When it comes to beauty products and services, it should come as no surprise that women will go to great, and sometimes questionable, lengths to attain the apogee of glamour. For a portion of these women, a new hair treatment technique called the Brazilian Blowout, that claims to eliminate frizz and improve the condition of hair, offers a powerful tool for responding to the perils of untamed tresses. But some consumers and regulators are worried that the process comes with risks.
So don’t rush to the salon quite yet. GIB, the maker of the treatment, is under scrutiny for the amount of formaldehyde present in their line of products. California Attorney General (and Governor-elect) Jerry Brown has already filed a civil lawsuit against the company, claiming that their “formaldehyde-free” and “salon safe” versions are misleading. Upon request, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division tested the company’s Acai Professional Smoothing Solution and found that based on 37 samples, the solution contained an average of roughly eight percent formaldehyde — a number much higher than the 0.1 percent level the U.S. OSHA has deemed safe.
However, when the Oregon OSHA tested the ambient air at seven salons during a Brazilian Blowout treatment, the formaldehyde levels ranged from 0.11 to 1.88 parts per million, which is below the OSHA standard of 2 parts per million for short-term exposure.
Though formaldehyde is categorized as a carcinogen, ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross reminds us that “the dose makes the poison, and there is a level of exposure that’s not considered dangerous.”
But, this doesn’t mean that we should be careless with our exposure to the chemical either. “Formaldehyde is toxic and should be treated with respect since too much of it can be quite dangerous,” cautions ACSH's Dr. Josh Bloom. “It is especially hazardous to the eyes, sinuses and lungs, even at moderate concentrations.”
Your humble scribe must admit she has been overwhelmed by the fumes emanating from the Brazilian Blowout treatment, leading ACSH staffer Cheryl Martin to remind readers that for women who decide to proceed with the service, they should take the necessary precautions by making sure that the “salon is well ventilated, and if they develop a reaction, they should leave.” Sometimes beauty is not worth the pain.
