By: Jordan Harris
Straight, silky hair has become a popular trend amongst everyday women and some celebrities. Starlets such as Nicole Richie, Ashley Tisdale and Lindsay Lohan tame their tresses with one of the most popular hair smoothing products, the Brazilian Blowout keratin treatment. However, recent studies have raised concerns for the safety of the hair straightening chemical. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an alert about formaldehyde exposure, a cancer causing agent from Brazilian Blowout products.
According to OSHA, formaldehyde is a gas that presents health hazards to workers exposed to it. It causes allergic reactions to the skin and breathing problems. It is also linked to nose and lung cancer. Formaldehyde can be absorbed through the skin and eyes, or inhaled in the lungs.
OSHA reported levels of formaldehyde in the air from stylists using keratin-based hair smoothing products in salons.
“When formaldehyde is heated with a flat iron, it gives off gases that are released into the air. People breathe it in,” Oregon OSHA spokesperson, Melanie Mesaros said.
The Oregon OSHA responded to complaints from a stylist who had nosebleeds and trouble breathing while using a Brazilian Blowout product labeled “formaldehyde free.”
“Manufacturers are required to provide material safety data sheets that list all chemicals in a product,” Mesaros said. “The Brazilian Blowout was labeled properly, but the fact sheet did not have any information that formaldehyde was in it.”
According to a report taken by the Oregon OSHA, the formaldehyde content in the Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution labeled “formaldehyde free” ranged from 6.8 to 11.8 percent.
Some hair stylists have taken heed to OSHA’s warnings about formaldehyde content in hair smoothing products.
“I trust OSHA,” Riley Hair Salon Stylist, Meredith Austin said.
Others do not believe the statistics reported by OSHA.
William David Salon Stylist and Director of Keratin Services, Casey Gunn said the OSHA reports about the formaldehyde content in Brazilian Blowout products were a lie.
Instead, Gunn acknowledges the positive effects formaldehyde has on the hair.
“Formaldehyde repairs external damage to the hair. When it is applied to the hair with heat, the formaldehyde becomes one with the hair, making the hair pliable and more elastic,” Gunn said. “Formaldehyde keeps the hair soft.”
Although the company said they remain confident in the safety and integrity of the Brazilian Blowout keratin treatment, Brazilian Blowout has released a new product in response to the controversy of the original hair straightening product.
According to brazilianblowout.com, the new Brazilian Blowout Zero is formulated with a plant-derived bonding system that releases zero percent formaldehyde before, during or after the smoothing treatment.
Nonetheless, salon stylists continue to take precaution when choosing hair smoothing products.
“We look for more organic products. We are familiar with the products that have formaldehyde in them. We want the ones without it,” Austin said.
William David Salon also offers formaldehyde free keratin-based hair smoothing treatments as well.
Gun said, “We don’t offer formaldehyde-based products to clients. We have been formaldehyde free for the last four years. Every product that goes through the FDA has to give disclosure of its active ingredients. We go by that.”
Please visit the links below to read the original OSHA report.
1. OSHA report
