What is more important - Health or Beauty? Lawsuit against Carson/Lloreal

[AFashionSlave]

I feel so bad for this poor woman:
http://www.going-natural.com/news.php
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I did not post this topic for it to become an pro-relaxer / anti-relaxer debate.

I posted this topic because I want all of us to be more careful. Think about it - Any of us here could be in this woman’s shoes. We could have some kind of bizarre reaction to hair color, Surge, or any other kind of hair product.

After I read this story, it made me think about all of the unhealthy things that I have done over the years to achieve a hair-style or extra growth and it makes me wonder, “What is more important…Health or Beauty?”

Many of us on LHCF have overdone it on the vitamins, the high protein diets and the growth sprays. I myself have overdone it on the vitamins. I wanted to encourage all of you to question and research the things that you are doing to your body in the name of beauty. I want all of us to research so we know the risks involved before we go buckwild on a new product, pill, or food just because we want our hair to look a certain way or grow quicker than nature intended. I hope that this woman’s misfortune inspires all of us to be more proactive with learning about products before we use them.

:scratchch What is more important to you…Health or Beauty?

Do you know the risks of the products that you use, the vitamins that you take, or the diet that you are on to achieve longer hair?

If you do know the risks that are involved, do you feel that they are worth taking?


…I only use shampoo and conditioner, so now I’m off to research the ingredients.

 

[cece22]

Ok look her story she relaxed from root to tip. Then she said that she did not neutralize come on I feel sorry for her but she has to take some of the blame.

 

[toinette]

where are these instructions that said to not neutralize? if she said there was ne neutralizer in the box, i could understand that. it may have been left out during the packign process,. but instructions that say to rinse with water??/ thats fishy to me.

 

[asubeauty]

I agree with Cece22. She's had relaxers since she was 12, but she did not think that there was a problem with not neutralizing?? I'm not saying that I don't feel bad for her... I do... Her scalp looks painful and I would not wish that one anyone.

As for health and beauty... I know that with relaxers, I risk the sort of injury that was shown in the article, but I guess it takes a story like that to make me realize the risks that I may be taking if the process is not carried out correctly.

 

[cece22]

I am sorry this reminds me of an episode on In Living Color where Shananay relaxed a clients hair and ran out of neutralizer that poor lady went bald right in the chair. And the main theme was she forgot the neutralizer. If you miss this vital step as put very well in Shambossies book the lye will literally eat through your hair and scalp. So every woman on this board needs to know that this is a vital step in the relaxing process and this is the type of outcome possible.

Cece22 is happy she just bought another bottle of neutralizer just in case.

 

[Neen]

I know many women here relax themselves and I'm sure they know what they're doing. But for the most part, I say leave it to the professionals for this very reason. I came across a co-worker who has been dealing with thin hair and told me she relaxes her hair root to tip everytime. Why? Because the directions say to "smooth it through" so she assumed incorrectly to smooth it through your WHOLE head. I had to break it down to her what a relaxer is and what she was doing to her hair everytime she does that. She clearly did NOT get it. When I told her to consider going natural, she said she does in the summer but it's too limp and flat with too little curl. . Maybe because you just threw water on your RELAXED hair and called it a natural . I explained to her that she would have to grow out the relaxer to be considered natural. She then says "Oh. So then I would put the relaxer on just the natural part". . Riiiiiiiight.

 

[toinette]

When I told her to consider going natural, she said she does in the summer but it's too limp and flat with too little curl. . Maybe because you just threw water on your RELAXED hair and called it a natural .

 

[hopeful]

Thanks Afashionslave for sharing this story. It is heartbreaking and very sad.

 

[Neen]

After looking at that girls head, L'oreal would have to pay me at least $25 mil. That's insane. It sounds like she got a bad relaxer because it shouldn't burn as soon as you put it on. I don't know that a neutralizer would have saved her hair since it appears her scalp was the most damaged. I assumed that since her hair took 2 months to fall out but her scalp looks like someone took a torch to it . When my hair was overprocessed, It would immediately depart from me .

 

[PaperDoll]

How sad.

I don't know about y'all but I am a very trusting consumer.

