Brazillian Blow Dry's

Feb 9, 2012

Lisa U.

Have any of you beauties had one?

I'm debating having one.
xx

Feb 9, 2012

Yasmin K.

Brazilian Blowout Causes Cancer
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/fashion/04SKIN.html

This was posted on another beauty forum I'm a member of in regards to Brazilian Blow Drys.
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Snip It:

Last year, Brazilian Blowout–a popular Brazilian keratin straightening treatments currently offered at salons–was under fire from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) for containing “dangerous levels” of formaldehyde in its product, despite the fact that its label claimed it was “Formaldehyde Free.”

Since then, the company denied the claims and stood by their labeling. But now, it seems they have had a change of heart and have agreed to alert consumers that two of its products emit formaldehyde gas, a possible carcinogen. How nice of them to finally let us know that our quest for straight hair was so toxic.

The labeling changes are designed to settle a lawsuit that was filed in California last November, when the attorney general’s office accused the Hollywood-based company of deceptive advertising. Not only did their labeling state the product was free of formaldehyde, which can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs, but it was found to have anywhere from 8.7 to 10.4% formaldehyde, which is multiple times that of the 0.2 percentage that peer-reviewed Cosmetic Ingredient Review board considers safe for consumers.

California’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris, said in a statement:
“California laws protect consumers and workers and give them fair notice about the health risks associated with the products they use. This settlement requires the company to disclose any hazard so that Californians can make informed choices.”

To which Brazilian Blowout is responding by paying a whopping $600,000 in penalties and fines for failing to notify consumers and hair stylists that its products contain chemicals that may cause cancer. They have also agreed to have their products tested for all toxic substances at a state-approved lab, and include proper labeling on their products alerting consumers of the formaldehyde content–which, of course, most salons already suspected anyway.

Not that this changes anything with the product. Brazilian Blowout is continuing to manufacture and sell the same formula. The only difference is that now consumers should know better than to buy it.

Feb 9, 2012

Yasmin K.

Here's another snippet. http://www.myfoxmaine.com/story/16652457/health-highlights-feb-1-2012

Brazilian Blowout Maker Settles California Lawsuit

As part of a lawsuit settlement, the company that makes popular Brazilian Blowout hair straightening products says it will warn consumers that two of its formulations emit formaldehyde gas, a possible carcinogen.

The lawsuit was filed in November by California's attorney general, the Associated Press reported.

North Hollywood GIB LLC also agreed to pay $600,000 in fines and penalties for failing to alert consumers and hair stylists that its products may contain cancer-causing chemicals, and will have all its products tested for toxic substances at a state-approved lab.

The company will also supply salons with a pamphlet outlining recommended safety precautions, the AP reported.

Feb 10, 2012

Lisa U.

What on earth.. I had no idea about any of that :/

Feb 11, 2012

Myshel D.

I did it for like a year but that was years ago. The odor was terrible and strong. I stopped and I'm not surprised that it causes cancer. Glad I stopped.

Feb 16, 2012

Erica B.

Don't do it! Every formula on the market that involves heat causes a chemical change to occur, & formaldehyde to be released-so bad! The salon I work in doesn't offer them. Also, the first couple times you do it, your hair will be pretty soft, straight, shiny BUT that ends. It starts to get brittle, dry, dull & break. No bueno!

Feb 16, 2012

Linda D.

This explains why a lot of my stylist at my salon complain about getting headaches and non stop bloody noses. Scary =/

Feb 16, 2012

Yasmin K.

@Linda - I hope the women at your salon go see a doctor just to rule out any long term health effects.

Feb 16, 2012

Amanda R.

You should try KeraGreen keratin smoothing system by Organic Salon Systems. It isn't a permanent straightener, but it does smooth, control frizz, and tame curls/waves. It's organic and has absolutely no formaldehyde or other toxic chemicals. There are no fumes, even when the hair is flat ironed. I got it done by my stylist, and I absolutely loved the results. Lasted about 3 months for me and I have thick, wavy hair. 

Feb 16, 2012

Erica B.

@Amanda-not all the treatments have fumes but they still all release formaldehyde. It's the same with acrylic nails-even the odor-free & dust-free polymers still create long term health effects on people that use them on a regular basis, both on the clients & the nail tech.

Feb 16, 2012

Amanda R.

KeraGreen has no lasting effects on it's users. This is a completely 100% formaldehyde and formaldehyde derivative free product which does not produce any toxic gases when heat is applied, unlike the Brazilian Blowout. 

Feb 16, 2012

Erica B.

@Amanda- The environmental watch group did independent testing on KeraGreen, & found it to contain 1.5% formaldehyde, here's the website: http://www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/see-the-brands/index.html@bb_comp_id=13.html Also, I found a comment from someone who used it on another website, "It contains formaldehyde and the tropical fruit smell is used to mask the smell of formaldehyde."

Feb 16, 2012

Amanda R.

Please visit: http://www.organiccolorsystems.com/keragreen-formaldehyde-results/ which explains test results done on KeraGreen by 4 different independent national laboratories, as well as links to the actual reports.

"Lab results indicated less than one one-hundredth of one percent formaldehyde was present in the Keragreen samples tested. OSHA sets forth a standard for maximum allowed exposure of workers to airborne formaldehyde over an 8 hour period of 0.75 ppm with a peak exposure of 2 ppm for a 15 minute period. This product shows only trace levels of formaldehyde and is well below the OSHA maximum standard. KeraGreen keratin Treatment contains about 1/842th the amount of formaldehyde found in an average banana therefore it would take 842 KeraGreen Treatments to equal the amount of formaldehyde in one banana. KeraGreen has 30 times less formaldehyde than average indoor air which measures at 0.1 ppm – 0.3 ppm."

Feb 16, 2012

Erica B.

Going to trust an independent research versus the one posted by organiccolorsystems.com. As someone who works in the hair industry, on the front lines, as a hair stylist, you have to know who to trust. 1.5% is what was found by ewg.org, who don't have any profits to gain or lose by testing. All keratin straightening treatments are bad; even if the solution doesn't contain formaldehyde in the ingredient list (even though KeraGreen's solution has been found to contain it anyways) the formaldehyde is created via chemical reaction when heat it applied.
I trust ewg.org in the same way I trust PETA for listing who tests on animals or not.
Be careful, anyone, who gets a keratin treatment done, after the first few, your hair gets brittle, is highly prone to breakage, becomes dull & frizzy (unless that's what you're going for, then by all means, straighten away!) :)

Feb 17, 2012

Amanda R.

All 4 lab result links are posted at the Organic Color Systems' site with scanned images of the actual results. The results you are referencing are old, and the product has been reformulated since then.  

Feb 17, 2012

Erica B.

As a hair stylist, you're not going to change my mind. I've seen the damage first hand, I've seen other stylists get sick from these systems, & one of the major things they taught us in Cosmetology school was to always doubt claims made by companies. The government classified pizza as a vegetable for public school lunches, doesn't make it true.

Feb 18, 2012

Shelley W.

I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Anytime you see client and stylist wearing masks to avoid the fumes then there is a problem. 

Feb 23, 2012

Lisa U.

I'm amazed this is legal. I had no idea. It's not really a 'big' thing in the UK but I have seen videos and DIY products on eBay.