BUYER BE CLEAR 2... Chemical Hair Straighteners

From celebs to the girl next door, we have all seen someone’s hair transform from frizz to swooshing, silky locks — the impressive result of a keratin hair treatment. What could be more intriguing? You walk into a salon, self-consciously smoothing your frizzies, and a few hundred dollars later you walk out shiny, silky, ready for the red carpet, and newly confident that you are frizz-proof for months ahead.

Sound too good to be true? There’s a reason for that.

Expensive? Yes. Effective? Yes. Dangerous? Yes. According to an EWG (Environmental Working Group) investigation from 2011, these chemical straightening treatments are packed with formaldehyde — a known carcinogen and a powerful allergen.

In its gaseous state it is especially dangerous, which is alarming when you consider the blow-drying and flat-iron finishes that follow. As the formaldehyde turns to gas, clients and stylists alike inhale the fumes. According to the EWG, “some salon clients and personnel have suffered severe allergic reactions, massive hair loss, neck and face rashes, blistered scalps, and other serious health problems…” (EWG investigation, 2011).

What alarmed me most

The deeper I looked, the more troubling it became. I was greatly alarmed to learn:

• Many companies claim “no formaldehyde” despite tests proving otherwise.
• When products contain more than 1% formaldehyde, salons are required by law to have quick-drench showers, eyewash areas, and medical monitoring for staff with related symptoms.
• Some salons deny the risks and keep offering these treatments to unsuspecting clients.
• The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration has urged salons to stop using formaldehyde-based treatments; those that continue must monitor the air, add effective ventilation, and give workers gloves, chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant aprons, and face shields.
• The FDA does not limit the amount of formaldehyde in these hair treatments.
• The very formaldehyde-based straighteners we use in the U.S. have been recalled in Australia, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, and Cyprus.

The simple, safe alternative

Suddenly grabbing a blow dryer isn’t a hassle at all. It is the least expensive, easiest, and safest way to straighten your hair. With good blow-drying habits — quality equipment, a heat setting suited to your hair type, safe styling technique (ask your stylist for tips), and a good natural conditioner to protect the cuticle — you can have straight, silky hair without the risk.

Flat irons work too, but they call for care with heat levels, technique, and a good heat-protective product. When you shop, I lean toward the lines carried at health-food stores; they tend to be careful about chemicals and stock more organic, wholesome options. And if you want to keep it truly natural, and have a little fun, try these easy home remedies.

• Coconut milk rinse — massage about half a cup of coconut milk into your hair, let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse.
• Milky spritzer — fill a spray bottle with milk, spritz your hair, and comb through. Leave it on for 20–30 minutes, then rinse well; milk’s protein strengthens the hair shaft.
• Coconut oil smoother — massage warm coconut oil into your hair, cover with a heated towel for about 15 minutes, then wash thoroughly.
• Deep conditioning mix — combine 3 tablespoons each of olive oil and honey, mash in two ripe bananas and one raw egg white, work it through your hair, cover with a disposable shower cap, leave for half an hour, and wash thoroughly.

I couldn’t agree more with the EWG that the FDA should prohibit formaldehyde — and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals — in hair straighteners. But for whatever reason, they stay lax. So, bottom line? Abstinence is best. You are already beautiful, your health is priceless, and that’s the ‘straight’ truth.

A note: formaldehyde is a flammable gas with a very strong smell. On a label it may hide as methanal, methylene oxide, oxymethylene, methylaldehyde, oxomethane — or as methylene glycol or formalin (embalming fluid) when mixed with water. Read your product labels, and if you see formaldehyde, just say no.