We’re linking to love this month! All our February questions come from other bloggers and we’re encouraging you to check out their blogs. Today’s question is from our dear friend Moxie at MoxieReviews.com. Visit her today!
Moxie must know…Brazilian Blowouts were found to release formaldehyde. Are the Keratin-based hair-straightening products that I see stylists in salons doing that much safer on hair/environment?
The Left Brain responds:
The safety concerns regarding high levels formaldehyde in hair straightening prdoducts has been well documented and inhaling large quantities of formaledhyde gas is a legitimate health concern. (see this reference.) Some of the Brazillain Blowout type products contained as much as 10% formaldehyde which far exceeds the safe limits. (Remember: the dose makes the poison!)
The Keratin straightening products you refer to use an entirely different chemistry. (Read our previous post on how temporary hair straighteners work.) These products do physically disrupt the structure of hair so there is some of degree of damage. (Much less than relaxing but more than simply combing and brushing.) However, these products do NOT raise the same health/environmental concerns as products with high levels of formaldehyde.
Image credit: Flikr.com
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
OMG: That picture looks like ME, nervously getting my hair ironed by my sister in junior high and high school before there were flat irons as I nervously yelled, “Don’t get too close to my scalp with that iron!” The safer but not as effective method I used was to put my hair in a pony tail and then put it into my mom’s vacuum cleaner tube. All I can say is “Ladies, be VERY thankful for the invention of flat irons!”