Despite the public attention this issue has gotten, there has been no subsequent regulation of these products in the United States, and numerous potentially harmful products remain on the market here. In contrast, dozens of brands have been banned in the European Union, Canada and Australia for containing excessive and illegal levels of formaldehyde.
In response to continued demand, we have updated our list of hair straightening products that contain formaldehyde which we have posted on our website since link to information published in While there has been limited testing conducted on these products in recent years, there has been some greater attention on enforcing compliance with safety data sheet laws.
Formaldehyde was measured in the products listed below. Remember that there are many products on the market and most have not been tested, so we do not know how many others may also contain formaldehyde.
They also conducted air tests during application of one of the products in two salons and found that formaldehyde had been released into the air. At room temperature, formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas that has a distinct, pungent smell. It is also known as methanal, methylene oxide, oxymethyline, methylaldehyde, and oxomethane. The Centers for Disease Control CDC defines it as a colorless, strong-smelling gas that is usually used to make building materials, household products like glue and fiberboard, and used as a preservative when dissolved in water.
In keratin treatments, it's responsible for locking the hair into that new straight and smooth position for months. But these treatments don't actually contain formaldehyde, because, well, it's a known carcinogen. What they contain instead is ingredients like methylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanediol, that release the carcinogenic compound when mixed with water during the treatment.
So while the formula might technically be formaldehyde-free, it's not once mixed with water. This poses potential risk not only to you—but also the salon technicians who preform the treatments over and over again in enclosed spaces. Indeed, the CDC lists common side effects to formaldehyde exposure include sore throat, nose bleeds, and scratchy eyes. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA also warns about potential health hazards for those exposed and notes that formulas and products that claim they're natural, organic, or formaldehyde-free may not be entirely true.
The FDA encourages people to always read the label, ask hair professionals for an ingredient list, and to report any and all bad reactions. These so-called keratin treatments can also do a lot of harm to your hair over time.
Fitzsimons says because these treatment require high-heat to lock your hair into place, he wouldn't recommend it for those with super-fine or damaged hair. If you're looking for a less-damaging, truly formaldehyde-free treatment, ask your salon if they use a treatment containing glyoxylic acid instead. They don't straighten hair as dramatically they're more for boosting shine and fighting frizz , but they're also a lot safer. The cardinal rule of keratin treatments is to stay away from water and ponytails for at least three days.
Chronic effects associated with formaldehyde can include an increased prevalence of headaches, asthma, contact dermatitis a red, itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it as a result of sensitization and possibly cancer.
If you are sensitive to formaldehyde, you should not use this type of product. See a fact sheet and an infographic for more information about hair smoothing products and formaldehyde.
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