This professional hair smoothing treatment is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Keratin Treatment or BKT.
What
does Brazilian blowout mean? What are the dangers of blowouts in Brazil? What
is a blowout in Brazil? Is a blowout dangerous in Brazil?
Brazilian blowing hair
ads are designed to get rid of frizz and make your hair smoother, stronger, and
shinier. However, researchers have a trusted source of warnings
that certain chemicals in Brazilian blowout treatments can be harmful to your
health.
This professional hair
smoothing treatment is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Keratin Treatment or
BKT. Brazilian blowouts are also the brand name for this salon treatment. Other
keratin hair treatments may have the same risks.
What
happened to the Brazilian blowout?
Brazilian hair forms a
protective layer around each hair. It uses a liquid keratin formula. Keratin is
a protein that occurs naturally in hair, skin, nails, and even teeth.
Adding more keratin
can help strengthen and smooth hair. This will temporarily make your hair look
plumper and shinier.
This protein is also
found in horns, hooves, claws, feathers, and wool. The keratin used to make
Brazilian blowout therapy usually comes from birds and animals.
Other chemicals are
also needed to help glue keratin to the hair.
Potential chemicals in Brazilian blowout products
The composition of a
Brazilian blowout may include the following chemicals:
- formaldehyde
- formalin
- ethylene
glycol
- ethylene
oxide
- Hypermodal
- formaldehyde
- methanol
- formaldehyde
- Oxidizes
methane
- CAS
number 50-00-0
- Succinic
acid
- Various
perfumes or scents
Brazilian blowout
formulations may also include natural plant ingredients from Brazil, such as:
- Acai
berry
- Annatto
seeds
- Cam
cam
Side
effects of blowouts in Brazil
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) warns that blowing hair and other run-on products in
Brazil can cause serious side effects.
Symptoms are more
common among stylists and others who use these treatments.
A comparative study
found that blowout solutions in Brazil contain almost 12% formaldehyde. That's almost three
times as many as other brands of keratin hair care products.
You may also react
after the outbreak in Brazil. Symptoms may appear while you are being treated,
or they may appear hours or even days later.
Side effects include:
- headache
- dizzy
- Breathing
problems
- disgusting
- vomit
- chest
pain
- Itching
- rash
- The
scalp burns
- blister
- Irritation
of the nose or throat
- Tingling
or redness in the eyes
- Big
watery eyes
- Nosebleeds
Stylists often use
hair dryers and straighteners to seal keratin in Brazilian blowing treatments.
Heat causes chemicals
to be released into the air through hot smoke. If you have asthma or are more
sensitive to breathing chemicals, this can trigger symptoms such as wheezing.
In the long run, a
Brazilian blowout can be bad for your hair. Some people experience hair
problems after receiving this and other types of chemical straightening
treatments. You may have:
- Broken
hair
- Dry,
brittle hair
- hair
loss
- The
hair is mottled
The
potential risk of blowouts in Brazil
A comparative study
found that the Blowout brand solution in Brazil contained 11.5% formaldehyde from trusted
sources. That's almost three times as many as the other three keratin hair care
brands.
In 1987, the FDA
officially classified formaldehyde as a carcinogenic chemical.
Formaldehyde and the
chemicals that release formaldehyde are harmful to people. The National
Toxicology Program warns that formaldehyde is a carcinogenic
chemical.
The blowout in Brazil
is fairly new. They were first sold in 2006. However, formaldehyde has been
considered a hazardous chemical since 1980.
A study from a
credible source of learning found that blowout therapy in
Brazil can cause skin problems. Seven people in the study developed a scalp
rash after hair treatment.
Others develop
eczematous rashes and blisters on the scalp, face, neck, upper arms, and even
upper chest and back. According to the researchers, chemicals in Brazilian
blowout treatments can cause severe skin and scalp reactions. The skin
condition is more like a drug reaction than an allergy.
If you are exposed to
enough formaldehyde, you may increase your risk of certain cancers. This
chemical can trigger leukemia and nose cancer.
Pregnancy
and blowout in Brazil
If you are pregnant,
avoid Brazilian hair blowing or other chemical hair treatments.
A Learned Trusted Source found that the use
of hair dyes and hair straightening during pregnancy may be associated with
certain types of leukemia in children under 2 years of age.
How
do I treat the symptoms of a blowout in Brazil?
If you experience any
symptoms or reactions during a blowout in Brazil, ask your stylist to stop
treatment immediately. Ask the stylist to wash off any products from your hair.
Also, be sure to wash your hands and face.
If you can, move to a
well-ventilated area or go out. Removing any chemicals from the skin and scalp
may help reduce rashes. Staying away from chemical smoke may help relieve side
effects from breathing, nose, and eyes.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the
side effects do not go away or if you have:
- Scalp
or rash or blisters
- dyspnea
- swelling
- Irritation
of the nose or throat
- Eye
irritation or pain
- Hair
is mottled or shedding
You may need to treat
chemical burns or irritations to the skin or scalp. Your doctor or
dermatologist may also recommend:
- Aloe
Vera gel
- Numbing
cream
- Steroid
creams that reduce inflammation
- Oral
prednisone
- Oral
or topical antihistamines to reduce itching
Other
tips to relieve the symptoms of blowouts in Brazil
If you develop
symptoms after an outbreak in Brazil, let your hair dry. Avoid blow-drying or
straightening your hair. The heat activates formaldehyde in the Brazilian
blowout formula and releases more chemicals.
Avoid salons that
offer Brazilian hair removal and other keratin straightening treatments. Smoke
from other customers enters the air and may cause symptoms or reactions.
Wearing a mask may
help protect against smoke. However, it is best to avoid indoor areas where
hair chemicals are used.
Bottom
line
Brazilian blowouts can
be harmful to your health and hair. One of its main components is the known
carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde. Brazilian blowouts and other smoothing
treatments also contain other chemicals that can cause side effects and
allergic reactions.
More research is
needed on the long-term effects of Brazilian blowouts on stylists and people
receiving this treatment.
Some natural hair
treatments can help you get smoother, stronger, and shinier hair. Other natural
moisturizers that deeply condition hair include coconut oil and argan oil. Trim your hair
regularly and avoid over-shampooing.
If you're considering a hair smoothing treatment, ask your stylist to recommend a formaldehyde-free treatment. Conduct a study and check all the ingredients. Some products may claim to be formaldehyde-free, but in practice, this is not the case.