" Formaldehyde free " Brazilian Blowouts

[Aveyronnaise]

I know most of us here don't use this product but this is something to pass on to friends and relatives for sure. It looks like some of the formaldehyde free formulas of keratin blowouts are up to 10 % formaldehyde.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44428236/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/

Oh and they are getting busted by the FDA , finally.

[dulce]

Wow! It shows you have to really careful what treatments you get on your hair.Buyer beware!

[celebriangel]

Yep. Formaldehyde free, lolololol.

Some of them, I read, even had the gall to say "oh no, it's not formaldehyde, its *methylene glycol*!"


Er. Methylene glycol *is* formaldehyde - just the version that's dissolved in water. They clearly thought people would be fooled by pseudo-scientific blabber.

[Mike]

This came up before and the company beat the rap. I don't care. I've used monistat now for close to a year like many others and the FDA does not give it the indication for rapid hair growth. I am going to the salon next Tuesday for my 3rd BB and it lasts me 4 months. I figure 3 times a year is OK for the short period of time they are actually setting the product within the hair shaft. Maybe the stylists and clients can use oxygen masks with appropriate ventilation in the room. The results ROCK!!

[Lianna]

It's a shame that we have bad people among us that would do such things. It's not the case with every brazilian blow out though. Some people do follow the rules.

[Mike]

It's a shame that we have bad people among us that would do such things. It's not the case with every brazilian blow out though. Some people do follow the rules.

I'm confused. Am I considered a bad person or a rule follower? I also use argan oil, CO and no heat.:)

[jaine]

I'm confused. Am I considered a bad person or a rule follower? I also use argan oil, CO and no heat.:)

I think Lianna was referring to the people who advertise their product in a deceptive way, calling it formaldehyde-free even though it's not. No one at LHC is bad :)

[Mike]

I think Lianna was referring to the people who advertise their product in a deceptive way, calling it formaldehyde-free even though it's not. No one at LHC is bad :)
OK, my bad. Thanks

[Lianna]

Thank you, jaine. That was what I mean. I will never call someone who alters their hair "bad". My hair is dyed, bleached and with chemically straightened bangs. I'd be the queen of evil, LOL. ;)

ETA: I really don't see anything wrong with chemicals as long as we use it the way they are meant to be used (like no bleaching for two hours and such). And as long we know our hair can take it.

[Mike]

Thank you, jaine. That was what I mean. I will never call someone who alters their hair "bad". My hair is dyed, bleached and with chemically straightened bangs. I'd be the queen of evil, LOL. ;)

ETA: I really don't see anything wrong with chemicals as long as we use it the way they are meant to be used (like no bleaching for two hours and such). And as long we know our hair can take it.
Your hair is so thick and amazing !!!!

[Kathie]

I use formaldehyde in the lab- I hate the smell. I'd freak out if I smelt it on my hair. We use it as a fixative, it can change the shape of proteins and keep them in that structure. So I guess its not overly surprising that its used for hair straightening. Not on my hair though!

[Kathie]

Yep. Formaldehyde free, lolololol.

Some of them, I read, even had the gall to say "oh no, it's not formaldehyde, its *methylene glycol*!"


Er. Methylene glycol *is* formaldehyde - just the version that's dissolved in water. They clearly thought people would be fooled by pseudo-scientific blabber.
Thats funny :agree:

[Zenity]

I got a keratin treatment with the lowest dose allowed here at the UE 0,2%. However my hair got artificially straightened and has never recovered its original shape. Moreover, my hair became very brittle, fragile, dry and prone to breakage, and! shed a lot.

I would say to anyone considering any of those keratin treatments to read carefully the ingredients list and stay away from formaldehyde, it is not only a danger for your hair but also for your health.

[Mike]

I got a keratin treatment with the lowest dose allowed here at the UE 0,2%. However my hair got artificially straightened and has never recovered its original shape. Moreover, my hair became very brittle, fragile, dry and prone to breakage, and! shed a lot.

I would say to anyone considering any of those keratin treatments to read carefully the ingredients list and stay away from formaldehyde, it is not only a danger for your hair but also for your health.

Sounds like maybe you had the Japanese straightening. It does not allow your hair to return to it's natural texture. The BB eventually washes out and your hair will return to its original texture.

[Mike]

I use formaldehyde in the lab- I hate the smell. I'd freak out if I smelt it on my hair. We use it as a fixative, it can change the shape of proteins and keep them in that structure. So I guess its not overly surprising that its used for hair straightening. Not on my hair though!
If my hair was like yours I would not use anything either Kathie. AMAZING HAIR GIRL!!

[Aveyronnaise]

I think my main problem with this is the dishonesty of the company. It takes away the choice of the person working with the chemicals , my mom was a hairdresser and you are exposed to enough chemicals they shouldn't have to work with this stuff with out knowing. Much less the consumer who thinks they are putting a safe product on their hair , while they are heating up 10 % formaldehyde .
On a social note I'm sorry I do find it sad that people would risk ( and a high risk ) cancer for a hairstyle ? I have no problem with chemical processing I think the most people are risking is having to grow out a pixie right ?
But dang I just can't get over people wanting to put formaldehyde on their heads... it's like bizarro world.
Here is some basic information on Formaldehyde ...

http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/FO/formaldehyde.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090512192912.htm

http://www.safetydirectory.com/hazardous_substances/formaldehyde/fact_sheet.htm

I don't care if my hair jumped up and danced a reel , I would never put that on my head. Reading that reinforces the fact that at least the workers need protection . How can they get that if a company is lying about the product?

[Gulbahar]

This came up before and the company beat the rap. I don't care. I've used monistat now for close to a year like many others and the FDA does not give it the indication for rapid hair growth.
That's not the same. Monistat is approved to be used on skin - this is all you need to know if you want to put it on your head. As for formaldehyde, the story is completely different.

[AnqeIicDemise]

Yeah.... when the stylist won't do xyz procedure because it may affect her unborn child is a clear indication that I need to avoid such procedure.

and BB can have more than 22% formaldehyde as well. Well, the real BB does anyway. -shudder-

If I wanted to smell like embalming fluid, I'd be working in the funerary service.

That's my opinion though. The stuff people do for the sake of beauty astounds me.

[Panth]

Er. Methylene glycol *is* formaldehyde - just the version that's dissolved in water. They clearly thought people would be fooled by pseudo-scientific blabber.

Some people clearly were fooled by them.


I think my main problem with this is the dishonesty of the company. It takes away the choice of the person working with the chemicals , my mom was a hairdresser and you are exposed to enough chemicals they shouldn't have to work with this stuff with out knowing.

This, I agree, is the main problem. It's bad enough that people are putting this on their heads every couple of months without realising it's formaldehyde ... but that exposure is nothing compared with people who work with it day-in day-out. Since I work in a lab, I can't believe how scary it would be to hear that the chemical you've been treating like it was perfectly ok is actually toxic, corrosive ... and even worse (going by the links Aveyronnaise posted) combustible, carcinogenic and mutagenic.

[Zenity]

Sounds like maybe you had the Japanese straightening. It does not allow your hair to return to it's natural texture. The BB eventually washes out and your hair will return to its original texture.

Yep, but I had a keratin treatment done. Not a Japanese straightening. That's why I was really shocked and upset about my hair not returning to its original texture/shape. Now my mediums/ends are straw like, and the rest of my hair is natural.

I found out the formol responsible for that. I am not the only one with those nasty side effects from a keratin treatment. Many other people using the same brand I did and adding the formol for an extra straight effect had the same issue going on.

As said, stay away from formaldehyde.... is EEEEVIIIILLLLL:rant:

[slz]

The results ROCK!!
Yeah, good hair is well worth a little cancer or two, heh ?

[Lianna]

Yeah, good hair is well worth a little cancer or two, heh ?

I didn't read his post like he was promoting 10% formaldehyde, perhaps he likes the blow outs within the regulations (that's how I read it). Even the approved ones need to be done in a well ventilated area, I've read.

