Pumpsicle covers a common topic in the urban community -- Natural or relaxed Because I Wasn't Worth It : Interview with Isabella Broekhuizen

hair loss from chemicals

chemical burns

"A thousand needles punctured my scalp and hot oil was poured on top. Acetone was subsequently scrubbed all over it. The skin was on fire. Extinguishing it barely made a difference and only served to worsen the feeling...

This act of torture had a name, hair relaxing. By the method of Diane, hairstylist in Chicago's North-Riverside area.

But the pain was quick to arrive. Diane noticed my tears, glanced down on my scalp and said: 'You have to hang on, darling, the longer it's on there, the straighter your hair's going to get. It has to settle in'."

Many who have had chemical straighteners applied to their hair have had experiences similar to the above exerts, which are taken from the book "Because I Wasn’t Worth It". The book tells the heart-wrenching story of Isabella Broekhuizen who suffered permanent hair loss due to an Optimum hair relaxer application, and her trials and tribulations that followed as she tried to sue L’Oreal.

Although Ms. Broekhuizen was unsuccessful in her suit of L’Oreal, she decided to write a book detailing her ordeal as a bit of justification and a warning on the harmful effects of chemicals found in relaxers. Below she describes the inspiration behind her book.