Brazilian Blowouts were a hair trend that took both Hollywood and average women by storm. For women with limited time in the morning to primp, Brazilian Blowouts gave women a fresh-from-the-salon look for up to 4 months without any work. However, OSHA and the FDA recently found Brazilian Blowout solutions contain large traces of formaldehyde, a chemical that is known to cause cancer. These solutions may put stylists and salon workers at risk of serious side effects.
Do I Have a Brazilian Blowout Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one have worked with Brazilian Blowout and developed symptoms associated with formaldehyde, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Brazilian Blowout lawsuit.
Brazilian Blowout & Formaldehyde: An Overview
Brazilian Blowouts offered a quick and easy solution for women with busy schedules and frizzy or unruly hair. The expensive but effective solutions, smoothed women’s hair for up to four months.
Yet, beauty may come at an unfortunate price.
Recent information released by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests that Brazilian Blowout, and hair treatments similar to it, may contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde, a cancer-causing chemical.
According to FDA reports, Brazilian Blowout products can contain up to 8.7%-10.4% methylene glycol, the liquid form of formaldehyde.
When the Brazilian Blowout solution is used in combination with heat — usually a flat iron or blow dryer, as the label recommends — it can release formaldehyde toxins into the air. For the stylists and employees who work in this environment for prolonged periods of time, it can mean serious health risks. So far, stylists have suffered from symptoms including headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, coughing, wheezing and eye disorders.
All the while, Brazilian Blowout maker GIB, LLC encourages salons to carry the dangerous product, while it continues to misbrand the label, stating it contains no formaldehyde.
Side Effects of Brazilian Blowout
Common side effects of formaldehyde exposure include:
- Eye and throat irritation
- Increased lacrimation (eye tearing)
- Blurred vision
- Hyperaemia (increased blood flow to a part of the body)
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Burning sensations
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Nasal discomfort
- Wheezing
- Rhinorrhea (runny nose)
- Nasopharyngitis (the common cold)
- Nausea
- Hypotrichosis (abnormal hair growth)
- Breathing problems
- Nosebleeds
- Chest pain
- Chest discomfort
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Eye damage, including blindness
Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde has been associated with specific types of cancer including:
- Nasal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Brain cancer
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Myeloid leukemia
Due to the severity of symptoms associated with formaldehyde, stylists, salon workers or frequent Brazilian Blowout customers may want to contact a Brazilian Blowout lawyer or attorney with The Clark Firm to discuss the potential for a Brazilian Blowout lawsuit.
What is a Brazilian Blowout?
A Brazilian Blowout is named after a treatment that was first released in Brazil in 2005. Because the country has high humidity that causes curly hair, the population was full of eager customers.
It wasn’t long however until the treatment spread to Europe and North America. The hair-straightening treatment promised a shiny, frizz-free hairstyle that lasts up to four months. For women with limited time, it meant less time spent each morning with hair straighteners and blow dryers. The hairstyle became famous after stars like Jennifer Aniston and Lindsey Lohan received the $300-$600 treatment.
Since it became popular, several class action lawsuits have been filed, including a large one in California.
Additionally, a stylist named Dana Lulgjuraj filed a $5 million lawsuit against Brazilian Blowout, claiming she suffered “physical injuries” in her Butterfly Studio Salon in Manhattan.
OSHA and FDA Warnings
The first reports of Brazilian Blowout formaldehyde were received when Oregon OSHA investigated a complaint by one hair stylist who suffered nosebleeds, eye irritation and trouble breathing after using a product labeled as “formaldehyde-free.”
In April 2011, Federal OSHA initially released a hazard alert that Brazilian Blowout and similar hair-smoothing products released dangerous amounts of formaldehyde into the air. After conducting tests, OSHA found formaldehyde air levels higher than those allowed by the OSHA limit, even though they were labeled as “formaldehyde free.”
Stated the hazard alert:
“In most cases, OSHA found that hair salon owners did not know that a hair smoothing product contained or could expose workers to formaldehyde because manufacturers, importers, and distributors did not include the correct warnings on product information.”
Since OSHA’s investigation, the FDA conducted its own tests and released a scathing letter addressed to the CEO of GIB, LLC. The letter states the FDA found methylene glycol, a liquid form of formaldehyde in the Brazilian Blowout solution. When hair treated with the solution is heated with a blow dryer or a hot flat iron, it releases formaldehyde into the air. The FDA’s analysis found formaldehyde levels ranging from 8.7-10.4% — the safe amount is considered 0.2% by the Cosmetics Ingredient Review Expert Panel.
The FDA also admonished GIB, LLC for misbranding its Brazilian Blowout labels with misleading and false statements.
OSHA requires manufacturers to list formaldehyde on the label if it exceeds amounts of 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Blowout label states it contains “No Formaldehyde” or is “Formaldehyde Free.”
The FDA warned GIB, LLC that, if it did not address the concerns raised in the letter, the FDA may seize the product.
Other Forms of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde may be present in solutions similar to Brazilian Blowout, without it being listed on the products label. Instead, it may be listed as one of the following:
- Methylene glycol
- Formalin
- Methylene oxide
- Paraform
- Formic aldehyde
- Methanal
- Oxomethane
- Oxymethylene
- CAS Number 50-00-0
However, it should be mentioned that each of these are only alternative names for formaldehyde. Products containing them can expose workers to formaldehyde.
Do I Have a Brazilian Blowout Lawsuit?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Brazilian Blowout lawsuit review or you may also call us directly by dialing (866) 879-3040.