Concerns Raised About The Safety Of Brazilian Blowout
BOSTON (CBS) -- Stylists are calling it the hottest hair trend in the last decade.
Brazilian Blowout is a product found only in salons that helps make even the frizziest hair smooth and shiny and it lasts for months. But there are mounting concerns about the products safety.
The product label clearly states it is free of formaldehyde, a chemical that has been linked to cancer. But occupational safety officials in the state of Oregon received complaints that Brazilian Blowout was making stylists sick.
They tested the solution and they say they found significant levels of formaldehyde. "Formaldehyde is a hazardous chemical," explained Oregon OSHA administrator Michael Wood. "There are specific steps employers need to take when they're using it in their workplace," he added.
WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben reports.
The California company that makes Brazilian Blowout insists the product is safe. They are now taking legal action against Oregon OSHA because they believe the agency failed to use the proper test for formaldehyde. A statement on the company website says: Had OSHA performed this test, they would have discovered that only traces of Formaldehyde are detected…"
Brazilian Blowout varies widely in price, but can be as much as $300.
The company also points out that OSHA performed additional tests and found formaldehyde gas released into the air was within permissible levels.
Shortly after the Oregon tests, the state of California filed a lawsuit against the makers of Brazilian Blowout. The suit claims the company failed to warn consumers and salon owners that the product contains formaldehyde. After conducting its own tests, the Canadian Government issued a warning urging salon owners to stop using Brazilian Blowout.
Many salons offer a similar process but use other products.
The Oregon OSHA tests found small amounts of formaldehyde in some of those products as well. If you are concerned, you should talk to your stylist before booking an appointment.
