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Hair Loss News Archives
November 2010
Hair Loss, Irritation Blamed on Popular Hair Product
Formaldehyde found in hair-straightening treatment, Oregon OSHA says
Nov 2010
A handful of Chicago salons and their clients are blaming hair loss
and physical irritation on the use of a product that quickly became
a media darling and embraced and endorsed by Hollywood stars.
In the multi-billion dollar hair care industry, "Brazilian Blowout"
was a rising star. The product was touted for its ability to deliver
frizz-free, straight hair and get customers out of the salon in 90
minutes. More traditional treatments can take in excess of three
hours.
Stephanie Addesso is just one client. She says she had the $300
treatment done to straighten her hair with "Brazilian Blowout" and
was initially impressed with the results.
"It looked good. My hair did look good," she said.
But when it began coming out "in bundles," Addesso said she took to
the Internet and the product's manufacturer for answers.
"Has anyone else called you with a complaint that their hair is
falling out?" she recalled asking the company. "They tell me, 'No,
no one, ever.' I'm like, 'Really? Because I find that a little odd
because I've been online and all these people are saying their hair
is falling out.'"
Salon owners, like Adriana Mendoza, of Glenview, said she and her
stylists also expressed concerns.
"Their eyes are burning. Their nose, it feels like they have a bunch
of wasabi stuck up their nose," she said.
Mendoza ultimately pulled the product from her shelves.
"I didn't feel safe. There's got to be something in this stuff, and
I'm just stopping it until I know more about it," she said.
What was in it, according to a study by the Oregon Occupational
Health and Safety Division, was significant levels of formaldehyde
in more than half the samples tested. Trace levels were found in the
air sampled from five salons.
The company behind "Brazilian Blowout" fought back, accusing Oregon
of using "flawed" testing methods. It said it is pursuing legal
action to get the state to correct the record on the product.
While that battle brewed, complaints were coming in across the
country and around the world.
In California, lawsuits have been filed which allege the company
knew its product contained formaldehyde but hid it from consumers
and failed to warn of the potential danger.
Connecticut's Department of Health has called on salons to
"discontinue the use of these products" for now.
Canada issued a health advisory and Ireland has called for a ban on
"Brazilian Blowout" citing "health fears."
The CEO of "Brazilian Blowout" said he is confident his product will
be cleared of any and all safety concerns. After initiating legal
proceedings against the state of Oregon, he pointed out the agency's
own findings show there is no reason to be concerned about
formaldehyde levels in the air of a salon using the product. [Full
Statement by the Company (.pdf)]
Fifty salons in and around Chicago were contacted by NBC Chicago.
Nearly half still offer the product, but a number of them said they
pulled the product because of these concerns.
The Food and Drug Administration said it has fielded a dozen
complaints and is now investigating.
Many salons offer other Brazilian-style straighteners which are not
related to "Brazilian Blowout."
Source