take on anything that comes your way, Libra. You are inspired by the progress you are making in your life right now, and with Venus in your 7th house of love, you are being well-received. This is a month of finding your balance between your path and the growth of your relationships, and there is a sense of support, harmony, and love in your life in May.
You are owning your authenticity and living in your truth fully, and this energy is magnetic.
However, Saturn also enters your 7th house of love this month, where it will remain for the next few years. Saturn empowers and helps you grow, but you can also feel a little more challenged within your relationships during this time. The more you can own your wants and needs, the more you can find vulnerability and support within your relationships. On May 26, a New Moon in a fellow air sign occurs and happens in your 9th house, creating a chance at a new adventure and an opportunity to discover some new inspiration.
SCORPIO
ScorpioKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is about believing in the impossible, Scorpio. It’s time to take a leap of faith in yourself and to remember your power. You are seeking a new beginning in your life, and with the Sun in your 7th house of love for most of the month, you are being supported and encouraged in the process. Pluto, one of your ruling planets, goes retrograde in your house of home and family from May 4 until October, and you are gaining clarity on the people and support systems you can rely on more.
The Full Moon of the month is in your sign on May 12, and this is the Flower Moon of the year. You are in full bloom and ready for whatever is next for you, and this is beautiful. Previous intentions and goals come to fruition for you overall in mid-May, and there is a lot to look forward to right now as you are getting excited about it all. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini in your 8th house, creating a sense of empowerment through what you are looking to change and transform in your life right now.
This month is about not being afraid to take more risks and doing things your own way.
SAGITTARIUS
SagittariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is a beautiful month of magic, success, and good fortune, Sagittarius. You are feeling lucky this month and are attracting success to you in many different areas of your life. Venus, the planet of love, is in your 5th house of romance for most of the month, and you are enjoying your life, feeling the love within your heart, and expressing yourself freely in May. You are a magnet for your manifestations, and dreams are coming true for you this month, Sag.
On May 12, we have a Full Moon happening in your house of endings and closure, and you are closing out a big chapter in your life this month.
You are letting go of old pain or emotional experiences and choosing not to repeat a pattern that left you feeling hopeless before. On May 26, we have a New Moon in your sister sign, Gemini, enhancing your need for love, connection, and relationship development this month. This is a great New Moon to set your intentions for what partnerships you want to see grow, heal, and come to fruition for you. Overall, May is your month of fruition, balance, and believing in the magic in your life.
CAPRICORN
CapricornKyra Jay for xoNecoleMay is about slowing down and allowing yourself to find the answers you have been looking for, Capricorn. This isn’t the time to rush your progress or doubt where you are in life. The Sun is in your 5th house, and this is good for finding more time for fun, pleasure, self-care, and asking your heart what it needs. With Pluto going retrograde in your 2nd house of values and income, you are being reminded to hold yourself with integrity and to know that you are worthy of the things you are asking for.
The Full Moon on May 12 is a beautiful time to connect with loved ones or those who inspire you. The universe wants to show you that you are not alone this month and that you deserve to live a life where you can enjoy yourself more and manifest your dreams, rather than believing everything needs to be a challenge to be worthy. Saturn, your ruling planet, then enters your 4th house of home and family, and over the next few years, you are going to be rediscovering what home means to you.
AQUARIUS
AquariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleYour guidance for May is to trust that what is falling from your life or changing for you is doing so for your benefit, Aquarius. Trust that what is happening is happening for you and not to you, and don’t doubt that you will rebuild from this. With Pluto going retrograde in your sign from May 4 until October 13, you need a break from some of the confusion you have been feeling in your personal life, and you are getting a chance to gain a new perspective this month.
Use this time to get inspired by change rather than let it bring you down, and ground yourself in the present moment more.
Saturn enters Aries in May, where it will remain for the next few years, helping you grow in the areas of your life that have to do with communication, networking, transportation, siblings, and education. You will be learning a lot during this time and will be finding new outlets for self-expression and communication. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini occurring in your 5th house of romance, pleasure, hobbies, and entertainment, and after a month of navigating endings, changes, and closures, you are ready for a fresh start and are receiving one in love now.
PISCES
PiscesKyra Jay for xoNecoleAllow what is to be, be, Pisces. May is a month of allowing yourself to trust the timing of the universe and not giving up hope that things are going to turn out beautifully for you. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in fellow water sign, Scorpio, and this is a time to get inspired and see the benefits of closure. This Full Moon is about gaining a new perspective and not doubting what is clearer to you now, that you are worthy of a new beginning.
