1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser

Brazilian Blowout Strikes Back Against Formaldehyde Claims

by Julia Rubin | 3:12 pm, December 19th, 2010

A few months back, people started freaking out about Brazilian Blowout‘s alleged formaldehyde-containing formula. We were firmly on the side of “this is not a huge deal,” but it was clear that we were in the minority. People were really worried about this thing! Now the company is taking legal action, filing a lawsuit against the Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

Specifically, they want OSHA to stop talking smack by issuing an injunction that would stop the organization from reporting the results of its study that defamed the hair care company. WWD reports that Brazilian Blowout claims the study caused the company to “lose sales, consumer goodwill and industry market share.”

The lawsuit specifically states that OSHA’s labs improperly combined the levels of methylene glycol, a liquid, and formaldehyde, a gas, and that OSHA’s air monitoring results, while conducted in a way that could negatively impact results, showed that Brazilian Blowout had acceptable levels of formaldehyde.

The company is also facing legal battles with the California Bureau of Labor, the Department of Public Health, the Food & Drug Administration and Health Canada. But Brazilian Blowout is not the only company that has been damaged by OSHA’s claims. Some salons are suspending all hair straightening treatments until they can offer one that conclusively does not contain formaldehyde. Consequently, such treatments are responsible for an estimated $1 billion in yearly service revenue. That is all to say, if this doesn’t get sorted out soon, the salon industry sure has a lot to lose.

[WWD]


share
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Get Styleite directly to your inbox, on Twitter, and on Facebook!


  • Chris

    After four months of working in a salon in which a few of the stylists perform the Brazilian Blowout averaging five times a week, some of us stylists began to get bloody noses, irritated eyes, coughing, and heaviness in the chest after each BB that was performed. Keep in mind that we stand about fifteen ft. away from the stylists who are doing the BB. I’ve been a cosmetologist for over 30 years and I’ve never had health issues like I do now. I had to move to another salon where they do not perform the BB. Even after not being around the formaldehyde in BB, I’m still having the adverse health symptoms, although not nearly as severe as before. I’ve been playing phone tag for months now with the Northern California FDA. The Oregon OSHA employees whom I spoke with were very polite and helpful, while the California OSHA people gave me the run around, even the higher up management…. they couldn’t help because I’m self employed, which many of us cosmetologists are renting our space. I have contacted the Brazilian Blowout company several times and have been answered with a few different claims about their product. Toni, who works for the BB company, stated that behenyl and cetearyl alcohols were to blame for my symptoms. I have spoken to two chemists and several doctors who told me these two chemicals will not cause these results in people. The conclusion is that I am having health issues as a result of formaldehyde poisoning and the issues are a result of being around the BB.

    Please sign the petitions.
    http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5500/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4652

    http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2708/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5118

    http://environment.change.org/blog/view/brazilian_blowout_more_than_just_a_bad_hair_day

  • iriswhite

    wearsgo.com

    factory direct sale + amazing stocking from $0.99
    coupon codes: wgcoupon51

    wholesale clothing:womens,mens,kids apparel.
    wholesale Accessories: hair accessories,
    wholesale Sexy Lingerie:cosplay costume

Abrams Media Network click here for advertising opportunities

© 2012 Styleite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Self-Serve Advertising | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Terms of Service | Archives | Power Grid FAQ | Style Sheets FAQ | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram