Brazilian hair straightening
Encyclopedia
Brazilian hair straightening (also called Brazilian Keratin Treatment, BKT, Brazilian Blowout, escova progressiva, Keratin cure or keratin straightening) is a method of temporarily straightening hair
by sealing the hair with a liquid keratin
and a preservative solution with a flat hair iron
.
for hair that lasts about three months. Pioneered in Brazil, the Brazilian Keratin Treatment is performed on all types of chemically-treated hair (bleached, hi-lights, coloured, permed, relaxed or previously straightened). The technique of the application is similar to the Japanese Yuko System in the way that the straightening irons are used to close the product into the hair cuticle.
The system aims to eliminate frizz, unruly curls and waves. The system does not guarantee completely straight hair. It can relax between 50 and 80 percent of the curl depending on texture, if done correctly. Treatments last around 10–12 weeks and repeating the treatment every few months will allow treatment of new growth. The treatment does not allow one to wash the hair for at least 48–72 hours, pick it up with any hair clip, pony tail or locate the hair behind the ears.
, which the article notes is a known carcinogen. The article mentioned a story of the possible association of the treatment with a 2007 death by asphyxiation in Brazil of a woman who performed the treatment herself, but characterizes this conclusion as a "theory" and furthermore notes that "Anvisa, Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency, wasn't able to find a link" between the hair treatment and chemicals to her death.
In September 2010, Oregon's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) received complaints of difficulty breathing, nose bleeds and eye irritation from stylists who used Brazilian Blowout Solution as directed. OSHA conducted tests on batches of Brazilian Blowout Solution from three different Oregon hair salons and found to contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde. These tests showed levels of formaldehyde exceeding 10%. Formaldehyde is only permitted in cosmetics at concentrations less than 0.2%.
Brazilian Blowout of California, who manufactures the Brazilian Blowout Solution, responded by issuing a statement to Good Morning America
in which it accuses Oregon's Occupational Safety & Health Administration of gross negligence and believes OSHA has violated the proper testing protocol, thereby invalidating the findings. Brazilian Blowout's accusations against OSHA are based on the fact that OSHA obtained the product samples from bottles of their product sold to various salons instead of product samples sent directly to them by the manufacturer.
Brazilian Blowout continues to maintain that their products are 100% safe, contain no harsh chemicals, and are formaldehyde-free. They have released their own Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) outlining the safety of the Brazilian Blowout Solution. Despite its safety claims, Brazilian Blowout refuses to release their product's ingredient list, as required by law, on the basis that a patent is pending on their formulation and their product's ingredients are privileged and confidential company information. Despite providing no evidence to support such claims, Brazilian Blowout continues to aggressively market their products as 100% safe and formaldehyde free.
On Nov. 01, 2010, Oregon authorities broadened their warning to include other hair-smoothing products, particularly those described as “keratin-based,” and said employers should take steps to protect their workers.
On October 7, 2010, Health Canada
issued an advisory confirming that Brazilian Blowout Solution manufactured by Brazilian Blowout of California has been found to contain unacceptable levels of formaldehyde. Health Canada's testing found that the Brazilian Blowout Solution contains 12% formaldehyde. Based on Health Canada's findings, the Brazilian Blowout Solution contains 6000% more formaldehyde than what is allowable under the law.
Health Canada's testing came after receiving multiple complaints from stylists and consumers who experienced burning eyes, nose, and throat, breathing difficulties, and hair loss following the product's use. Health Canada advises those who have had adverse reactions to Brazilian Blowout treatments to seek medical attention. Stylists who use Brazilian Blowout treatments should immediately stop using this product. All distribution of the Brazilian Blowout Solution in Canada was immediately stopped.
Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen
and is easily absorbed by the body when inhaled, ingested, or comes into contact with the skin and eyes. Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to death, blindness, eye and skin irritation or burns, respiratory problems, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and cancer. It is also known to cause birth defects.
When used as directed, the Brazilian Blowout Solution easily causes the formaldehyde-containing product to aerosolize and get inhaled into the lungs and to come into direct contact with skin.
The FDA announced on October 8, 2010 that it "was working with state and local organizations, as well as OSHA, to determine whether the products or ingredients would be likely to cause health problems under the intended conditions of use. The composition of the products and the labeling, including use instructions and any warning statements, will be factors in this determination. One safety issue we’ll be evaluating is whether formaldehyde may be released into the air after the product is applied to the hair and heated."
On August 22, 2011, the FDA issued its first warning letter to Brazilian Blowout, telling the company to stop labeling its products as formaldehyde-free, which it considers misleading, and stating that its products are "misbranded" and "adulterated."
The California Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit on November 10, 2010 against Brazilian Blowout reportedly alleging violations of the California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005
and also of California Proposition 65 (1986)
.
Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against Brazilian Blowout seeking punitive damages for negligent advertising and distributing products with unsafe ingredients.
Hair straightening
Hair straightening is a hair styling technique which involves the flattening and straightening of hair in order to give it a smooth, streamlined, and 'sleek' appearance. It may be accomplished by using hair irons and hot combs, chemical relaxers, Japanese hair straightening, or Brazilian hair...
by sealing the hair with a liquid keratin
Keratin
Keratin refers to a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key of structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails...
and a preservative solution with a flat hair iron
Hair iron
A hair iron or hair tong is a tool used to change the structure of the hair using heat. There are three general kinds: curling irons, used to make the hair curly, straightening irons, commonly called straighteners or flat irons, used to straighten the hair, and crimping irons, used to create crimps...
.