I can honestly say that I'm not sure that if I were her, I would have neutralized either.

I always read directions very carefully and follow the steps given for the best possible result. So if the directions didn't say she had to neutralize I can understand her believeing that it was ok to omit that step.

Yeah, maybe that's stupid, but as a consumer you want to believe that the directions you are given, when followed exactly, will not lead to a reaction like she experienced.

 

[cyninmon123]

I always neutralize after I perm my hair and I only use motions. I never notice how important it was to neutralize I just always did it and I never use SUPER i wonder if she use super?

 

[Healthb4Length]

am sorry this reminds me of an episode on In Living Color where Shananay relaxed a clients hair and ran out of neutralizer that poor lady went bald right in the chair. And the main theme was she forgot the neutralizer. I was thinking the same thing CeCe

 

[star]

Health is more important. I check out everything I take and use on my body. I do not like quick fixes but I love longterm results which takes time and patients. I would rather spend a little more for vitamins and other products to ensure to health and anything. I sometime feel self-esteem levels plays a role how and why people want something so fast and sometimes dirty.

 

[kizzylonghair]

Thanks for Sharing, Afashionslave

OMG, that poor women. There are salons that dont neutralise hair afterwards.
I know this because it happened to me time and time again. It only until November that I realise the VERY bad practices that I have allowed others to preform on my hair. And to make it worst I PAYED £ MONEY IT!!!!!

It would have been less painful for that women if it broke her hair very short. But to point of boldness and no hair roots ever thats terrible.

Kizzy

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

Thanks for Sharing, Afashionslave

OMG, that poor women. There are salons that dont neutralise hair afterwards.
I know this because it happened to me time and time again. It only until November that I realise the VERY bad practices that I have allowed others to preform on my hair. And to make it worst I PAYED £ MONEY IT!!!!!

It would have been less painful for that women if it broke her hair very short. But to point of boldness and no hair roots ever thats terrible.

Kizzy

Before you posted this, I thought the story was a bit fishy. I mean, who doesn't know to neutralize. But you're from a "euro" country and from what you're saying, it is a common practice not to neutralize? I really do wonder what the directions in her kit said. That would be the clincher for evidence at the trial. Is 50 euros how much the relaxer cost? "Oh, it didn't work out for you? How about we give you your money back?" Sheesh!

 

[Neroli]

Health is more important. I check out everything I take and use on my body. I do not like quick fixes but I love longterm results which takes time and patients. I would rather spend a little more for vitamins and other products to ensure to health and anything. I sometime feel self-esteem levels plays a role how and why people want something so fast and sometimes dirty.

I AGREE!! Especially about the long term results that are ongoing and consistent over time. I spend a A LOT of time reading and researching stuff (that's why I haven't jumped on the phyto relaxer band wagon yet, I'm letting y'all be the guinea pigs for a couple of years -- haha!!)

Anywho, the question heath or beauty -- HEALTH everyday. After all healthy IS beautiful!

 

[AFashionSlave]

Health is more important. I check out everything I take and use on my body. I do not like quick fixes but I love longterm results which takes time and patients. I would rather spend a little more for vitamins and other products to ensure to health and anything. I sometime feel self-esteem levels plays a role how and why people want something so fast and sometimes dirty.

Star - You get my point.

This thread was to discuss the chances that we take for beauty & are they worth it.

This lady's relaxer burn story is far worse than any other that I have seen, but who is to say that the lack of neutralizer is the sole reason that she lost her hair. Because of perming I lost some of my hair and neutralizer was used. Here on the web, I've have heard of women that have had burned skin down their neck but still continued to use Serge once the burns went away. I even read a thread where a woman ended up in the hospital from taking too many vitamins for hair growth.

Some of you are staying focussed on the neutralizer & not the actual risks from using the hair relaxer, hair color, too many vitamins, or any other thing for that matter.

Do you guys understand my point?

 

[kristina]

This is really scary. And it does serve as a wake up call because its easy to dismiss the risks we take assuming that we can't really do that much damage.

 

[pookeylou]

AFS...your point is coming in loud and clear.

Being a former relaxer user myself, I remember the days of leaving the relaxer on even though the burning sensation was making me cry.

