I agree, I think I remember when the Jherri Curl (or "the Curl)" became popular, as well as the advent of the "Just for Me" and "PCJ" relaxer kits is when I noticed Black women, children losing their hair due to substantial breakage, lack of knowing how to care for relaxed hair, and scalp damage. I noticed other lil Black girls my age had Curls and their hair was very short, like barely touching the shoulders or shorter.
My mother put both the PCJ and JFM relaxers in my hair at age of 7-8 yrs, and my former BSL natural hair (that was maintained by pressing) broke off, and I had to get my hair cut to my neck. I remember that day at the salon when the stylist cut it. That is when I began to hate relaxers, but when you are young and have someone else to be responsible for your hair, you can't CHOOSE not to relax!
All the women in my family either pressed their hair if it was medium to long, or had short naturals (a couple of my aunts). I remember my grandma pressed and had lovely past SL hair, other grandma always had SL-WL hair over the years, and she got relaxers once per year, maintained with rollers and slight heat otherwise. My sister had beautiful soft natural hair, and when she got a relaxer, her's broke off too, just like mine (though our textures were slightly different).
Over the years, I learned to better care for my relaxed hair, as did my mother. And, our (me and lil sis') hair grew out pretty long. My mother's hair has never been past SL because she abuses relaxers every 4-5 wks and also the curling iron daily. She keeps a short pixie cut mostly, a la Halle Berry.
At age of 15, going into 9th grade, I had a head of thick BSL hair. I have pretty much maintained that length and longer from age 15-22. I started my first transition at age 23 after going 4 mos since my last touch-up. I was MBL at the time. Sorry so long, it's that these questions give me a chance to really reflect on our hair.