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Lived experience · Episode

100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer

Somewhere between 85 to 95 percent of Black women in the United States have used a chemical hair relaxer at least once in their lifetime. It is a ubiquitous American product with a complicated legacy: it built Black wealth and opened economic doors, but also taught generations to see their hair as a problem to be solved. And now research is revealing a physical cost. Roman Mars and producer Priscilla Alabi explore how a single product became a mirror for all of America's contradictions. A History of the United States in 100 Objects is a production of 99% Invisible and BBC Studios. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sipho Dlamini Dad of two · · 99% Invisible

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Dlamini, S. [@siphodlamini]. (2026, September 18). 100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer [Audio podcast episode]. In 99% Invisible. CIT.ED. https://cit.education/p/b988d31c-23e5-4f7e-9a60-80804f514bd2

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Dlamini, S. [@siphodlamini] (2026) ‘100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer’, 99% Invisible [Podcast]. CIT.ED, 18 September. Available at: https://cit.education/p/b988d31c-23e5-4f7e-9a60-80804f514bd2 (Accessed: 3 November 2026).

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Dlamini, Sipho [@siphodlamini]. “100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer.” 99% Invisible, CIT.ED, 18 Sept. 2026, cit.education/p/b988d31c-23e5-4f7e-9a60-80804f514bd2.

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Dlamini, Sipho (@siphodlamini). 2026. “100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer.” 99% Invisible. CIT.ED podcast episode, September 18, 2026. https://cit.education/p/b988d31c-23e5-4f7e-9a60-80804f514bd2.

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Dlamini S. 100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer [podcast episode on the Internet]. 99% Invisible. CIT.ED; 2026 Sep 18 [cited 2026 Nov 3]. Available from: https://cit.education/p/b988d31c-23e5-4f7e-9a60-80804f514bd2

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