From the Telegraaf: BALD FROM A POT…
by MARTIJN KOOLHOVEN
Model Isabella Broekhuizen's career is ruined. When she removes her hair prosthesis, the horrible mutilation caused by the hair straightener is painfully clear.
MAASTRICHT, Tuesday
What should have been a glittering career in America has unexpectedly ended in a personal drama for Maastricht model Isabella Broekhuizen (37). No well-paid modeling work for glossy magazines or on TV in America, but instead an ordeal along hospitals and clinics in the Netherlands and Belgium and a legal battle with cosmetics giant L'Oreal.
The niece of ex-president Liberia Peeters of the Netherlands Antilles had envisioned her future as a model in America so differently. When Isabella bumps into the regular make-up artist of TV diva Oprah Winfrey at a party in Chicago, she is immediately very enthusiastic about the upcoming talent from Holland. She only needs to polish her appearance a bit, is the advice.
Not much later, the dark Dutch woman buys the product 'Optimum hair relaxer' by L'Oreal, also in the Netherlands a tried and tested product for black people to turn frizzy hair into straight hair. The jars are also for sale in the Netherlands. As far as Isabella is concerned, they should, just like with packets of cigarettes, put on the fact that it can 'seriously damage your health'. Because after the model has combed the cream through her hair, let it work for half an hour according to the instructions and then rinsed it out thoroughly, her scalp feels super sensitive, almost burning. "I also got some burn ointment and rubbed it on my head to soothe it a bit," says the Limburgian, now an ex-model because of the whole affair. "My impresario Hugh Whittham said: you should file a complaint. But yes, I may be too down-to-earth, I thought: it will be fine..."
"You have to keep smiling, right?"
So it doesn't work out, she breaks off her career to get a proper examination in the Netherlands and Belgium. The internists, dermatologists and infectious disease specialists all draw the same conclusion, which, loosely translated, amounts to 'chemical burn'. Internist infectious disease specialist Dr. JG den Hollander of the Rijnmond Medical Center actually concludes most clearly: "Severe alopecia (baldness) with depigmentation of the hairy scalp following the use of Optimum as a hair straightener from the L'Oreal company."
Definitive
Isabella, who can now forget about her career as a model, has lost 75 percent of her hair growth for good. "Look, my scalp is as thin in those places as the foil on this pack of cigarettes," she compares her scalp to the wrapping of the pack of Marlboro in her hand. "I can't even wear a wig, because that would cause inflammation. I now wear a hair prosthesis that was specially prepared for me in the hospital. The whole affair has destroyed me inside. It took me a long time before I had the courage to do something. Well, you have to keep going and keep smiling, right? I have been able to keep going, but it hurts, until I die..."
In the hotel room where we speak to Isabella, the extent of the injuries becomes clear. When Isabella removes her hair prosthesis, the severely damaged bald head becomes visible. In addition to pieces of black scalp, there are also red and white spots. A nightmare for every woman and a downright hell for a model…
Cosmetics giant L'Oreal is struggling with the extremely painful affair. Initially, they tried to blame Isabella's hair loss on the 'systemic disease' Lupus, which was said to have caused her baldness. But all Dutch and Belgian specialists who have looked into the case have rejected this option.
Non-pecuniary damages
Although she denies any liability on paper, L'Oreal's lawyer has made verbal proposals to Isabella's lawyers to settle the case. Her Dutch lawyer, Mr. Barry Scheffer of ClaimeCareLetsel in Alphen a/d Rijn – a law firm specializing in personal injury – expects his client to be able to claim compensation of around E 1 million, built up by medical costs (the hair prostheses), non-pecuniary damages and loss of income. Scheffer: "It seems that they are simply leaving it to a confrontation, a sad affair."
Mr. Ignace Vernimme, lawyer for L'Oreal, refuses to answer any questions about the content, and will only say that his client denies that there is a connection between the use of L'Oreal's product and the problems of the (ex-)model. It seems that the legal hairsplitting in this case will continue for some time.
PHOTOS: JOHN CLAESSENS
Thanks to Marcia who sent me this article.
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