[celebriangel]

I didn't read his post like he was promoting 10% formaldehyde, perhaps he likes the blow outs within the regulations (that's how I read it). Even the approved ones need to be done in a well ventilated area, I've read.

Yeah...it's people's choice, however formaldehyde is a very small molecule and readily permeates skin shudder:, it can cause negative effects on the respiratory system at concentrations as low as 5ppm when the gas is in the air :run: and it can cause heritable DNA mutations and cancers. An all around EEEEEK!

But you know...people are weird, and use tanning beds even though how much it increases your skin cancer risk is ridiculous, and all sorts of stuff that I would consider unacceptably risky. It's their life (or lack thereof).

I do, however, feel extraordinarily sorry for the poor stylists. I would definitely not want to be around this stuff every day.

[In2wishin]

I am allergic to formaldehyde when it comes in contact with my skin so I try to be aware of what does and does not contain it. It is a really common thing: often used as a meant-to-be-washed-out treatment on fabrics: both yard goods and ready to wear. It is especially common on cotton sheets.

Most nail polish uses it and many of the common preservatives in bath and body products will release formaldehyde. The most common ones you see are Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, Tris(hydroxymethyl) nitromethane, and Hydroxymethylglycinate

[slz]

I didn't read his post like he was promoting 10% formaldehyde
Promoting, no - saying he uses it, yes (no idea about the percentage, what is allowed, what is not - in the end if formaldehyde is the key ingredient you won't be able to avoid it anyway). While I find this incredibly stupid given the health hazard when you know about it, I couldn't care less, people choose willingly and it's not my health. Like the tanning beds, smoking and such.
On the other hand, I do feel for the stylists who are the ones to suffer the most.

[Oksana]

Yep, but I had a keratin treatment done. Not a Japanese straightening. That's why I was really shocked and upset about my hair not returning to its original texture/shape. Now my mediums/ends are straw like, and the rest of my hair is natural.

I found out the formol responsible for that. I am not the only one with those nasty side effects from a keratin treatment. Many other people using the same brand I did and adding the formol for an extra straight effect had the same issue going on.

As said, stay away from formaldehyde.... is EEEEVIIIILLLLL:rant:

I also have had the experience of the effect staying. A year on and i haven't yet seen my natural curl pattern! Very much regret having it :(

[UltraBella]

We don't offer this treatment in my salon, I care about our safety more than the profit. All the chemical exposure over a long period of time is a worry for me. We have a ventilation system designed by a specialist to minimize our exposure, but I know it's still dangerous regardless of the precautions I take.

[Longing4Long]

" Originally Posted by Zenity View Post
I got a keratin treatment with the lowest dose allowed here at the UE 0,2%. However my hair got artificially straightened and has never recovered its original shape. Moreover, my hair became very brittle, fragile, dry and prone to breakage, and! shed a lot.

I would say to anyone considering any of those keratin treatments to read carefully the ingredients list and stay away from formaldehyde, it is not only a danger for your hair but also for your health.
Sounds like maybe you had the Japanese straightening. It does not allow your hair to return to it's natural texture. The BB eventually washes out and your hair will return to its original texture."

I had the Brazilian Blow out done twice and part of my hair has not recovered from it, it's been a year since the last time I had it done and I would never do it again.

The first time I had it done my hair looked amazing I have frizzy somewhat curly hair and the BB got rid of all the frizz so I was left with beautiful waves and volume I absolutely loved it. This lasted for about 4 months. Then 9 months after the treatment I had it done for a second time. The hair was stick straight and smooth but with a no volume so it looked limp (which I did not like so much but was happy to be frizz free). The second time around the treatment lasted about 6 months. It has been a year since my last BB and the ends of my hair ( a good 5") still looks limp and feels very thin because of this I would never get the BB again. I've also noticed lots of hair loss. I used to have very dense hair but now I get just a little over an inch in diameter when I put it in a pony tail. I would not recommend the BB to anyone with fine or medium hair.

[Longing4Long]

sorry the post above looks confusing I was trying to quote two previous posts. My comment is the bottom paragraph.