Two environmental advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration, claiming the agency fails to protect hair salon workers and their consumers from exposure to toxic chemicals associated with keratin hair straighteners.
Keratin hair straighteners, commonly known as Brazilian blowouts, are popular hair straightening treatments that reportedly contain toxic formaldehyde, which has potentially dangerous health effects.
Environmental advocacy groups Environmental Working Group and Women’s Voices for the Earth filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 13 in federal court for failing to respond “responsibly or adequately” to a 2011 petition over health concerns surrounding keratin hair straighteners.
While occasional exposure to keratin treatments may not affect the average salon patron, there is growing evidence the formaldehyde-based treatments can be harmful to salon workers who are around it all the time.
Keratin hair straightening treatments use a liquid that works by filling in porous gaps in hair’s protein, decreasing frizz and curl. Then, the keratin-treated hair is often heated using straightening irons or blow dryers, releasing noxious compounds into the air — most notably formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer in humans.
“Ample scientific evidence, described in the Petition and in scientific literature, demonstrates that use of formaldehyde-containing keratin hair straighteners poses health risks to both beauty salon workers who apply them and to the customers on whom the products are used,” the lawsuit states.
Salon workers exposed to formaldehyde dozens of times per week have reported nosebleeds, breathing problems and eye irritation, according to a press release from the EWG.
The lawsuit contends that adverse event reports submitted to the FDA confirms the existence of these hazards but that the agency isn’t doing enough to protect salon workers and their consumers from the toxic effects of keratin hair straighteners.
“As a result, Brazilian Blowout and similar products remain on the market, continuing to injure both consumers and salon workers,” the groups state.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that the FDA could take stronger action by sending warnings to salons to make sure they take precautions against high airborne concentrations of formaldehyde, but chooses not to.
Instead, the FDA issued warning letters to two manufacturers of keratin products, requiring them to include proper warnings on the product label, the lawsuit reads.
“Regrettably, the FDA – despite its repeated acknowledgement of the link between use of keratin hair straighteners by consumers and serious health risks – has failed to act on the Petition during the nearly five-and-a-half years since its filing,” the groups allege.
In order to prevent further harm to the health of salon workers and individuals who use keratin hair straighteners, the EWG and WVE are asking the court to require the FDA to act on the 2011 petition by a certain date to be determined by the court.
The FDA has a web page about the potential risks associated with keratin hair straighteners and says it encourages consumers to report any adverse events related to these or other cosmetic products.
The advocacy groups are represented by Ronald F. Wick, Stephen M. Sinaiko and Kathryn L. Barcroft of Cohen & Gresser LLP.
The Hair Salon Worker Formaldehyde Exposure Lawsuit is Environmental Working Group and Women’s Voices for the Earth v. United States Food and Drug Administration, et al., Case No. 1:16-cv-02435, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
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11 thoughts onFDA Fails to Protect Stylists From Toxic Hair Straighteners, Lawsuit Says
Is this settled?
I used this products on my clients hair and some of them had hair to fall out and spots wear it melted their hair.
I thought i did something wrong, but looks like i didn’t wear do i go from here….. i losted clients because of this product………………………….
I spent $1,200 on this kit from Brazilian Blow dry just days before it all came out in the news,and they refused to let me return everything for a refund. I tried using it but couldn’t handle the fumes. How do we register to be a part of this class action law suit?
I am a retired hairdresser, but do keep up on the products and even took an extensive class last summer. The products (waxes, coatings, iron conditioners, heat activated straighters) and the 400 degree irons used are just frying people’s hair.
Chalking is another hair disaster.
Those barrel sized “ringlets”….
Hair extensions.
I have seen more women (and a few men) who have ended up with hair breakage so bad, that they look like they have had elves cut their hair in the middle of the night.
Broken off hair almost to the scalp, in patches (think Barbie and a 5 year old girl with her mother’s sewing scissors)
Who is paying for this?
People’s looks are being destroyed of a childish trend, that costs too much money.
Once your hair is gone….it’s gone…..
Count me in
If i were still a stylist, I would not be offering this service any more after news first broke about the formaldehyde content. These cosmetics companies are notorious for keeping or re-introducing ingredients that are harmful. There is a hair color company which enjoyed great popularity for about a decade; they now include PPD in their products, even though other color brands have removed it because of its known link to cancer. Other brands and items will change the offending chemical to something so chemically similar it has the same effects- but they get away with it because they have removed the offending chemical everyone looks for on the label. Hair and cosmetics business is as brutal as food and household chemical manufacturing these days.
I am so grossed out about this… putting formaldehyde in products should be sued… explains why I loss clumps of hair when I used this product (once). (NO SMILE)
I am not a hair styles but used a hair straighter just for my bangs .
It was a SALLY’S BEAUTY SUPPLY PRODUCT A GET HEAT ACTIVATED CALLED. “Go Straight”
I put the gel on my bangs then used the dryer on them . I I. Ediately felt dizzy and nauseous.
I tried to wash it out it. My bangs and also short hair became stiff like cardboard. I got in shower eyes burning feeling very ill and dizzy. Got in shower. No way I could wash it out,.comb ruined .
I called Sally’s they denied aby issues with it. READING THE PRODUCT TUBE I NOTICED 99% propylene glycol also,ethylene glycol.
After that I had to sit could not had to go yo ved. navigate to walk went to bed.I then became sensitive and allergic to ANY PRODUCT WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL IN IT. EDIBLE COSMETIC TOPICAL. AND STILL AM.
I started losing hair in the front on the top and cannot wear bangs to this day because there’s not enough hair without seeing for my scalp after having my Brazilian Blowout
this is so amazing finally someone is doing something ,I am a nys lincensed hairdresser have done hundreds of these applications got certified from brazilian keratin they made a claim in class that absolutley no formaldahyde was in their product well years later I find out its saturated with over 13% formadahyde is this what caused my breast cancer ?????
Hi Mariann ,
Can you please tell me how you find out that the product is 13% formaldehyde ? Did yo di d any lab consult or which way you find out ? I am salon owner using this products regularly. and I got breast cancer too – suffering very badly due to these product saying 100% free formalhyde but it is not. pleae let me know – how to find out that it is not formaldehyde