Congress May Wipeout Brazilian Blowouts
Critics say it’s toxic and causes cancer.
Now, a federal hazard alert has been issued against the hair-smoothing technique called “Brazilian Blowout.”
Members of Congress are asking the Food and Drug Administration to issue a voluntary recall, but despite the warnings, the process is still being used across the United States.
“I always looked like a mess,” said Kim Hayden, who recently received a Brazilian Blowout treatment. “Now, it looks nice, and I don’t have to do anything to it.”
The Brazillian Blowout is a semi permanent, anti-frizz treatment meant to take all of the “frizz” out of hair and recondition it, leaving it silky smooth.
The process takes a couple of hours and includes painting the product, which contains formaldehyde, onto the hair.
“(Formaldehyde) has not seemed to waiver anyone’s decision on getting it done,” said Dayna Neuberger of Salon Studios in Palm Desert, Calif. “The benefits far outweigh it.”
Neuburger says the Brazilian Blowout keeps her busy. More and more women are opting for the treatment, meaning she’s exposed to the chemicals daily.
“Personally, am I concerned? No,” she said.
In April the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a hazard alert warning consumers that results of air motoring in salons found formaldehyde at high levels when products used in the Brazilian Blowout were used.
To combat the negative press, Brazilian Blowout put this statement out on their website: “The Brazilian Blowout is a perfectly safe product that gives people the hair of a lifetime and generates money for the economy.”
“There’s always going to be warnings, and I appreciate that,” said Hayden “At some point, you need to make your own decision.”
After researching the Brazilian Blowout for about a year. my hairdresser, Holly Clerkin of Liberty Salon, said I was the perfect candidate. So, I decided to put it to the test.
The procedure would cut down on the amount of time I spent pulling my hair straight and flat ironing it, Clerkin said. In the end, she said my hair would be healthier, too.
“I have done so many and have not had one bad experience,” Clerkin said. “Neither have my clients. Safety for myself and clients is a priority. I have not had any negative reaction from doing the blowout.”.
It took two-and-a-half hours to turn my hair from a curly, frizzy mess to flat and smooth. Now, Clerkin said I can wash my hair, blow it dry and go. It should last approximately three months.
“It’s life-changing,” Clerkin said. “What would normally take someone an hour to do takes 10 minutes. It completely changes structure of their hair.”
While Congress hesitates on pulling the Brazilian Blowout out of salons, it is recommending the FDA require warning labels for all products that contain formaldehyde.
