Hair smoothing products are used to straighten hair or to smooth out curls. A hair straightening or smoothing solution is usually applied to human hair followed by a heat treatment that seals the solution in. These products often contain formaldehyde, also known as formalin and methylene glycol. When the solution is heated, the formaldehyde in the products is released into the air as a gas. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that presents a health hazard when breathed into the lungs, or when it gets into the eyes or onto the skin.
According to the National Cancer Institute, when formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea, and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, whereas others have no reaction to the same level of exposure. As hair smoothing products increased in popularity in the late 2000’s, the FDA began receiving inquiries from consumers and salon professionals about the safety of products containing formaldehyde or related ingredients. Skin sensitization or allergic dermatitis can develop after repeated contact with formaldehyde-related ingredients.
When formaldehyde is released into the air, it can cause serious irritation of your eyes, nose, and lungs. The greater the exposure, in terms of both duration and concentration, to products that contain formaldehyde-related ingredients, the higher the potential health risks. Read the label. If it doesn't, we recommend that you do not purchase the product. Also, please let the FDA know. Ask your salon professional. Ask your salon professionals if they know whether a product contains formaldehyde-related ingredients. If they are unsure if formaldehyde is present, you may not want to use the product, especially if you have had a reaction in the past.
Products that are marketed only to salon professionals may not have a list of ingredients, because the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act applies only to products marketed on a retail basis to consumers. Professional use products, however, are required to have directions for safe use and any necessary warning statements. Report bad reactions. Consumers are one of the FDA's most important sources of information. If you experience a bad reaction to a hair smoothing product, please report your symptoms to your healthcare provider, as well as to FDA. The FDA regulates cosmetics, including hair smoothing products, under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and, if they are marketed on a retail basis to consumers, under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.
However, cosmetics must not be unsafe under the intended conditions of use and must be properly labeled, and companies and individuals who manufacture or market them are responsible for the safety and labeling of their products and ingredients. The FDA can take action against cosmetics on the market that do not comply with the law. The FDA does not have authority over the operation of salons or the practice of cosmetology. However, workplace safety in general, including air quality issues, is regulated by OSHA. OSHA issued a Hazard Alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with these hair smoothing products and set a formaldehyde standard 29 CFR 1910.1048 limiting the allowable levels of formaldehyde in the air.
This standard applies to all employers who use formaldehyde, and products that contain or release formaldehyde. As part of its authority, the FDA issues warning letters to notify firms or individuals that they have been found to be in violation of the laws the FDA enforces. To date, the FDA has issued two warning letters to GIB, LLC dba Brazilian Blowout and to Van Tibolli Beauty Corp. citing both safety and labeling violations. The warning letters noted that hair smoothing products containing formaldehyde have been associated with reactions such as eye problems, nervous system problems (for example, headaches and dizziness), respiratory tract problems, nausea, chest pain, vomiting, and rash. Labeling violations included, for example, failure to warn consumers of potential health risks.
Both GIB, LLC dba Brazilian Blowout and Van Tibolli Beauty Corp. These warning letters should not be interpreted as a broad evaluation of the safety of hair smoothing products in general. Other hair smoothing products may vary with respect to composition, intended conditions of use, and other factors. That is why we recommend that consumers ask their salon about ingredients in hair smoothing products. In addition, from 2016 to 2017, the FDA conducted a series of focus groups with salon owners, stylists, consumers and customers to determine their perceptions of formaldehyde hair smoothing products. Findings indicated that salon owners and stylists try to be well-informed about hair smoothing products by taking the training that product manufacturers may provide and learning about short-term and long-term risks from using these products.
Keratin Complex Treatments are marketed as a way to revive hair health and achieve smooth, shiny hair. Keratin is vital to your hair and maintaining the proper level of keratin can make a world of difference in the texture and appearance of your hair. Your hair is made up of keratin. This protein helps to make up the natural structure of your hair and affects the strength and overall health of your hair. Keratin forms a protective shield around the hair and when your hair is full of keratin it leads to stronger, healthier hair. Your hair loses its natural Keratin every single day. This happens through the environment and daily stressors, like heat styling, chemical treatments, dry or humid weather, and even the age of your hair. The loss of keratin can cause damaged hair which can result in dry, brittle, frizzy, and dull hair. Regaining keratin can help you achieve soft, silky, shiny, and smooth hair.
A Keratin Complex treatment can give you soft, silky, shiny, and smooth hair that lasts from 6 weeks up to 5 months, depending on the treatment used. We also offer a Keratin Express treatment; the express treatment is a little less intense and focuses mainly on targeting any of your problem areas. The Express Keratin lasts from 6 weeks to about 2 months. The Express treatment also takes about an hour or two where the full treatment can take up to four hours. We only use the best Keratin on the market to protect you and your hair. Keratin Complex is formaldehyde free, gluten free and they don’t test on animals!
A keratin treatment can eliminate frizz, protect the hair from humidity, strengthen the hair shaft, reduce texture, complement color services, add shine, and decrease styling time. Keratin Complex treatments restore health to provide the straightening and smoothing effect without permanently changing the structure. This gives you the ability to style your hair however you’d like. If you love a lived-in wave or big glamorous curls, you can still achieve those looks with a Keratin Complex Treatment!
There is a misconception that keratin means “straight hair.” Keratin just means healthy, strong and smooth hair for all hair types. Our Keratin Complex Treatments can last up to 5 months if properly taken care of. Investing in some good Keratin rich products will help you get the best results. We recommend our Keratin Therapy shampoo and conditioner; every use helps deposit Keratin back into the hair. They are sulfate free, color safe and they smell heavenly!
Keratin can be a great addition to a healthy hair routine. The replenishment of lost keratin in the hair can have a long-lasting healthy outcome. Have you ever gotten a keratin treatment? A Brazilian Blowout? Maybe you’ve heard that they make hair silky smooth and relaxed and are expensive. Or maybe you’ve heard that they can cause cancer. Keratin is a protein found in the hair, nails, and skin. Keratin affects your hair texture and whether it is straight, wavy, or curly. Using chemicals to change the molecules in coiled or curly hair to make it straight or wavy is known as relaxing the hair. In a keratin treatment, cream containing formaldehyde, or methylene glycol (a chemical that releases formaldehyde when used in hair straightening) is brushed into the hair, which is then blown dry and flat-ironed. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that causes health problems when inhaled, sprayed into the eyes, or absorbed through the skin. It can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause coughing and wheezing, and trigger a severe allergic reaction of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.
Some people have also reported that it caused headaches, dizziness, nausea, chest pains, vomiting, and rashes. The New York State Department of Health lists several brands that sell products containing formaldehyde, including Brazilian Blowout Solution, Cadiveu Brazilian Thermal Reconstruction, Coppola Keratin, and QOD GOLD Solution. Many of these products have been banned in the E.U. All of these treatments contain either formaldehyde or another chemical that releases formaldehyde when heated. The following chemicals are all considered formaldehyde by OSHA: methylene glycol, formalin, methylene oxide, paraform, formic aldehyde, methanal, oxomethane, oxymethylene, or CAS Number 50-00-0. There are also other hair products, such as conditioners and hair sprays, that contain keratin but do not contain any form of formaldehyde and do not require heat activation.
It’s important to know that Keratin is not the only hair straightener that is dangerous. A 2022 study indicated a possible link between the use of chemical hair straighteners and uterine cancer. Researchers found women who applied chemical straightening products on their hair at least four or more times a year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those that did not, and that Black women were at higher risk. Isn’t a Brazilian Blowout “Formaldehyde-Free”? Brazilian Blowout is one of the most common brands of keratin treatments. As a result of the 2010 controversy over formaldehyde in keratin treatments, Brazilian Blowout created a formula that they advertised as “formaldehyde-free.” While there is no formaldehyde listed in the ingredients, the main chemical used is methylene glycol, which releases formaldehyde when it is heated during the treatment process.
Because stylists are at greatest risk for formaldehyde exposure, the national Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set a standard for the amount of formaldehyde allowed in the air. If workers have been exposed to more than a specified amount of formaldehyde, their health must be monitored and they must be reassigned to a job with significantly less exposure. If you are a hairdresser who wants to protect your workers from the health risks of formaldehyde, don’t offer keratin treatments at your salon. If you just thinking of getting regular keratin treatments for yourself, remember that will put yourself and others at greater risk for irritation, allergic reactions, and even cancer. Regardless, with the FDA’s announcement to ban hair-smoothing products that contain formaldehyde, products that contain or create formaldehyde as an ingredient will not be legally available soon. If you want to straighten your hair, remember that using a flat iron releases water vapor, which is much safer for your health. Of course, any form of straightening will damage hair and should be used sparingly, alternating with protective hairstyles that don’t require altering hair’s natural texture, such as braids or gentle twists.
Images and videos are provided to support understanding of chemical exposure, product labeling, and safety practices where appropriate.
Keratin Hair Treatment | Pros & Cons Keratin | What is Keratin Treatment | At Home Keratin Treatment
| Topic | Key points |
|---|---|
| Formaldehyde in smoothing products | Released when heated; health risks; labeling rules; FDA/OSHA roles |
| Keratin Complex claims | Keratin replenishment; long-lasting smoothing; claims of being formaldehyde-free |
| Regulatory actions | Warning letters; focus groups; EU bans; industry disclosures |
In summary, keratin treatments like Keratin Complex may promote smooth, healthy-looking hair, and manufacturers often advertise formaldehyde-free formulas. However, several ingredients related to formaldehyde can release formaldehyde when heated, and exposure risks exist for both clients and salon workers. Consumers should read labels, ask salons about ingredients, and consider safer styling alternatives if exposure concerns are present.
tags: #does #keratin #complex #have #formaldehyde