Characteristics
The Brazilian Keratin Treatment is a long-term blow dryBlowdryer
A blowdryer or hairdryer is an electromechanical device designed to blow cool or hot air over wet or damp hair, in order to accelerate the evaporation of water particles and dry the hair. Blowdryers allow to better control the shape and style of hair, by accelerating and controlling the formation...
for hair that lasts about three months. Pioneered in Brazil, the Brazilian Keratin Treatment is performed on all types of chemically-treated hair (bleached, hi-lights, coloured, permed, relaxed or previously straightened). The technique of the application is similar to the Japanese Yuko System in the way that the straightening irons are used to close the product into the hair cuticle.
The system aims to eliminate frizz, unruly curls and waves. The system does not guarantee completely straight hair. It can relax between 50 and 80 percent of the curl depending on texture, if done correctly. Treatments last around 10–12 weeks and repeating the treatment every few months will allow treatment of new growth. The treatment does not allow one to wash the hair for at least 48–72 hours, pick it up with any hair clip, pony tail or locate the hair behind the ears.
Health concerns
A 2007 article in Allure magazine focused on one chemical used in the process, formaldehydeFormaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
, which the article notes is a known carcinogen. The article mentioned a story of the possible association of the treatment with a 2007 death by asphyxiation in Brazil of a woman who performed the treatment herself, but characterizes this conclusion as a "theory" and furthermore notes that "Anvisa, Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency, wasn't able to find a link" between the hair treatment and chemicals to her death.
Oregon's Occupational Safety & Health Administration Advisory on Brazilian Blowout
In September 2010, Oregon's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) received complaints of difficulty breathing, nose bleeds and eye irritation from stylists who used Brazilian Blowout Solution as directed. OSHA conducted tests on batches of Brazilian Blowout Solution from three different Oregon hair salons and found to contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde. These tests showed levels of formaldehyde exceeding 10%. Formaldehyde is only permitted in cosmetics at concentrations less than 0.2%.
Brazilian Blowout of California, who manufactures the Brazilian Blowout Solution, responded by issuing a statement to Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
in which it accuses Oregon's Occupational Safety & Health Administration of gross negligence and believes OSHA has violated the proper testing protocol, thereby invalidating the findings. Brazilian Blowout's accusations against OSHA are based on the fact that OSHA obtained the product samples from bottles of their product sold to various salons instead of product samples sent directly to them by the manufacturer.
Brazilian Blowout continues to maintain that their products are 100% safe, contain no harsh chemicals, and are formaldehyde-free. They have released their own Material Safety Data Sheet
Material safety data sheet
A Material Safety Data Sheet is a form with data regarding the properties of a particular substance....
(MSDS) outlining the safety of the Brazilian Blowout Solution. Despite its safety claims, Brazilian Blowout refuses to release their product's ingredient list, as required by law, on the basis that a patent is pending on their formulation and their product's ingredients are privileged and confidential company information. Despite providing no evidence to support such claims, Brazilian Blowout continues to aggressively market their products as 100% safe and formaldehyde free.
On Nov. 01, 2010, Oregon authorities broadened their warning to include other hair-smoothing products, particularly those described as “keratin-based,” and said employers should take steps to protect their workers.
Health Canada's Advisory on Brazilian Blowout
On October 7, 2010, Health Canada
Health Canada
Health Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health.The current Minister of Health is Leona Aglukkaq, a Conservative Member of Parliament appointed to the position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.-Branches, regions and agencies:Health Canada...
issued an advisory confirming that Brazilian Blowout Solution manufactured by Brazilian Blowout of California has been found to contain unacceptable levels of formaldehyde. Health Canada's testing found that the Brazilian Blowout Solution contains 12% formaldehyde. Based on Health Canada's findings, the Brazilian Blowout Solution contains 6000% more formaldehyde than what is allowable under the law.
Health Canada's testing came after receiving multiple complaints from stylists and consumers who experienced burning eyes, nose, and throat, breathing difficulties, and hair loss following the product's use. Health Canada advises those who have had adverse reactions to Brazilian Blowout treatments to seek medical attention. Stylists who use Brazilian Blowout treatments should immediately stop using this product. All distribution of the Brazilian Blowout Solution in Canada was immediately stopped.
Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
and is easily absorbed by the body when inhaled, ingested, or comes into contact with the skin and eyes. Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to death, blindness, eye and skin irritation or burns, respiratory problems, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and cancer. It is also known to cause birth defects.
When used as directed, the Brazilian Blowout Solution easily causes the formaldehyde-containing product to aerosolize and get inhaled into the lungs and to come into direct contact with skin.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Brazilian Blowout
The FDA announced on October 8, 2010 that it "was working with state and local organizations, as well as OSHA, to determine whether the products or ingredients would be likely to cause health problems under the intended conditions of use. The composition of the products and the labeling, including use instructions and any warning statements, will be factors in this determination. One safety issue we’ll be evaluating is whether formaldehyde may be released into the air after the product is applied to the hair and heated."
On August 22, 2011, the FDA issued its first warning letter to Brazilian Blowout, telling the company to stop labeling its products as formaldehyde-free, which it considers misleading, and stating that its products are "misbranded" and "adulterated."
California Attorney General's lawsuit against Brazilian Blowout
The California Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit on November 10, 2010 against Brazilian Blowout reportedly alleging violations of the California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005
California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005
California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005 is a state law that requires cosmetics manufacturers that sell products in the U.S. state of California to label any ingredient that is on state or federal lists of chemicals that cause cancer or birth defects, demands manufacturers to supply any health...
and also of California Proposition 65 (1986)
California Proposition 65 (1986)
Proposition 65 is a California law passed by direct voter initiative in 1986 by a 63%-37% margin...
.
Class action lawsuits against Brazilian Blowout
Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against Brazilian Blowout seeking punitive damages for negligent advertising and distributing products with unsafe ingredients.