/oss/taxonomy/term/2651/all en /oss/article/health-you-asked/what-brazilian-hair-straightening-treatment <p style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/?attachment_id=3379" rel="attachment wp-att-3379"><img alt="keratin" height="150" src="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2012/11/brazilian-150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a>In “Brazilian straightening” a protein known as keratin is mixed with formaldehyde and is applied to hair followed by heat treatment. Results can be surprisingly good with the straightening effect lasting for weeks. The problem is that the key substance in the treatment is formaldehyde, a compound with a cloud hanging over its head. Formaldehyde can not only cause allergic reactions, it is a possible carcinogen, especially when inhaled. The heat treatment volatilizes formaldehyde so inhalation is indeed possible. At concentrations above 0.1 ppm in the air formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes and throat and can trigger asthma in susceptible people. Such levels may be reached during a keratin treatment which is why hair dressers have taken to wearing masks when applying formaldehyde. Of course, the extent of exposure is critical and having such a treatment once in a while is not likely to be harmful, but working constantly with formaldehyde may present a risk. Supposedly these hair treatments contain only 0.2% formaldehyde, which is deemed to be safe, but the content of these products is not regulated in any way. <a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/2012/11/18/what-is-a-“brazilian”-hair-straightening-treatment/">Read more</a></p> Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:33:02 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1810 at /oss