On May 24, Saturn moves into your 2nd house of income, and you are going to be moving through a journey of developing financially, and working on maintaining stability while building new foundations in your life. The New Moon in Gemini at the end of the month is about setting your intentions for your home and family life and creating some new energy here. Overall, May is your month of breaking ground on the things you want to create for yourself and trusting the timing of how things are unfolding.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Kyra Jay for xoNecole
My response? Well, I’ll speak for myself personally and say I think that, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with shrinkage (it actually speaks to how healthy your curls and coils are), if you want to wear all-natural styles with as little of it as possible, cooler months are best. On the other hand, since the warmer seasons tend to have a lot more humidity in them, if you want to rock a straight(er) style, relaxing your locks makes more sense during the spring and summertime.
And, as life (and timing) would have it, the latter is where we are right now. So, if you are seriously thinking about chemically straightening your hair, although I totally get it, before you take the leap, please make sure to ask yourself the following five questions, just so you won’t have any regrets if you actually do.
1. Why Am I Doing It?
GiphyOne of my girlfriends? She has an incredible head of hair. I wanna say that her texture is probably hovering somewhere between 3b-4a, and it only takes her about six months to go from a bob to well past her bra strap. Anyway, although when I first met her, she rocked a relaxer, for about a decade, she then went completely natural. Then, one day, she announced to me that she was going back to the white stuff. When I asked her why, she said that although she loved natural hair, all of the time that went into the care and maintenance of it was starting to get on her nerves.
I ain’t got no lies to tell you: When she said it, I was devastated like it was my own hair, mostly because I had grown so accustomed to seeing her thick curly locks. Plus, I’m aware of some of the risks that come with relaxers (more on that in a sec). Still, it ain’t my head, and also, since she would flat iron her hair quite a bit without properly prepping it in order to avoid heat damage, it’s not like I didn’t see where she was coming from. I wanna say that she’s been relaxing her hair, this time, for about 4-5 years now. I’ve asked her if she has any regrets. She has been emphatic that her answer is “no.”
Me? I’ve been pretty natural for most of my adult life. I frame it that way because back when my hair was ultra short, I would sometimes put a texturizer in it (which is basically a mild relaxer, if we’re gonna be real about it). However, there have only been two times when I’ve taken the very clear relaxer route, and both were to achieve a particular hairstyle — once a straight short bob and another time a modified mohawk. The bob I kind of regretted because once I was “over it,” I had to cut my hair to get back to my natural texture.
The mohawk? Eh, not so much because the sides were super low anyway. Still, just like going from relaxed to natural is a transition (makes me think about the book and then filmNappily Ever After), so is going from relaxed to natural — which is why the first thing you should ask yourself is your reason(s) for relaxing your hair, so that you can also ponder the costs that come with making the choice.
2. Am I Aware of the Risks?
GiphyA few years ago, Glamour published an article entitled, “It’s My Hair and I’ll Relax It—Or Not—If I Want To.” Back in 2023, Essence published an article entitled, “Why Some Black Women Are Relaxing Their Hair Again.” Last year, Vice published an article entitled, “Black Women on Their Complicated Relationship with Relaxer.” As I checked them all out, that is actually what caused India.Arie’s song, “I Am Not My Hair” to come to my mind. At the end of the day, one of the most bomb things about our hair is how damn versatile it can be — how many options that we really do have.
Still, I would be pretty irresponsible if I didn’t mention in a relaxer-themed article that there is quite a bit of research that says that relaxers really aren’t the best for our overall health and well-being. For instance, last year, NPR published the article, “Thousands of Black women are suing chemical relaxer makers over cancer risks” which was probably, at least partially inspired by, “First Large Study of Hair Relaxers Among Black Women Finds Increased Risk of Uterine Cancer” (NPR also just recently published an article about shampoos, lotions and eyelash glues that are harmful to our health as well).
In 2023, NBC News featured a piece entitled, “What Black women should know about hair relaxers and their health;” one of the things it said was “postmenopausal Black women who have used chemical hair relaxers more than twice a year or for more than five years have an increased risk of developing uterine cancer.” Know what else? It should also go on record that, beyond cancer, relaxers pose the threat of uterine fibroids, premature births, and even infertility.
Should that “scare” you into not relaxing your hair? Eh, it should make you more aware of the risks. That said, I would also be amiss if I didn’t say that there are some relaxer options that are certainly safer than others (you can read more about those here). Still, if you knew that there were other ways to straighten your locks without “chancing it” when it comes to chemical relaxers at all, wouldn’t you want to at least…consider them?
