I am writing this blog in the attempt to inform people about the potential negative and damaging side effects of getting a Keratin Hair Treatment at your local salon. I hope that whomever reads this blog will seriously consider against doing a Keratin Hair Treatment if you already haven't done so -- and if you have, and have had horrible things happen from the treatment, please email me at DawnEmerson1974@gmail.com to tell me your story.
I will be posting every one's story on this blog for other people to read. I am also interested in forming a class action lawsuit against the makers of the products (i.e. BKT, Coppolla, etc.).
So here's the low-down on the Keratin Hair Treatment that most salons have been advocating here in the U.S. over the last 1 - 2 years. The treatment is a keratin infused product (several companies make this product) that makes the hair straighter, shiny, and more "silky". It is said to be a "safe" way to straighten your hair, because it actually makes the hair "healthier" by infusing keratin into the hair shaft.
So what is keratin? Keratin is one of the main building blocks of human (and most animal) hair. Keratin is actually a family of fibrous structural proteins found in various components of organic material. The keratin found in human hair act as a bond, or a sort of "glue" (to think of it in a generic sense), for various amino acids, proteins, etc. that compromise the shaft of the human hair compounds.
The idea behind the Keratin Hair Treatment is that if the hair is infused with keratin the hair will become stronger and more healthy (different companies use different types of keratin; for instance, some use keratin from goats, although they don't say where the keratin is coming from - it would be my guess it is coming from internal organs such as liver keratin, but I suppose it could be hair/fur derived). By adding more "glue" to the make-up of the hair strand, the other elements such as protein can bind together more closely in order to create a stronger binding.
Now, keratin treatments have been around in various forms for a long time, well before the recent "fade" of the current salon keratin hair treatment (sometimes referred to as the "Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment"). Using pure organic or synthetic keratin is of little harm to the human body, and has little or no known negative side effects.
However, the products used in this type of Keratin Treatment are made of a lot more than just keratin. Although keratin will make your hair stronger, and possibly more shiny or "silky", it will not straighten hair. This is where the chemicals join the mixture...
Formaldehyde and the Aldehyde family of chemicals have long been used in the textile trades to manufacture materials such as wool. In the keratin treatment that salons are currently performing, the products being used either contain raw formaldehyde or another form of the aldehyde family such as glutraldehyde (or glutral) or glyoxal. These chemicals help create the process of straightening the hair, as well as re-infusing the reaction of keratin to the hair strand.
Let's stop right here and talk about formaldehyde and the aldehyde family of chemicals. I am sure you have heard the word formaldehyde before, right? Most commonly, people know it as the main chemical used in embalming fluid. Formaldehyde is found in trace amounts in organic materials during the metabolic process, or when other combustion occur. However, it is a chemical that is a known carcengian that is used in a variety of situations and only in the last 20 years has started to become regulated by the FDA and REACH in Europe. It was / is used for things like building materials, germicides and preservatives. It is not good for humans to ingest or be in repeated/long term exposure to the chemical through either touching it or breathing it.
There are some companies making the Keratin Treatment products that claim it is formaldehyde free (Coppolla is one of them). However, they still use other compounds from the same family - the Aldehyde family of chemicals. When these chemicals are heated past 420 degrees, they have a similar chemical reaction as would traditionally based formaldehyde.
So, the first thing to be clear about is that if you are receiving a Keratin Hair Treatment at a salon, and it is the treatment that is meant to "straighten" your hair, there is no such thing as a formaldehyde free product. There just isn't. They say this as a marketing tool, and they use other Aldehyde compounds instead in order to get rid of the immediate toxicity of raw formaldehyde - but it is still relatively similar. I know that there are "other" types of keratin treatments on the market that don't straighten your hair at all, and these are NOT the $250 - $350 treatments being sold at most salons in America.
So here is the process at the salon during the treatment, for those of you whom have not gotten it done yet. The stylist does a shampoo clarification, then dries your hair fully. They then put the product on your dry hair, and section it off into very small sections using a straightener of at least 420 - 450 degrees, going over the hair anywhere from 5 - 10 times for each section. You then do not wash your hair for 3 - 5 days, leaving the "treatment" in your hair so it can cure. You are supposed to use sodium-free shampoo so as not to fade the chemicals in your hair so the treatment lasts longer. It "should" last between 4 - 6 months.
