So, anything touted as a time-saver that has the added bonus of making us moms look our best should be greeted like manna from heaven, right? That's what I thought when I first heard about the miraculous Brazilian Blowout a few years ago. I mean, who doesn't look great when their hair is impeccably shiny and straight? And who wouldn't want to achieve that with little or no effort for months at a time? Honestly, two of the things that kept me from running right out to my hairdresser and getting mine done then and there were the price (the same as half the year at my gym!) and the time involved. But my main concern was the potential health risk. I kept recalling the old mantra: things that look too good to be true, probably are.
Lo and behold, now multiple studies set the record straight (get it?) on this miracle cure for curls and frizz. Not too long ago, Allure magazine did an expose' on the procedure that uncovered a secret ingredient used to get the kinks out of hard-to-control hair -- formaldehyde. You may have heard of that chemical before as it is often found in nail polish and (gag) is commonly used as an embalming fluid. If that doesn't gross you out enough, the National Cancer Institute has also listed formaldehyde as a known carcinogen that has been linked to several cancers, including leukemia. Aside from causing diseases that can potentially kill you, formaldehyde can have less serious but still troubling side-effects like nausea, coughing, skin and throat irritation as well as causing watery eyes and a burning sensation in the nose.
But wait a minute, you say....didn't the maker of this Brazilian hair formula remove formaldehyde from their products amidst all the brouhaha when the Allure story first came out? Well, here is where it might help to get your facts straight (sorry, I couldn't resist!)
Apparently, while Brazilian Blowout says they removed the controversial chemical -- even now labeling the product as "formaldehyde-free" -- independent lab tests have confirmed that not only is it still present, it's found in doses significantly higher than what is deemed safe. Just a few weeks ago, a Canadian study found that the Brazilian Blowout contains up to 12 percent formaldehyde and issued a warning to urge consumers to avoid the product. A similar study out of Oregon also found high levels of the toxic substance and subsequently issued health alerts to consumers in that state. Many salons across the country have now discontinued the service as a health risk to employees and customers alike.
Women have long suffered indignities and risked their health in an effort to beautify themselves. Every year we read stories of women who die on the operating table during elective plastic surgery, botched boob jobs, ladies burned during laser hair removal procedures, not to mention the dubious claims made by diet pills and nutritional supplements promising to help us look and feel our absolute best.
For someone who routinely shuns manicures and pedicures because of the gross-out factor of most of today's nail polishes and removers, you can guess where I fall on the debate about the Brazilian Blowout. While I'd love nothing more than to have my tresses soft and silky and looking like Gwyneth Paltrow or Courtney Cox, I'll draw the line at where vanity and potential poison intersect. (and by the way, I am in no way saying that these celebs have used this particular hair process....just admiring their gorgeous manes.)
So, until there is a safe alternative, I'll be sweating it out under my trusty hair dryer, armed with my earth-friendly products and my large curling brush, straightening my locks the old fashioned way. And as a mom who doesn't always have time to wash my hair everyday, that also comes in handy as a natural way of achieving that coveted "flat" look.
Posts