But I thought "that's what black girls do for bad nappy hair...and you cannot go out with nappy hair!"

There, but for the grace of God go I. What if I had gotten an old relaxer or one where the manufacture added to much chemical? What if I didnt mix it properly myself? What if the "professional" mixed it wrong or I was too intimidated to tell them that the relaxer was burning? I willingly took those risk...because that is what I needed to do to be pretty.

Anyone who knowingly takes vitamins to the point that they cause toxicity in their own bodies because they did not know that too much vitamin B, E or C can cause diarrhea or something worse...is willingly risking their health.

Anyone who knowingly uses Surge (or Rosemary Hair spritz, or Wild Growth whatever) and their skin is peeling and burning...is willingly risking their health.

Anyone who knowiingly braids their hair so tight that they now have traction alopecia...is wilingly risking thier health.

When we willingly risk our health for a perception of beauty...we take a risk of doing irrepairable damage.

My heart goes out to her. There is no greater pain, than pain you caused to yourself.

 

[Enchantmt]

That's soooo sad. I can't understand why she didn't question the fact that there was no neutralizer.

 

[Sweet_Ambrosia]

She's been relaxing since she was 12 & you'd think she would have some knowledge about neutralizing afterwards. If there was no neutralizer in the box that should have been a red flag for her. She's partially to blame as well as the manufactures.

 

[AFashionSlave]

AFS...your point is coming in loud and clear.

Being a former relaxer user myself, I remember the days of leaving the relaxer on even though the burning sensation was making me cry.

But I thought "that's what black girls do for bad nappy hair...and you cannot go out with nappy hair!"

There, but for the grace of God go I. What if I had gotten an old relaxer or one where the manufacture added to much chemical? What if I didnt mix it properly myself? What if the "professional" mixed it wrong or I was too intimidated to tell them that the relaxer was burning? I willingly took those risk...because that is what I needed to do to be pretty.

Anyone who knowingly takes vitamins to the point that they cause toxicity in their own bodies because they did not know that too much vitamin B, E or C can cause diarrhea or something worse...is willingly risking their health.

Anyone who knowingly uses Surge (or Rosemary Hair spritz, or Wild Growth whatever) and their skin is peeling and burning...is willingly risking their health.

Anyone who knowiingly braids their hair so tight that they now have traction alopecia...is wilingly risking thier health.

When we willingly risk our health for a perception of beauty...we take a risk of doing irrepairable damage.

My heart goes out to her. There is no greater pain, than pain you caused to yourself.

THANK YOU POOKEY!
This is my point. How far are we gonna take this beauty thing?

Over the years, I have given up a lot of my beauty rituals for the sake of my health. I am not trying to tell people to stop relaxing, coloring or taking vitamins. I am trying to encourage people to be more aware and do a little research before they go trying out things on their body to just to have a hair-style or grow longer hair.

 

[mkstar826]

Star - You get my point.

This thread was to discuss the chances that we take for beauty & are they worth it.

This lady's relaxer burn story is far worse than any other that I have seen, but who is to say that the lack of neutralizer is the sole reason that she lost her hair. Because of perming I lost some of my hair and neutralizer was used. Here on the web, I've have heard of women that have had burned skin down their neck but still continued to use Serge once the burns went away. I even read a thread where a woman ended up in the hospital from taking too many vitamins for hair growth.

Some of you are staying focussed on the neutralizer & not the actual risks from using the hair relaxer, hair color, too many vitamins, or any other thing for that matter.

Do you guys understand my point?

I understand it. It's not about neutralizer being used or not. I've had burns and hair taken out from chemical processes done by "professionals" and it didn't stop me from getting it done again...all so I could have a certain style. It's a scary thing to think that I used to behave that way!

This topic isn't even about relaxers to me. It's about EVERYTHING we do to ourselves all in the name of "beauty" that sacrifices our well-being...the truth is there's nothing beautiful about risking your health for a certain goal.

 

[MeccaMedinah]

Great post Pookeylou!!

AFS...your point is coming in loud and clear.

Being a former relaxer user myself, I remember the days of leaving the relaxer on even though the burning sensation was making me cry.

