Well, for me the most alarming fact was that in relaxers, the primary ingredient (lye) is the exact same prime ingredient in Drano or Nair which dissolve/clean out items stuck in a drain and dissolve hair from the skin respectively. It's labeled as sodium hydroxide, but it's the same thing as lye and it is very caustic. Read the ingredients on the back of a relaxer box, then read the ingredients on the back of a nair bottle or a container of Drano and compare. I did not know this when I relaxed, however it is your choice to wear your hair the way you like.