Health or wealth:
As mentioned we are living through some very challenging economic times. Business models that work no longer seem to.There are no guarantee's when it comes to customer loyalty. With this comes worries about revenue daily and weekly takings.
Products and techniques come and go Perming, Henna, Highlights, Lowlights,Ombre. All have taken there place in the salon hall of fame for both looks and indeed for profitability.
Now we have a new challenge facing us! The chemistry of our products is changing at a rapid pace some of the manufacture are less than transparent about how these products work and any possible side effects.frankly this is worrying and we as professional have to ask more question and be either less trusting or hold the manufacture to account.
The chemistry in many cases of our hair colour has changed Ammonia got gets a bad warp it seems an Alkaline derived from grain has a more natural quality to it so it must be safer and healthier! You decided MEA come from the ethanol family.
Back to the profit the revenue the services that are great money makers. The safety of the chemicals in the Keratin products [relaxers] and our ability to trust the manufacturers of these products. Follow the money...so many stylists see only the quick return and fast cash made on this service, and ignore the cancer, COPD and asthma dangers to ourselves and our clients. In some cases if not the product it self then the reaction caused when high heat is applied and fumes are given off. Formaldehyde and it's different-name-same-chemical Aldehyde produce toxic fumes in our salon workspace. We see now and will be seeing in larger, bigger amounts serious breathing issues and potentially even worse health developments.
What is it going to take for salon owners and stylist to sit up do some home work ask some key questions about these products.
Greed is winning out over the safety and health issue! What will happen to our industry when the inevitable legal actions start by anyone who has side effects contracted from being around these fumes?
We need to wake ourselves and each other up to the very real dangers of these product do your own research read some of the true facts. Don't trust me i'm just a messenger but wealth is no replacement for health! The manufactures need to be more honest and we stylist have to demand more of them. Ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to health and safety.
Here are some links below and some food for thought. But hey please do your own home work!
Lets take a look at some of the NEW Exciting Keratin hair products: They are designed to control and smooth out hair get rid of the frizzies make it more manageable :
Well it's seems like the market in the Keratin based hair products is growing in leaps and bounds it also seems that in an effort to gain market attention the chemistry of these products is in state of constant change each company claiming more natural less harmful formulations. Some of the reviews I have read are far from favorable as to results attained, having said this to be fair i have had some very positive and open feed back the people at Nano Keratin very open about the product and how and why it works explanation of the process.
Warning flags:
After the initial interest in the Brazilian blow dry then came the first warning about formaldehyde and the fumes given off with the use of high heat flat irons. The main problem seems to be that having replaced the stabiliser formerly Formaldehyde the search was on for new ingredients that did not produce toxic fumes but also allowed for the cuticle to be opened and softened prior to the application of the Keratin. How do these products work quite simply you are opening the cuticle slightly introducing a conditioning product applying a layer a veneer of keratin and then ironing it flat with a hot iron that a simple explanation.
The much bigger explanation is that the products are all slightly different the source of keratin the products used to stabalise and change or manipulate the ph prior to the Keratin application. I read many reviews on the social sights and blog postings as people report their experience some good some bad some just not really that impressed.
This is the topic that started me asking questions:
It not all doom and gloom and on a positive note i wrote an article on the Nano Keratin Technology a very interesting keratin product that can be read at.
Another product was highlighted this week in the HJ Brocoto they market their product as being a Curl interrupted smoothing system. How does this product work this product does not contain formaldehyde. The main point of difference they claim are as follows System does not contain any formaldehyde or give off any type of gas it is very gentle for hair and health. or so it's claimed .just yesterday i was sent copy of lab report showing high levels of formaldehyde present in products claiming to be safe. The very high het required plays a key roll in the production of the harmful fumes.
They have a two step system, the first phase is a gel which softens the bonds in the hair,the ph of the smoothing gel is 6.85 ,( key ingredient ammonium bisulphite ) with the cuticle now relaxed and slightly open this is when any colour would be added prior to the Keratin application Then the keratin product is added when the bonds are pliable and elongated therefore easily absorbed with gentle heat.the keratin spray is 4.5 to 5.5. This product cannot be over used as the keratin is buffered with other natural ingredients such as acai oil, macadamia seed oil etc. This does not effect other chemical processes The colour does last longer when sealed after ironing with keratin spray. The colour we recommend to use at the same time as the service is an ammonia free demi colour , which does not affect the Ph, my question is demi colour does have an alkaline driver so we are opening an already open cuticle? The keratin is manufactured.
Relaxers,Straitners, Keratin, Blow out: Sharing a health warning
Over the past week I have written reviews and posted information on the new Keratin hair products designed to relax De frizz promote a healthy look promoted as a system that last up to three months without any damage and side effects.
Much of what i read and re-searched was very exciting but as with all products and claims of the new wonder product did it have side effects. The one thing that did keep coming up as a warning light was initially with the Brazilian Blow out and Formaldehyde the problem being as the heat with the hot iron is applied the fumes can be dangerous. Question raised have and were met with denial in many quarters sadly fears have come to be true as yet only in Canada but a red light is a red light. Please if using these products take care follow all direction protect your self and your client.
Warning Oct. 7, 2010
Brazilian Blowout Solution Contains Formaldehyde
The Issue:
Health Canada is warning Canadians that Brazilian Blowout Solution manufactured by Brazilian Blowout of California has been found to contain unacceptable levels of formaldehyde. The Brazilian Blowout hair smoothing treatment is known to be available at salons across Canada.
Health Canada has received complaints of burning eyes, nose, and throat, breathing difficulties, and one report of hair loss associated with use of the product.
Testing conducted by Health Canada found that the Brazilian Blowout Solution contains 12% formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is permitted in cosmetics at less than 0.2% when used as a preservative. Formaldehyde is a known irritant, sensitizer, and is linked to cancer in humans when inhaled chronically over a long period of time. Health Canada believes that the reactions are being caused by formaldehyde becoming aerosolized during the blow drying and flat ironing stages of the treatment. Any procedure containing formaldehyde above the allowable limits places clients and stylists at increased risk.
Who is Affected:
Consumers receiving hair smoothing treatments using Brazilian Blowout, and stylists performing the treatment may experience reactions of burning eyes, nose, throat, and breathing troubles.
What Consumers Should Do:
Consumers who have had adverse reactions to Brazilian Blowout treatments are advised to seek medical attention. There is no cause for concern for consumers who have used this product and not experienced any reactions.
Stylists who use Brazilian Blowout treatments should immediately stop using the affected product.
Adverse reactions to cosmetics can be reported to Health Canada using a form available on Health Canada’s website.
Consumers and health professionals can contact Consumer Product Safety toll free at 1-866-662-0666.
Source:
* Health Canada, Oct. 7, 2010. is the look worth the risk?
Moving on we now have companies rebranding and so re packaging with new formulation claims ALDEHYDES are the term used. are they safe ? what happens when exposed to high heat? In the end you the stylist have to decide is it worth risking?
What is an Aldehyde? It's the new kid on the block in keratin relaxers. Formaldehyde without the form!!!!!
Aldehyde is now found in many products ingredient listings instead of formaldehyde. Could it be it is derived from a natural source? maybe in the same way as we take Ammonia free as being better because MEA is derived from a natural source. It's classed as natural herbal organic and so we are lead to believe safer and so Ok! when the fermentation takes place it makes ethanol. A grain Alcohol derivative the alkaline required for the process.
Aldehydes when heated with a flat iron to a heat of 450 degrees in the keratin process produce a gas guess what it's called? No prizes folks but it's bad stuff and can be carcinogen!
all good stuff i think worth knowing. I write so much on the topic of questioning product and the difference between what we are told an what is withheld. we have to stay current on all these products as they change and become re invented. . Mike very useful link
http://www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/hair-straighteners-that-hide-formaldehyde/
As always i hope this has been informative it is a re visit to the topic for me as more information has come to light. Mike B2MR.
Special thanks for input and sharing to Pamela Decharo:
Aldehyde is now found in many products ingredient listings instead of formaldehyde. Could it be it is derived from a natural source? maybe in the same way as we take Ammonia free as being better because MEA is derived from a natural source. It's classed as natural herbal organic and so we are lead to believe safer and so Ok! when the fermentation takes place it makes ethanol. A grain Alcohol derivative the alkaline required for the process.
Aldehydes when heated with a flat iron to a heat of 450 degrees in the keratin process produce a gas guess what it's called? No prizes folks but it's bad stuff and can be carcinogen!
all good stuff i think worth knowing. I write so much on the topic of questioning product and the difference between what we are told an what is withheld. we have to stay current on all these products as they change and become re invented. . Mike very useful link
http://www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/hair-straighteners-that-hide-formaldehyde/
As always i hope this has been informative it is a re visit to the topic for me as more information has come to light. Mike B2MR.
Special thanks for input and sharing to Pamela Decharo:
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