But I thought "that's what black girls do for bad nappy hair...and you cannot go out with nappy hair!"

There, but for the grace of God go I. What if I had gotten an old relaxer or one where the manufacture added to much chemical? What if I didnt mix it properly myself? What if the "professional" mixed it wrong or I was too intimidated to tell them that the relaxer was burning? I willingly took those risk...because that is what I needed to do to be pretty.

Anyone who knowingly takes vitamins to the point that they cause toxicity in their own bodies because they did not know that too much vitamin B, E or C can cause diarrhea or something worse...is willingly risking their health.

Anyone who knowingly uses Surge (or Rosemary Hair spritz, or Wild Growth whatever) and their skin is peeling and burning...is willingly risking their health.

Anyone who knowiingly braids their hair so tight that they now have traction alopecia...is wilingly risking thier health.

When we willingly risk our health for a perception of beauty...we take a risk of doing irrepairable damage.

My heart goes out to her. There is no greater pain, than pain you caused to yourself.

 

[MeccaMedinah]

Thank you, Mel.

I understand it. It's not about neutralizer being used or not. I've had burns and hair taken out from chemical processes done by "professionals" and it didn't stop me from getting it done again...all so I could have a certain style. It's a scary thing to think that I used to behave that way!

This topic isn't even about relaxers to me. It's about EVERYTHING we do to ourselves all in the name of "beauty" that sacrifices our well-being...the truth is there's nothing beautiful about risking your health for a certain goal.

 

[Koffie]

I am sorry this reminds me of an episode on In Living Color where Shananay relaxed a clients hair and ran out of neutralizer that poor lady went bald right in the chair. And the main theme was she forgot the neutralizer. If you miss this vital step as put very well in Shambossies book the lye will literally eat through your hair and scalp. So every woman on this board needs to know that this is a vital step in the relaxing process and this is the type of outcome possible.

Cece22 is happy she just bought another bottle of neutralizer just in case.

OT, But the episode was from Martin, when Gina had to work for Shananay at her salon so she could get basketball tickets for Martin. But yeah, she left out the Neutralizer, and every body tried to tell the woman that it looked good on her like Shanaid O'Conor.

 

[AFashionSlave]

OT, But the episode was from Martin, when Gina had to work for Shananay at her salon so she could get basketball tickets for Martin. But yeah, she left out the Neutralizer, and every body tried to tell the woman that it looked good on her like Shanaid O'Conor.

Naw girl. It was Grace Jones.

 

[Koffie]

Naw girl. It was Grace Jones.

Are you sure, 'cause I have the episode on tape somewhere in my house from when my cable used to go out alot, and I would tape all my favorite sitcoms so I would have something to watch during a thunder storm.

 

[Neen]

I hear you AFS. Women do it everyday though. From relaxers, to chemical peels, to artificial nails. So many things we do come with health risks that many of us don't know about or care about. Sometimes I just want to do the BC AGAIN. (I have BC'd TWICE in past 2 years and I swear if these hairdressers my hair up one more time... ) . So, to be honest, I'd have to say I picked beauty many a times over health and my raggedy head of hair can prove that . How many times have we all bought a product and not had a CLUE what was in it? I mean, do you really know what methylparapabatubawasarollinstone is? Or jumped on a bandwagon even though it made other people's heads burn (former surger here...and no, it did'nt work for me either. ). Putting blond streaks in our hair KNOWING the chemical will eat our hair alive. Wearing high heels when they cause bunyons and corns. Getting artificial nails even though they'll weaken the real ones and be a breeding ground for fungus. I just think whether we know it or not, we all take that risk in the name of beauty, it's just most of us will never have such an unfortunate thing, like burning and balding, occur because of it.

Even nail polish and polish remover is toxic and hazardous to your health. MAC even has a line coming out omitting these non-toxic ingredients. I say, If it won't kill me or deform me, who cares, but whatever...

 

[AFashionSlave]

Are you sure, 'cause I have the episode on tape somewhere in my house from when my cable used to go out alot, and I would tape all my favorite sitcoms so I would have something to watch during a thunder storm.

If you come across the tape tell me what it says.
I thought it was Grace Jones.