Do you think hair straighteners are good?

Exposure to formaldehyde contained in hair smoothing and straightening products can lead to health risks such as cancer. People who work at hair salon and those attending beauty schools have an increased risk of exposure. Scientists suppose that Brazilian Blowout treatment that used by licensed hair stylists can cause cancer due to chemical.

Formaldehyde that binds keratin to hair is used in hair straightening products. The scientists found extremely high levels of formaldehyde in the air of salons using these hair-straightening products. Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed that even products that were labelled as ‘formaldehyde free’ contained the chemical. All workers suffered from allergic reactions to formaldehyde such as eye irritation and nose bleeds.

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’. Formaldehyde, a strong foul-smelling gas, is determined as a 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.

Formaldehyde levels above 0.1 ppm in the air can irritate nose, throat and lungs. Higher levels of it may 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.

There is a list of brand-name products that contain formaldehyde or that can expose you to formaldehyde:

• Acai Professional Smoothing Solution
• Professional Brazilian Blowout Solution
• Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy
• Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment
• Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment Blonde
• Express Blow Out
• Brazilian Keratin Treatment
• Advanced Brazilian Keratin Treatment
• Chocolate Extreme De-Frizzing Treatment
• Soft Gentle Smoothing Treatment
• Soft Chocolate Gentle Smoothing Treatment