Hair Straighteners May Not Be Good After All

Formaldehyde, a strong foul-smelling gas, found in hair smoothing products is a known cancer causing substance.

Exposure to formaldehyde contained in hair smoothing and straightening products can pose health risks such as cancer. Hair salon workers and those //attending beauty schools are at increased risk of exposure. Brazilian Blowout treatment, used by licensed hair stylists, has been facing contempt charges for a while due to the alleged presence of this cancer causing chemical.

Formaldehyde that binds keratin to hair is used in hair straightening products. Dangerously high levels of formaldehyde were found in the air of salons using these hair-straightening products during the investigation by the U.S. Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA was responding to complaints from workers. Even products that were labelled as ‘formaldehyde free’ were found to contain the chemical. Evidence of allergic reactions such as eye irritation, nose bleeds was found in workers exposed to formaldehyde.

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As use of formaldehyde increases, so do concerns over its safety.

Salons and other employers, such as beauty schools, that use hair smoothing products that contain or may release formaldehyde are supposed to follow the requirements of OSHA's ‘formaldehyde and hazard communication standards’. Citations and fines were issued by OSHA to salons and other employers (e.g., beauty schools) who were found to violate norms.

Formaldehyde, a strong foul-smelling gas, is a known cancer causing substance. Hair smoothing products may contain formaldehyde dissolved in water. The chemically reacted form is called methylene glycol.

Hair smoothening products release formaldehyde when heated, viz., flat-ironing or blow-drying.

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Exposure to formaldehyde can occur in the following ways:

• Breathing it in through your nose and mouth

• Getting it on your skin

• Getting it in your eyes or mouth

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Symptoms caused by exposure to the chemical include:

• Eye irritation and damage, including blindness.

• Nose irritation, including bloody noses.

• Skin sensitivity, rashes, and itching.

• Breathing difficulties, such as coughing and wheezing.

Formaldehyde levels above 0.1 ppm in the air can irritate nose, throat, and lungs. Higher levels worsen symptoms.

It is important that employers and employees know the risks of using formaldehyde containing products. It is not however easy since most products never list their ingredients. Products that contain formaldehyde, methylene glycol, formalin, methylene oxide, paraform, formic aldehyde, methanal, oxomethane, oxymethylene or Chemical Abstract Service Number 50-00-0 are not recommended by OSHA.

Several brand-name products that contain formaldehyde or that can expose you to formaldehyde during use have been identified:

• Acai Professional Smoothing Solution

• Professional Brazilian Blowout Solution

Cadiveu

• BrasilCacau

• Acai Therapy

Copomon/Coppola

• Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy

• Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment

• Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment Blonde

• Express Blow Out

Marcia Teixeira

• Brazilian Keratin Treatment

• Advanced Brazilian Keratin Treatment

• Chocolate Extreme De-Frizzing Treatment

• Soft Gentle Smoothing Treatment

• Soft Chocolate Gentle Smoothing Treatment

Reference: Facts about Formaldehyde in Hair Smoothing Products; Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

Source-Medindia