Stop and think about this for a minute. First, what we just read about the Aldehyde group of chemicals. The person doing your hair is straightening your hair so it will be smooth and cure that way, sure, but it is also so that the chemical reaction can occur. 420 - 450 degrees is really hot, when you stop to think about it...
Next, think about the fact that the treatment has a specific shelf life. This means a few things. One, the treatment does not change the actual bonding in your hair, or change the chemical make-up of your hair (like other straightening treatments, or perms, etc.). It actually sits on the hair strand and is slowly washed away every time you shampoo. And the worst part of this concept .... during the 3-5 days of "curing" you are walking around, sleeping, eating next to .... that's right. A head full of formaldehyde. It is rubbing into your skin, by your scalp, near your mouth. Although the chemical is in a dry state, there is still a reactive property to it. And when you wash out the initial chemicals? They are still in your hair!
When you get your hair dyed, for instance, there are some potentially dangerous chemicals being used. However, dying actually changes the chemical make-up of the hair strand (same as a perm), and therefore the chemicals are only on the hair for a short time while the process is occurring. Once you wash them out, they are no longer "sitting" on your strands - because the process is now permanent, not an ongoing chemical reaction.
Hmmm,..... makes you think right???
Now let's talk about some other elements of these Keratin Hair Treatments, and reactions people have had. I have spoken to and been in contact online with a number of people (mostly woman) whom have had some very alarming things happen in reaction to this treatment. The most disturbing has been immediate hair loss, massive hair loss. Some woman have reported loosing anywhere from 40 - 75% of their hair! Allergic reactions on the scalp are also occurring, and long terms effects (because the FDA has not approved or studied these products) are unknown, with some doctors suggesting that these chemicals found in these treatments cause cancer.
I will continue my insight on the Keratin Treatment on my next blog posting....
Friday, April 9, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Keratin Hair Treatment = Hair Loss?
Yesterday, I explained the process of the keratin hair treatment and some of the chemicals / compounds found in the product used for the treatment.
I want to start off by making something very clear, that I will reiterate in every blog I post. The Keratin Hair Treatment that all salons are offering in the U.S., the one that costs hundreds of dollars, is not all natural. Even if the company that manufactures the products your salon is using says "formaldehyde free", please be informed that this is a manipulation of the truth - it is an indirect lie. Although the product doesn't contain raw formaldehyde, it does contain other chemicals within the Aldehyde family (this is the family of chemicals that formaldehyde is in). Be very weary when they try to tell you it's "all natural"!
One more thing to keep in mind -- I have been informed that these products have been banned in Brazil (where they originated from) and by REACH of the European Union. Apparently, after a woman died in a salon in Brazil last year while getting the treatment done, laws were passed to ban the service/products in Brazil. Also, keep this in mind. In the U.S. the legal limit a product can have in it is .2% of formaldehyde or any aldehyde family compound, when the product is in close contact to humans. Some reports say that these products, depending on the company who makes them, have anywhere from 1 - 4% of formaldehyde or aldehyde chemicals. I just can't understand why the FDA has stepped in yet...
Okay, so I wanted to talk about some of the side effects people have been experiencing after receiving these Keratin Treatments. I will start with my own experience, although I feel (so far) that I have been lucky that my reactions have been minimal.
I had been wanting to get this treatment done for the last year, but I couldn't fathom the idea of ponying up $350 for it. My friend had gotten it, and her hair had looked amazing. Last week, I was looking around for ideas on treatments to make my hair healthier, so that I can grow it longer. I was reminded about the keratin Hair Treatment, and found a special at Ulta salons offering the Coppola treatment for only $185. I figured it was a good investment. I had heard some products use formaldehyde, and so I called Ulta to make sure their product didn't have it. I spoke to two different Ulta salons in Illinois, about 5 people total. All said no it didn't, but suggested that I call the Coppola 800 number to ask any questions I had. I called, and spoke to two customer service representatives. Both told me that no, the product didn't contain formaldehyde and one even told me it was "all natural" and completely safe for everyone.
