Christy Crump

Do you hate your frizz?  Especially in this heat and humidity!  And so, you may have tried (or still get) a Brazilian Blowout or Keratin hair treatment?  And you are SOOO happy with the results.  Right? 

So many with naturally curly hair want to be able to hop out of the shower and keep that gorgeous head of hair in check, even when it dries on its own.  The Brazilian Blowout is the answer!!!!  RIGHT? 

But wait….  Be so careful.  You could be doing long term damage, and I don’t mean just to your hair.  The more you use these products, the more damage you are doing.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  And in this case, there is a high price to pay.  First of all, your hair is being flat ironed at temperatures around 450°!!  Do that a couple times and your hair is toast! Literally!! And it’s not only the Brazilian Blowout.  It’s also other smoothing treatments.  Why?  Because aside from the damaging heat, they contain formaldehyde and other chemicals that can cause both acute and long-term health effects.

Did you know that Brazilian blowouts are legally classified Carcinogenic???? Yes, the FDA and Health Canada classify them as cancer causing.

If you’ve not heard of formaldehyde, it is an embalming agent (eww!).  It is also used as a preservative and a disinfectant.  So other than being kind of gross to put on your hair, it can do damage to your hair and body.

Keratins are hair proteins.  The reason formaldehyde smooths the hair is that it modifies those hair proteins causing the hair to return to its smooth healthy state you had when you were a child.  Many companies who produce these treatments have responded to the dangers of formaldehyde by replacing it with methylene glycol.  However, when heated, methylene glycol will turn back into formaldehyde gas and is released into the air.  So formaldehyde free tre

atments are not safer! 

These chemicals are harmful at room temperature.  But when heated, the intensity increases and can be even more harmful to both you and your stylist!  Some of the short-term side effects can include nosebleeds, burning eyes and throat, skin irritations.  It can also cause asthma attacks. Even scarier, the long-term health issues from receiving these treatments can include nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. Long term exposure to formaldehyde is also linked to ALS. 

Not all doom and gloom here!  There are alternatives to these types of treatments!

1. I have a FAV plant based keratin alternative shampoo and conditioner.  They are safe, they are vegan and THEY WORK!  They give gorgeous, smooth results, even on those humid dog days of summer!   Occasionally I get that humid frizz and this line works great to control it.  It keeps my hair sleek and smooth.
2. Try essential oils. I also have an absolute favorite Abyssinian oil which has a smaller molecular structure than other oils so can penetrate deep into your skin and hair follicle rather than just sitting on top like oils containing silicones.  I sometimes will sleep with it on my hair for a deep moisture treatment.
3. Eat a diet high in protein, iron, vitamin E. Trace minerals like selenium, copper, and magnesium also encourage healthy hair growth.

I’m happy to share my favorite smoothing shampoo and conditioner or oil I use on my hair.  Just contact me!!!