Getting a magnificent head of hair can be as simple as spritzing on a dry shampoo. It was hard, but we narrowed down a few of the best: one new launch from the inventors of the accessible blowout salon Drybar, one that creates volume and lift, and one that even cleans your scalp. Yes, 'tis true. Not washing your hair was never as sexy at this.
The salon brand Brazilian Blowout is back in the hot seat again. Three congressional representatives sent a letter of censure to the Food and Drug Administration on their lack of reprimand for formaldehyde complaints in the brand's hair-straightening treatments. You might recall that Brazilian Blowout came under scrutiny in 2010 for having formaldehyde levels far over the health standards. For hairstylists and consumers, the toxic chemical could cause adverse effects including cancer.
In February of this year, the brand agreed to place hazard warnings on the products where safety was suspect due to a California lawsuit. But the formulation has not changed. Now Congress is hankering for a more severe investigation of formaldehyde in the beauty industry. The first name on the list is . . . Brazilian Blowout. The products in question are already banned in Canada, Ireland, and Australia. And it seems the FDA might be forced to give more than a meager warning letter and slight slap on the wrist this time around.
The formulas will be the same, but change is already in progress for manufacturer GIB's controversial Brazilian Blowout and Acai Professional Smoothing Solution. Last November, California brought a lawsuit against the company for making misleading claims about the safety of the products, specifically the levels of formaldehyde contained within, but now the parties have come to an agreement. "This settlement requires the company to disclose any hazard so that Californians can make more informed decisions," California Attorney General Kamala Harris's office said in a statement.
As a part of the deal, the makers of Brazilian Blowout have agreed to label the aforementioned product with hazard warnings (a process which they have already started), and will also provide salons with pamphlets containing safety precaution information. See more of the outcome when you read more.
The Brazilian Blowout controversy has been dominating headlines for months now, and California is set to take action. While we already learned that the state had plans to sue GIB LLC, the makers of Brazilian Blowout, we've now learned California has filed a proposed preliminary injunction against GIB.
During the May 2 hearing, the judge will decide whether the injunction will be signed, modified, or declined. In part, it states: "[Brazilian Blowout's] Smoothing Solution contains approximately eight percent formaldehyde by weight, which is in the range typical of embalming fluid used by funeral homes." See what Brazilian Blowout has to say when you read more.
By now, you've probably heard all about the Brazilian Blowout controversy, but the OSHA testing that found formaldehyde in the straightener is only the first salvo in what promises to be a much longer conflict. Brazilian Blowout's manufacturers have filed an injunction to prevent OSHA from disseminating its test results, saying they're "false" and "misleading" despite similar findings in tests by Health Canada. I don't want a company ruined for no reason, but it does seem unethical to limit public knowledge about a product. Do you want to hear more about these tests, or is it only fair to wait until the definitive results are in?
Trouble for a popular hair straightening treatment, the Brazilian Blowout, started brewing back in September when Oregon's OSHA released alarming results of its study. While Brazilian Blowout products are advertised as formaldehyde-free, OSHA found higher-than-allowable percentages of the toxin in all samples tested. A similar study by the Canadian government also concluded the solution had "unacceptable levels of formaldehyde."
Everyone from the state of California to Cosmetologists Chicago has chimed in since then. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review is holding a panel to discuss the issue in the next few weeks. The makers of Brazilian Blowout, however, claim the testing methods were flawed. We're guessing this issue won't be straightened out before 2011.
On Wednesday, the state of California filed a complaint against GIB LLC, the maker of Brazilian Blowout, saying that the company failed to warn both stylists and customers that the product contained formaldehyde. The state's asking that Brazilian Blowout remove anything on the brand's advertising, packaging, and website declaring that the products are "formaldehyde-free" and "safe."
This comes after a recent study by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA) found that the formaldehyde levels in the product averaged at 8.68 percent. OSHA standards dictate that solutions with a formaldehyde content of greater than 0.1 percent must be listed as an ingredient. Brazilian Blowout, however, proudly declares that its product "contains no formaldehyde." To see more about the controversy, just keep reading.
There's been so much in the news lately about formalin and formaldehyde in Brazilian Blowout solution that it seems like everybody and their mother is pulling out of the treatment.
Not so, though, according to today's New York Times. Instead of getting rid of the treatments, some salons have just moved them out into the open air to reduce fumes (no word on how that'll work when it snows in New York). One salon has even gone so far as to have its employees and clients wear gas-mask-like respirators while the procedure is going on.
Most of you said you would not try the treatment, but if these types of precautions were taken, would you reconsider?
Curly-haired women who prefer straight and sleek styles will often go the distance to extend the life of their flat-ironed hair. Chemical straightening, a more permanent option, can help with the convenience of maintaining the sleek look — but at what price? Despite Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's recent report that the popular Brazilian Blowout contains 10.6 percent formaldehyde, some women are still opting for this straightening method. And heavy exposure to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, could harm the health of salon workers. Knowing that even the "formaldehyde-free" formulas have more of the ingredient than is considered safe, would you still take the risk for straight hair? (For the record, we wouldn't.)
File this under "bad hair news." The Brazilian Blowout, a popular hair-straightening treatment, has been found to contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. After stylists at Portland-area salons complained of symptoms such as nosebleeds and difficulty breathing, Oregon state officials tested the formulations in question. Even those advertised as formaldehyde-free contained from 4.85 percent to 10.6 percent formaldehyde. (Brazilian Blowout has released a statement.) We've long been wary of straightening treatments because of possible health risks, and this news is just one more reason we'll stick with the styling iron for now.