I went ahead and did it. The product didn't smell too bad, so it made me less worried and I thought "well, this product is all natural so it can't be bad for you." There were two other people in the salon getting it done at the same time - so, of course, you start feeling safety in numbers.
I left the salon, my hair pin straight and smooth (although very greasy), and went home. About three hours later my scalp started itching. Then it start burning. Then it started getting red. I called the salon the next day, and the lady who did it told me "don't wash it out". I said, "really? even with the burning?" She told me to call Coppola. Call Coppola for a service you provided?? I asked. My first red flag in all of this was the fact that it felt like Ulta salon employees were trained to have clients "call Coppola".
I have gone to the salon for the last 15 years of my life on a regular basis for a variety of services. I have gotten my hair dyed dark, dyed platinum blond, dyed red, stripped, permed, bleached, cut, relaxed, .. the list goes on and on. I have often asked questions about the products they use, and I have never been told to call the company that makes the products before!
I called Coppola, who told me that it was unlikely that the product was doing this to my scalp. So, it was coincidence that for the first time in my life my scalp is burning and itching like this, when the product is on my hair. She told me to call my salon. So, Ulta Salon says to call Coppola, Coppola says to call my salon. Interesting...
What I noticed next was an awful lot of hair loss. Too much hair loss. I don't shed hair at all, and when I do it is almost always small pieces (I have long hair) that is breaking from the middle point of the strands due to breakage. The hair coming off were long, full pieces - you could see the bulb of the hair on them. Coming right from my head!
I called the salon again, and my lady wasn't available. I told the person I wanted to wash my hair out a day early - right then - but she said "whatever you do do not wash your hair". What?
Finally, I spoke to my stylist and she told me that "you loose 100 hairs a day, and this is just your normal hair loss." I said, no this is not my normal hair loss. "Well," she continued, "usually the hair is going down the drain when you wash it, but not that you haven't washed it for two days you are noticing it on your pillow or in your comb." I explained to her that I use a hair catcher in the tub, and I always know how much hair I am loosing. That I clean my brush out every time before I brush, so I know how much hair I'm loosing. Finally, I practically hung up on her as she was telling me there was no way the product could be doing anything bad and I jumped in the shower to wash.
I have lost a lot more hair than normal, and my scalp is starting to feel better 5 days after I washed for the first time after the treatment. I don't have health insurance at the moment, and I am considering going to a specialist but would like to avoid it due to cost. But, I will go soon if it doesn't get better in the next few days.
I called a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss, and she told me she has seen a number of women with the same reaction to this treatment. I found this very interesting and started doing som research.
I have found quite a few message boards and postings from woman stating they have had enormous hair loss, some 40 - 75% of their hair falling out in clumps, and many have had horrible skin and scalp reactions. The worst thing is, the long term effects are still unknown. The absorption of the chemicals into your scalp, skin, ingesting through your mouth - think about how many times you touch your hair after the treatment, during those 3-4 days it is in your hair, and then touch your mouth or face? Plus, the hair has to stay flat for those days - so it is literally sitting on your face, neck, ears, etc.
For those of you whom have had major consequences and reactions after having this treatment, please email me your story to DawnEmerson1974@gmail.com. I will post your story on this blog, and I am hoping that people will start reading it who want to know the truth and the risks before getting the treatment done. I will be starting a Facebook group soon as well, and will post the link on this blog - so please join. I am considering forming a class action lawsuit against the companies that make the product - these products really should be banned in the US!
I want to start off by making something very clear, that I will reiterate in every blog I post. The Keratin Hair Treatment that all salons are offering in the U.S., the one that costs hundreds of dollars, is not all natural. Even if the company that manufactures the products your salon is using says "formaldehyde free", please be informed that this is a manipulation of the truth - it is an indirect lie. Although the product doesn't contain raw formaldehyde, it does contain other chemicals within the Aldehyde family (this is the family of chemicals that formaldehyde is in). Be very weary when they try to tell you it's "all natural"!
One more thing to keep in mind -- I have been informed that these products have been banned in Brazil (where they originated from) and by REACH of the European Union. Apparently, after a woman died in a salon in Brazil last year while getting the treatment done, laws were passed to ban the service/products in Brazil. Also, keep this in mind. In the U.S. the legal limit a product can have in it is .2% of formaldehyde or any aldehyde family compound, when the product is in close contact to humans. Some reports say that these products, depending on the company who makes them, have anywhere from 1 - 4% of formaldehyde or aldehyde chemicals. I just can't understand why the FDA has stepped in yet...
Okay, so I wanted to talk about some of the side effects people have been experiencing after receiving these Keratin Treatments. I will start with my own experience, although I feel (so far) that I have been lucky that my reactions have been minimal.
I had been wanting to get this treatment done for the last year, but I couldn't fathom the idea of ponying up $350 for it. My friend had gotten it, and her hair had looked amazing. Last week, I was looking around for ideas on treatments to make my hair healthier, so that I can grow it longer. I was reminded about the keratin Hair Treatment, and found a special at Ulta salons offering the Coppola treatment for only $185. I figured it was a good investment. I had heard some products use formaldehyde, and so I called Ulta to make sure their product didn't have it. I spoke to two different Ulta salons in Illinois, about 5 people total. All said no it didn't, but suggested that I call the Coppola 800 number to ask any questions I had. I called, and spoke to two customer service representatives. Both told me that no, the product didn't contain formaldehyde and one even told me it was "all natural" and completely safe for everyone.
I went ahead and did it. The product didn't smell too bad, so it made me less worried and I thought "well, this product is all natural so it can't be bad for you." There were two other people in the salon getting it done at the same time - so, of course, you start feeling safety in numbers.
I left the salon, my hair pin straight and smooth (although very greasy), and went home. About three hours later my scalp started itching. Then it start burning. Then it started getting red. I called the salon the next day, and the lady who did it told me "don't wash it out". I said, "really? even with the burning?" She told me to call Coppola. Call Coppola for a service you provided?? I asked. My first red flag in all of this was the fact that it felt like Ulta salon employees were trained to have clients "call Coppola".
I have gone to the salon for the last 15 years of my life on a regular basis for a variety of services. I have gotten my hair dyed dark, dyed platinum blond, dyed red, stripped, permed, bleached, cut, relaxed, .. the list goes on and on. I have often asked questions about the products they use, and I have never been told to call the company that makes the products before!
I called Coppola, who told me that it was unlikely that the product was doing this to my scalp. So, it was coincidence that for the first time in my life my scalp is burning and itching like this, when the product is on my hair. She told me to call my salon. So, Ulta Salon says to call Coppola, Coppola says to call my salon. Interesting...
What I noticed next was an awful lot of hair loss. Too much hair loss. I don't shed hair at all, and when I do it is almost always small pieces (I have long hair) that is breaking from the middle point of the strands due to breakage. The hair coming off were long, full pieces - you could see the bulb of the hair on them. Coming right from my head!
I called the salon again, and my lady wasn't available. I told the person I wanted to wash my hair out a day early - right then - but she said "whatever you do do not wash your hair". What?
Finally, I spoke to my stylist and she told me that "you loose 100 hairs a day, and this is just your normal hair loss." I said, no this is not my normal hair loss. "Well," she continued, "usually the hair is going down the drain when you wash it, but not that you haven't washed it for two days you are noticing it on your pillow or in your comb." I explained to her that I use a hair catcher in the tub, and I always know how much hair I am loosing. That I clean my brush out every time before I brush, so I know how much hair I'm loosing. Finally, I practically hung up on her as she was telling me there was no way the product could be doing anything bad and I jumped in the shower to wash.
I have lost a lot more hair than normal, and my scalp is starting to feel better 5 days after I washed for the first time after the treatment. I don't have health insurance at the moment, and I am considering going to a specialist but would like to avoid it due to cost. But, I will go soon if it doesn't get better in the next few days.
I called a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss, and she told me she has seen a number of women with the same reaction to this treatment. I found this very interesting and started doing som research.
I have found quite a few message boards and postings from woman stating they have had enormous hair loss, some 40 - 75% of their hair falling out in clumps, and many have had horrible skin and scalp reactions. The worst thing is, the long term effects are still unknown. The absorption of the chemicals into your scalp, skin, ingesting through your mouth - think about how many times you touch your hair after the treatment, during those 3-4 days it is in your hair, and then touch your mouth or face? Plus, the hair has to stay flat for those days - so it is literally sitting on your face, neck, ears, etc.
For those of you whom have had major consequences and reactions after having this treatment, please email me your story to DawnEmerson1974@gmail.com. I will post your story on this blog, and I am hoping that people will start reading it who want to know the truth and the risks before getting the treatment done. I will be starting a Facebook group soon as well, and will post the link on this blog - so please join. I am considering forming a class action lawsuit against the companies that make the product - these products really should be banned in the US!
Keratin Treatment Explained
I am writing this blog in the attempt to inform people about the potential negative and damaging side effects of getting a Keratin Hair Treatment at your local salon. I hope that whomever reads this blog will seriously consider against doing a Keratin Hair Treatment if you already haven't done so -- and if you have, and have had horrible things happen from the treatment, please email me at DawnEmerson1974@gmail.com to tell me your story.
I will be posting every one's story on this blog for other people to read. I am also interested in forming a class action lawsuit against the makers of the products (i.e. BKT, Coppolla, etc.).
So here's the low-down on the Keratin Hair Treatment that most salons have been advocating here in the U.S. over the last 1 - 2 years. The treatment is a keratin infused product (several companies make this product) that makes the hair straighter, shiny, and more "silky". It is said to be a "safe" way to straighten your hair, because it actually makes the hair "healthier" by infusing keratin into the hair shaft.
So what is keratin? Keratin is one of the main building blocks of human (and most animal) hair. Keratin is actually a family of fibrous structural proteins found in various components of organic material. The keratin found in human hair act as a bond, or a sort of "glue" (to think of it in a generic sense), for various amino acids, proteins, etc. that compromise the shaft of the human hair compounds.
The idea behind the Keratin Hair Treatment is that if the hair is infused with keratin the hair will become stronger and more healthy (different companies use different types of keratin; for instance, some use keratin from goats, although they don't say where the keratin is coming from - it would be my guess it is coming from internal organs such as liver keratin, but I suppose it could be hair/fur derived). By adding more "glue" to the make-up of the hair strand, the other elements such as protein can bind together more closely in order to create a stronger binding.
Now, keratin treatments have been around in various forms for a long time, well before the recent "fade" of the current salon keratin hair treatment (sometimes referred to as the "Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment"). Using pure organic or synthetic keratin is of little harm to the human body, and has little or no known negative side effects.
However, the products used in this type of Keratin Treatment are made of a lot more than just keratin. Although keratin will make your hair stronger, and possibly more shiny or "silky", it will not straighten hair. This is where the chemicals join the mixture...
Formaldehyde and the Aldehyde family of chemicals have long been used in the textile trades to manufacture materials such as wool. In the keratin treatment that salons are currently performing, the products being used either contain raw formaldehyde or another form of the aldehyde family such as glutraldehyde (or glutral) or glyoxal. These chemicals help create the process of straightening the hair, as well as re-infusing the reaction of keratin to the hair strand.
Let's stop right here and talk about formaldehyde and the aldehyde family of chemicals. I am sure you have heard the word formaldehyde before, right? Most commonly, people know it as the main chemical used in embalming fluid. Formaldehyde is found in trace amounts in organic materials during the metabolic process, or when other combustion occur. However, it is a chemical that is a known carcengian that is used in a variety of situations and only in the last 20 years has started to become regulated by the FDA and REACH in Europe. It was / is used for things like building materials, germicides and preservatives. It is not good for humans to ingest or be in repeated/long term exposure to the chemical through either touching it or breathing it.
There are some companies making the Keratin Treatment products that claim it is formaldehyde free (Coppolla is one of them). However, they still use other compounds from the same family - the Aldehyde family of chemicals. When these chemicals are heated past 420 degrees, they have a similar chemical reaction as would traditionally based formaldehyde.
So, the first thing to be clear about is that if you are receiving a Keratin Hair Treatment at a salon, and it is the treatment that is meant to "straighten" your hair, there is no such thing as a formaldehyde free product. There just isn't. They say this as a marketing tool, and they use other Aldehyde compounds instead in order to get rid of the immediate toxicity of raw formaldehyde - but it is still relatively similar. I know that there are "other" types of keratin treatments on the market that don't straighten your hair at all, and these are NOT the $250 - $350 treatments being sold at most salons in America.
So here is the process at the salon during the treatment, for those of you whom have not gotten it done yet. The stylist does a shampoo clarification, then dries your hair fully. They then put the product on your dry hair, and section it off into very small sections using a straightener of at least 420 - 450 degrees, going over the hair anywhere from 5 - 10 times for each section. You then do not wash your hair for 3 - 5 days, leaving the "treatment" in your hair so it can cure. You are supposed to use sodium-free shampoo so as not to fade the chemicals in your hair so the treatment lasts longer. It "should" last between 4 - 6 months.
Stop and think about this for a minute. First, what we just read about the Aldehyde group of chemicals. The person doing your hair is straightening your hair so it will be smooth and cure that way, sure, but it is also so that the chemical reaction can occur. 420 - 450 degrees is really hot, when you stop to think about it...
Next, think about the fact that the treatment has a specific shelf life. This means a few things. One, the treatment does not change the actual bonding in your hair, or change the chemical make-up of your hair (like other straightening treatments, or perms, etc.). It actually sits on the hair strand and is slowly washed away every time you shampoo. And the worst part of this concept .... during the 3-5 days of "curing" you are walking around, sleeping, eating next to .... that's right. A head full of formaldehyde. It is rubbing into your skin, by your scalp, near your mouth. Although the chemical is in a dry state, there is still a reactive property to it. And when you wash out the initial chemicals? They are still in your hair!
When you get your hair dyed, for instance, there are some potentially dangerous chemicals being used. However, dying actually changes the chemical make-up of the hair strand (same as a perm), and therefore the chemicals are only on the hair for a short time while the process is occurring. Once you wash them out, they are no longer "sitting" on your strands - because the process is now permanent, not an ongoing chemical reaction.
Hmmm,..... makes you think right???
Now let's talk about some other elements of these Keratin Hair Treatments, and reactions people have had. I have spoken to and been in contact online with a number of people (mostly woman) whom have had some very alarming things happen in reaction to this treatment. The most disturbing has been immediate hair loss, massive hair loss. Some woman have reported loosing anywhere from 40 - 75% of their hair! Allergic reactions on the scalp are also occurring, and long terms effects (because the FDA has not approved or studied these products) are unknown, with some doctors suggesting that these chemicals found in these treatments cause cancer.
I will continue my insight on the Keratin Treatment on my next blog posting....
I will be posting every one's story on this blog for other people to read. I am also interested in forming a class action lawsuit against the makers of the products (i.e. BKT, Coppolla, etc.).
So here's the low-down on the Keratin Hair Treatment that most salons have been advocating here in the U.S. over the last 1 - 2 years. The treatment is a keratin infused product (several companies make this product) that makes the hair straighter, shiny, and more "silky". It is said to be a "safe" way to straighten your hair, because it actually makes the hair "healthier" by infusing keratin into the hair shaft.
So what is keratin? Keratin is one of the main building blocks of human (and most animal) hair. Keratin is actually a family of fibrous structural proteins found in various components of organic material. The keratin found in human hair act as a bond, or a sort of "glue" (to think of it in a generic sense), for various amino acids, proteins, etc. that compromise the shaft of the human hair compounds.
The idea behind the Keratin Hair Treatment is that if the hair is infused with keratin the hair will become stronger and more healthy (different companies use different types of keratin; for instance, some use keratin from goats, although they don't say where the keratin is coming from - it would be my guess it is coming from internal organs such as liver keratin, but I suppose it could be hair/fur derived). By adding more "glue" to the make-up of the hair strand, the other elements such as protein can bind together more closely in order to create a stronger binding.
Now, keratin treatments have been around in various forms for a long time, well before the recent "fade" of the current salon keratin hair treatment (sometimes referred to as the "Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment"). Using pure organic or synthetic keratin is of little harm to the human body, and has little or no known negative side effects.
