They’re trendy and expensive, and according to the Federal Drug Administration, they’re a health risk. Brazilian Blowouts are a popular hair straightening treatment offered by salons. With a Brazilian Blowout, gals with frizzy hair can temporarily get hair that’s sleek, straight and frizz-free. The procedure takes about 90 minutes and the effects last for around 3 months. But there’s a downside to having straight, frizz-free hair that goes beyond the steep $500 price tag some salons charge to do it. According to the FDA, Brazilian Blowout products contain formaldehyde, a chemical that’s a known toxin and carcinogen.
Brazilian Blowouts: Beautiful Hair at a Steep Price
The FDA recently discovered that Brazilian Blowout hair products contain the toxic chemic formaldehyde at levels of up to 10%. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) monitors closely in workplace settings. They consider levels of above 0.1% to be a problem. Some Brazilian Blowout products contain 100 times this amount. Formaldehyde has been linked with cancers of the nose and oral cavity and with leukemia.
The FDA has already received complaints about these products from consumers. Some Brazilian Blowout customers have experienced breathing problems, fainting, headaches, and eye and skin irritation while receiving a treatment. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause allergic reactions in some people, which may be serious. During one salon investigation where hairstylists were using the products, the FDA found levels of formaldehyde in the air at levels OSHA considers to be unsafe.
Despite these findings, the company denies they’re violating safety standards or misleading consumers. The FDA tells a different story. They reported that the makers of these products are “mislabeling” bottles and giving consumers the false impression that their products are free of formaldehyde. In spite of these warnings, some salons are still using these products because the demand is so strong. The popularity of Brazilian Blowouts skyrocketed after celebrities such as Nicole Ritchie and Lindsay Lohan reportedly straightened their hair using these products.
Formaldehyde is Lurking in Other Personal Products Too
Formaldehyde first gained fame as a preservative used to embalm dead bodies. But it’s also found its way into a variety of personal care and home cleaning products. It’s hiding in products you put on your skin including shampoos, lotions, cosmetics and bubble bath. Even more disturbingly, you can find formaldehyde in baby products including baby wipes used to clean a baby’s skin.
According to a report released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and published in USA Today, 23 of 28 children’s bath products tested in one study contained formaldehyde. These products may pose less of a risk than Brazilian Blowout hair products because the concentrations of formaldehyde are likely much lower.
The Bottom Line?
Think twice before exposing your hair, skin and lungs to Brazilian Blowout products. You may be exposing yourself to a chemical that will increase your risk for cancer later. When possible, choose organic personal care and cleaning products. There are enough bad chemicals in the air without adding more to your skin.
References:
FDA. “FDA Receives Complaints Associated With the Use of Brazilian Blowout”
Medscape.com. “FDA: Brazilian Blowout Hair Straightener is Dangerous”
USA Today. “Group Finds Carcinogens in Kids Bath Products”