This brings me to the next question that you should ask yourself.
3. Have I Researched Other Straightening Alternatives?
GiphyA few weeks ago, Who What Wear published an article entitled, “TikTok Says Becoming a ‘Straight Natural’ Is a Hairstyling Hack—I Asked an Expert for the Facts.” It naturally piqued my interest because that’s pretty much what I am: on wash day, I will blow-out my hair and then I will braid it up to keep it stretched, basically until it’s time to wash it again. Personally, it has served me well because it reduces tangling and chances for fairy knots to pop up, plus, it helps me to handle my hair more gently (because I’m not exactly the best at doing that).
This means that no, I don’t need or use a relaxer, even though I do prefer to wear my hair stretched out. Instead, I use a blow dryer. That’s one alternative to achieving straight(er) hair.
Some others?
- You can flat-iron your hair
- You can apply keratin treatments
- You can do a silk press
- You can put your hair in rollers
- There are quite a few straightening sprays and creams that can get the job done too (although you oftentimes need to use them with heat, and many contain silicones if those aren’t your thing)
BONUS: If you want to simply stretch your natural hair without heat, some options for that arehere.
Now, I won’t lie, a perk to going the relaxer route is your hair remains permanently straight, even in the roughest of weather conditions while these alternatives are temporary solutions (some lasting longer than others). However, if you want to go in between curly and straight without any potentially harmful chemicals putting your health at risk, now you know some other proven things that you can do.
4. Have I Fully Processed the Upkeep That Is Involved?
GiphyThe time it takes to sit up in a beauty salon. Chile, back when I was in college, that inspired me to teach myself how to cut my own hair (fades ‘n all) — that’s why, it’s been only a handful of times that I’ve been in a beauty shop since. And don’t get me started on the prices! In fact, I just recently checked out the current average prices for certain hair treatments in the US:
- Women’s haircut: $10-90
- Hair Color: $75-200
- Highlights: $20-200
- Styling: $10-65
- Permanent Hair Straightening: $40-425 ($425?!)
Now, to be fair, when it comes to seeing a professional for certain natural styles, here are some of the costs for that:
- Braids: $40-200
- Locs: $50-150
- Retightening Sisterlocks: $100-250 (and it’s recommended to do this at least six times a year)
However, natural hairstyles oftentimes tend to last longer, and you can do certain ones on your own. Meanwhile, getting a retouch? While some prefer to do it every six weeks, every eight weeks is typically the norm. Plus, it’s not just you’re getting a relaxer, right? Oftentimes, a cut and possibly a retouch of color is thrown up in there, too, and that can really add up.
Not to say that, even if you do your natural hair at home, some of the hair products are not the cheapest on the planet. Understood. All I’m saying, though, is — I’ve been doing my own hair for years, and the products that I use last for many months on end. Back when I was getting a relaxer, though? In the grand scheme of things, I was definitely spending more money overall.
And with this current administration that we have, chile…CHILE.
5. Have You Taken a Month to Make Sure It’s Not a Knee-Jerk Response?
GiphyRelaxers are a lot like tattoos in the sense that, once you get them, there’s no turning back. So, if you’re a naturalista who is thinking about putting the “cream crack” in, simply because you’ve had a few bad hair days — before you book a hair appointment or even go to a beauty supply store to get a ready-made relaxer to apply yourself, pause…to really think about what you’re doing.
And by “pause,” I recommend taking a good month, just to make sure that you’re making a logical decision and not just having an emotional reaction. Because again, once it’s straight, it’s straight until/unless you decide to grow your natural hair back out — and boy, is that a process (check out “The Truth About Transitioning From Relaxed To Natural”)…sometimes more of one than we considered before taking the cream crack leap.
____
Listen, you’re all the way grown, and when it comes to your hair, you certainly can do whatever the hell you want to do. That said, I did decide to end this with a feature from Only One Jess’s channel because…just look at our natural hair and all that it is capable of. Beautiful.
As I close this out, as with pretty much all things in this life, relaxed hair certainly comes with its own benefits. Of course, it does because, if there were none, who would have relaxed locks at all? All I’m saying is it does come with some “count the costs” to really consider, too, and I want to make sure that you always keep those in mind as well.
I’m hoping this article brought this main point home, so that if you do decide to go permanently straight (perhaps again), you can feel 100 percent good about your decision.
With — like the friend whom I mentioned earlier — not one single regret. From root to tip.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by L Julia/Shutterstock