However, the products used in this type of Keratin Treatment are made of a lot more than just keratin. Although keratin will make your hair stronger, and possibly more shiny or "silky", it will not straighten hair. This is where the chemicals join the mixture...
Formaldehyde and the Aldehyde family of chemicals have long been used in the textile trades to manufacture materials such as wool. In the keratin treatment that salons are currently performing, the products being used either contain raw formaldehyde or another form of the aldehyde family such as glutraldehyde (or glutral) or glyoxal. These chemicals help create the process of straightening the hair, as well as re-infusing the reaction of keratin to the hair strand.
Let's stop right here and talk about formaldehyde and the aldehyde family of chemicals. I am sure you have heard the word formaldehyde before, right? Most commonly, people know it as the main chemical used in embalming fluid. Formaldehyde is found in trace amounts in organic materials during the metabolic process, or when other combustion occur. However, it is a chemical that is a known carcengian that is used in a variety of situations and only in the last 20 years has started to become regulated by the FDA and REACH in Europe. It was / is used for things like building materials, germicides and preservatives. It is not good for humans to ingest or be in repeated/long term exposure to the chemical through either touching it or breathing it.
There are some companies making the Keratin Treatment products that claim it is formaldehyde free (Coppolla is one of them). However, they still use other compounds from the same family - the Aldehyde family of chemicals. When these chemicals are heated past 420 degrees, they have a similar chemical reaction as would traditionally based formaldehyde.
So, the first thing to be clear about is that if you are receiving a Keratin Hair Treatment at a salon, and it is the treatment that is meant to "straighten" your hair, there is no such thing as a formaldehyde free product. There just isn't. They say this as a marketing tool, and they use other Aldehyde compounds instead in order to get rid of the immediate toxicity of raw formaldehyde - but it is still relatively similar. I know that there are "other" types of keratin treatments on the market that don't straighten your hair at all, and these are NOT the $250 - $350 treatments being sold at most salons in America.
So here is the process at the salon during the treatment, for those of you whom have not gotten it done yet. The stylist does a shampoo clarification, then dries your hair fully. They then put the product on your dry hair, and section it off into very small sections using a straightener of at least 420 - 450 degrees, going over the hair anywhere from 5 - 10 times for each section. You then do not wash your hair for 3 - 5 days, leaving the "treatment" in your hair so it can cure. You are supposed to use sodium-free shampoo so as not to fade the chemicals in your hair so the treatment lasts longer. It "should" last between 4 - 6 months.
Stop and think about this for a minute. First, what we just read about the Aldehyde group of chemicals. The person doing your hair is straightening your hair so it will be smooth and cure that way, sure, but it is also so that the chemical reaction can occur. 420 - 450 degrees is really hot, when you stop to think about it...
Next, think about the fact that the treatment has a specific shelf life. This means a few things. One, the treatment does not change the actual bonding in your hair, or change the chemical make-up of your hair (like other straightening treatments, or perms, etc.). It actually sits on the hair strand and is slowly washed away every time you shampoo. And the worst part of this concept .... during the 3-5 days of "curing" you are walking around, sleeping, eating next to .... that's right. A head full of formaldehyde. It is rubbing into your skin, by your scalp, near your mouth. Although the chemical is in a dry state, there is still a reactive property to it. And when you wash out the initial chemicals? They are still in your hair!
When you get your hair dyed, for instance, there are some potentially dangerous chemicals being used. However, dying actually changes the chemical make-up of the hair strand (same as a perm), and therefore the chemicals are only on the hair for a short time while the process is occurring. Once you wash them out, they are no longer "sitting" on your strands - because the process is now permanent, not an ongoing chemical reaction.
Hmmm,..... makes you think right???
Now let's talk about some other elements of these Keratin Hair Treatments, and reactions people have had. I have spoken to and been in contact online with a number of people (mostly woman) whom have had some very alarming things happen in reaction to this treatment. The most disturbing has been immediate hair loss, massive hair loss. Some woman have reported loosing anywhere from 40 - 75% of their hair! Allergic reactions on the scalp are also occurring, and long terms effects (because the FDA has not approved or studied these products) are unknown, with some doctors suggesting that these chemicals found in these treatments cause cancer.
I will continue my insight on the Keratin Treatment on my next blog posting....
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