Posted in CancerFormaldehydeSalons
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been sharing information on the dangers of formaldehyde-laced hair straightening products, including the infamous Brazilian Blowout, among others. The FDA recently issued a warning to the makers of Brazilian Blowout, and increasingly salon professionals are demanding that it be recalled.
Recently the National Healthy Nail and Beauty Alliance demanded that the FDA immediately recall Brazilian Blowout and similar products. According to the FDA, the cosmetics industry’s own safety review board issued an opinion critiquing the safety of straighteners that use formaldehyde. OSHA has issued a national hazard alert. And this year the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report on formaldehyde that confirmed the EPA’s determination that it causes cancer.
The FDA does not have the ability to ban a beauty product. It can only issue a “voluntary recall,” meaning that it cannot mandate the removal of dangerous products from the market.
Many other countries, however, have made hair-straighteners with formaldehyde illegal, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, France and Germany.
So, who thinks we should stop using these formaldehyde-based hair straightening treatments? Well, obviously a whole lot of people.
So why do people keep using it?
For one answer, check out the clip at the end of this post. Please pardon the terrible news anchor who seems to think that potentially killing people is worth it as long as her hair looks good. The guest, a stylist from California, makes perfect sense when she says that what drives Brazilian Blowout’s continued use is the fact that salons can charge $200-$400 for the service. In troubled economic times, it’s hard to turn that kind of cash down. As long as customers continue to ask for the treatment, some salons will continue to provide it, with dangerous consequences:
This marks the end of our four part series on Dangerous Beauty and hair straightening products with formaldehyde. However, we are certain there will be more news to come as this topic continues to gain momentum. Check back here for future updates as the story unfolds.
