Bald From Hair Relaxer

**bad hair day** · 10-14-2004, 04:17 PM

I went to a local beauty supply store to find a product to relax my hair. The girl who worked there gave me a relaxer for African American women (I am white) and told me it was what I was supposed to use.

I applied it to my hair, and within two minutes my scalp was in burning pain. I put my fingers to my hair, and it started falling out in giant clumps. I washed the relaxer out of my hair as quickly as I could, but a lot of my hair came out.

My hairdresser says that my hair is burned right down to the scalp. I have bald spots all over my head. There was nothing we could do, so we ended up having to shave my head. I am wearing a wig.

Two weeks have passed, and my hair doesn't seem to be growing back. I am worried that it may not come back, and that my hair follicles are permanently damaged. I hate wearing a wig - it doesn't feel right, and it gives me headaches.

I want the beauty supply store to pay for my wig, and to pay for me to go to a dermatologist about my hair.

**Anonymous** · 10-14-2004, 04:18 PM

It is difficult to tell from your description whether or not their might be liability on behalf of the beauty supply store. Possible considerations include how they represent themselves and the expertise of their staff to members of the general public, the nature and extent of any warnings on the relaxer itself, whether your application of the relaxer was consistent with the instructions (and you can be pretty sure that the store would argue that it probably was not in the event of litigation), and whether your damages are temporary (e.g., your hair will grow back as before) or if you have any permanent injuries. There may also be liability on the part of the manufacturer of the hair relaxer - but again, that's a rather complicated analysis.

Thus, I strongly suggest that you meet in person with an attorney in your town and discuss these issues in person. You should take the instructions and packaging from the relaxer with you to any meeting.

If you are sure of what you want in terms of a settlement, it may be possible for you to resolve this case by yourself through the beauty store's insurance company without using a lawyer. However, it would likely benefit you to meet with a lawyer to discuss your case before trying to resolve it by yourself.

**ma-chan** · 06-14-2005, 04:03 AM

Somehow I don't think its going to be easy proving the fault of the beauty supply store. First of all, it was you who applied the relaxer on your hair and well from my experience its not safe to apply it all by yourself you need to have an expert apply it on you since hair relaxers contained harsh chemicals. These chemicals when wrongfully applied can really cause badness. The next thing I want to ask you, did you follow the instructions carefully and properly?And one more thing, why didn't you return the relaxer when you have noticed you were given a relaxer for African American women?.... :?:

**lili** · 06-21-2005, 05:27 PM

Being that you did the process yourself, I don't think you have a case against the salon. You may be able to sue the company that makes the relaxer if you followed the instructions ans this still happened to your hair. I actually just relaxed my hair for the first time ever. I am white also but hair is a bit wavy and the japanese thing is way to expensive so I thought I would give this a try. I settled on an organic relaxer made for children just to be safe.
I experienced no problems so far. Sometimes it is good to do your own research on a product before buying into whatever salons sell.
Good luck.

**law tech** · 06-23-2005, 06:16 PM

this is something worth fighting for. you will definitely get large compensation from it. have a good legal counsel and sue the manufacturer in court. Good luck!

**jypsy_rose_lee** · 04-12-2006, 06:42 PM

This is happening to too many woman who use these hair relaxers.No woman wants to go bald over something like this! I lost my hair from chemo,it's came back curly,my hair was long and straight.I was thinking about using some of that stuff,but no being bald once is enough for me!You just never know what they put in those kind of products.I would take them to court if I were you,there is enough woman complaining about those types of products.There could be a class action suit.We try to make ourselfs look beutiful and all we git is crap!We need to go rip the makers of those products hair out and see how they feel with no hair!Sorry it's just been a bad hair day for me to,too windy. :twisted: :roll: