Brazilian Blowout, a California company which distributes a Professional Smoothing Solution and products to straighten frizzy, damaged, or processed hair, is defending itself against accusations that the treatment contains high levels of formaldehyde and may be a health hazard to salon stylists.
Health Canada, the equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, issued an advisory October 7, 2010 stating that test results showed the product contained 12% formaldehyde, far above the 0.2% limit used in cosmetics. The agency says it has received complaints of burning eyes, nose and throat, breathing difficulties, and one report of hair loss. While Health Canada is seeking to stop distribution of the product in Canada, it stated that there is no cause for concern for consumers who have not experienced any problems with its use.
Meanwhile, the FDA has acknowledged receiving complaints and inquiries regarding problems associated with Brazilian Blowout — and similar products — but it has not received “official adverse reports.” The FDA is currently working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state and local organizations to determine whether the products are harmful.
Oregon Health & Science University’s Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET) tested two samples of Brazilian Blowout. The results, released September 30, showed between 4.85% and 10.6% formaldehyde.
Oregon’s OSHA has conducted air monitoring during the hair treatment, according to a press release. Initial results indicated formaldehyde levels that “could produce medical symptoms for exposed Oregon workers.” The state agency expects to produce a complete analysis shortly.
Brazilian Blowout has taken issue with Oregon’s OSHA, saying that the testing methods of formaldehyde’s water-based cosmetic products is flawed.
“The tests conducted by OSHA actually measured a completely different substance called ‘Methylene Glycol,’ and incorrectly referred to this substance as ‘Formaldehyde,’ the manufacturer stated on its web site. “Methylene Glycol is the key functioning ingredient used in most professional hair smoothing treatments currently on the market.
Brazilian Blowout issued a statement by Doug Schoon, a scientist and cosmetics industry consultant. “Flaws in the testing methods used by Oregon’s division of OSHA actually cause the creation of additional Formaldehyde that is not normally found in the product, which led to Oregon OSHA erroneously reporting levels of Formaldehyde that cannot possibly exist in the product, especially given that Formaldehyde is a gas,” said Schoon.
Schoon charges that had Oregon’s OSHA conduct a different type of test, just a trace amount of Formaldehyde would have been detected, well within acceptable standards.
Brazilian Blowout, which trains professional stylists nationwide on how to use its products, says it believes it will prevail. “We are confident that all misinformation and inaccurate data will soon be dispelled,” the company has stated on its site.
The Brazilian Blowout treatment takes approximately 90 minutes to apply and its results last about 12 weeks.
Article Link: The New York Times “A Safety Kink in Hair Relaxing?”, Nov. 3, 2010
