Phoenix, AZ (December 2, 2008) – Recent media stories continue to raise questions in our industry about the safety of some Brazilian hair straighteners – also known as Brazilian Keratin Treatments (BKT) and/or “escova progressiva”. The media has highlighted the use of formaldehyde as an ingredient in these treatments, raising particular questions about the levels of formaldehyde used in some products.
Additionally, the media has drawn attention to the mislabeling and/or lack of labeling on the part of some product manufacturers. Specifically, it has been reported that some Brazilian hair straightening products are being marketed as “formaldehyde free” when in fact they contain formaldehyde.
The use of Brazilian hair straighteners has become increasingly popular over the last several years. Although there have been no comprehensive studies on these products and treatments, some experts are concerned about the possible inhalation of formaldehyde in unsafe quantities – both on the part of salon industry professionals and consumers.
Commonly used as a preservative, formaldehyde is found in everyday household objects such as glue and particle board. However, acute exposure can be highly irritating and may cause severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It is also a suspected human carcinogen. Individual reactions to different levels of formaldehyde (as with most environmental stimuli) can vary greatly based on hereditary and lifestyle factors.
The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel completed an extensive review of formaldehyde in 1984, and listed it as “safe as used” in cosmetics within certain specifications. The CIR has listed formaldehyde as safe for use in cosmetics in quantities of point two percent (0.2%) or less. CIR also advises that “Formaldehyde should not be used in products intended to be aerosolized”.
OSHA does not have a formaldehyde concentration limitation for cosmetic products; however it is concerned with the concentration of formaldehyde vapors in the atmosphere emanating from products. The OSHA limit is 0.75 parts per million (ppm) over an eight (8) hour exposure period. When a product like the Brazilian straightener is applied to the hair and is heated with a flat iron, formaldehyde vaporizes and is released into the air. In this situation, both stylist and client can be exposed to levels of formaldehyde greater than 0.75 ppm by inhaling these vapors.
