The Brazilian keratin hair straightening treatment seemed like a dream come true for many women. Advertised as being a revolutionary method of getting sleek straight hair without causing the damage that other types of straightening procedures cause, improving the condition of your strands by creating a protective layer that coats the hair shaft and eliminates frizz, this treatment immediately got the attention of beauty and style-conscious women who wanted to experience the joy of wash and wear hairstyles and to get pin straight tresses naturally. 
Unfortunately, the latest researches on what seem to be the ultimate revolutionary product can make many women think twice about using this product on their beloved tresses. It seems that after a few salon workers complained about nose bleeds, trouble breathing, eye irritations and nausea, this new product was subjected to further testing to determine the probable cause of these types reactions.
The results of the research was quite staggering considering the fact that the product was believed to be formaldehyde-free. Instead, it was determined that the product actually contains about 4.85 to 10.6 percent formaldehyde which is well beyond the levels that are considered to be safe for consumers. Since only levels that are below 0.2 percent are considered safe for consumers this product raises many health concerns, due to the fact formaldehyde is considered a carcinogen.
Formaldehyde can have a variety of negative effects, the most serious one being increasing the chances of cancer of airways. Formaldehyde can also be found in smog, cigarettes, manufactured wood products as well as certain household items. When the formaldehyde levels exceed a certain level irritation of the throat, nose, eyes are possible.
Those who don’t have a strong immune system are particularly sensitive to formaldehyde. While short term exposure is not considered dangerous , longer term exposure is not something that should be taken lightly. Since the hair stays straight for 2 to 3 months after using this product it becomes clear that shampoos and other types of treatment are not very effective in removing it and diminishing risk to acceptable levels.
While these findings can be alarming, certain categories of people can be more affected than others. Pregnant women, people who suffer from asthma or those who have a compromised immune system are the ones that tend to suffer the most from exposure to formaldehyde so they should avoid these straightening treatments. It should also be mentioned that this type of product was banned in certain countries because of this issue. Until further regulations, the choice of whether to use this straightening product or not remains a highly subjective and individual one.
Although the research continues the current findings have an important value as they allow women to have a more correct perspective when it comes to the advantages and disadvantages of this type of hair straightening procedure. The clever marketing techniques are no longer the only ones women will base their decisions on, as an evaluation of the probable risks can be made a little more accurately. In light of this new information we suspect that the frequency of these straightening treatments will decrease at least until further clarifications.
