Brazilian blowouts give your hair a beautiful finish and gloss. But, as it is said, “all that glitters is not gold,” you must take a hard look at this popular and seemingly awesome salon treatment.
Experts warn of the dangerous effects of this hair treatment not only on hair, but also on your overall health.
Let’s talk about the beautiful effects first
A Brazilian blowout forms a protective film around your hair cuticles using liquid keratin. This gives you hair a lovely shine, extra strength, and satiny smoothness. Your hair appear healthier and lustrous as long as the effect stays.
The keratin found in the treatment formula is derived generally from animals and birds.
All this sounds good.
However, the glitch lies in the list of chemicals that the formula contains.
They include:
- Formaldehyde
- Formalin
- Paraform
- Methylene oxide
- Methylene glycol
- Methanol
- Formic aldehyde
- Oxomethane
- Oxymethylene
- Timonacic acid
- CAS Number 50-00-0
- Fragrances
Now comes the ugly effect
The FDA has issued a warning disclosing that hair smoothing products and treatments like Brazilian blowouts can damage hair health in the long run and also cause serious health hazards.
Stylists performing these treatments are also at risk of side effects.
Many people report getting a reaction after the treatment. It is not necessary that you experience side effects immediately. You may get them after several hours or even days, says an expert.
Common side effects of Brazilian blowout include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Breathing problems
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Rashes
- Blisters
- Chest pain
- Watery eyes
- Irritation in nose or throat
- Redness or stinging in eyes
- nosebleeds
- Burning of scalp
The dangerous part
A comparison study reveals that the liquid keratin formula treatment used in Brazilian blowout has about 12 per cent formaldehyde. This is almost 3 times more than other keratin treatments.
During a typical blowout treatment, stylists use a hair straightener and a blow dryer to seal in molecules of keratin in your hair cuticles.
Now, the heat fumes of the blow dryer disperse chemicals of the formula in the air. This is enough for asthmatics and for people sensitive to chemicals to trigger a reaction such as wheezing.
Many people experienced rashes on the scalp after a treatment. Others reported eczema-like rashes and even blisters on their scalp skin, neck, face, upper chest, back, and arms. Doctors noticed that the conditions were similar to those happening when you have drug reactions.
The National Toxicology Program cautions about the exposure to formaldehyde, as it is carcinogenic. Brazilian blowouts may have arrived in the market only a decade or so ago, but the dangers of formaldehyde are known since 1980.
Brazilian blowout is a big NO for pregnant ladies.
Brazilian blowout can damage hair health
Although the treatment transforms your mane into a beauty, but this is temporary. In the long run, it damages your hair. Many people have reported damage to their hair after they had several treatments.
The damage includes:
- Hair breakage
- Hair becoming brittle
- Hair patchiness
- Hair becoming excessively dry
- Hair loss
So, when it comes to Brazilian blowout treatment, it is the beauty and also the beast for your hair health.
Jazz Goddard
Jazz is one of the leading hair care experts with a practice of his own. He also loves to share his experience in this field and offers the best advice for all your hair loss issues.
