Dying for straight hair
Filed under: Hair Care
Isn't it always the case?Either you have stick straight hair and you want it curly, or you have unruly curls that are just dying to be straight. But what if getting those straight locks could potentially kill you?
It's called the Brazilian method, "escova progressiva" in Brazil, and it is the new trend in hair straightening. Say "goodbye" to the Japanese method that was so trendy a few years back, because apparently, the Brazilian method is the way to go. This method promises glossy, sleek and voluminous locks – for about six weeks. The process costs between $150- $600 in salons.
What's the bad part you might ask? One word: "formaldehyde." Formaldehyde is known to cause cancer, and the amount used to straighten hair is more than ten times the amount deemed safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel.
These chemicals can prove to be particularly harmful when you treat your hair at home. A 33- year old woman in Brazil actually died from this process. According to the National Health Surveillance Agency "What we thought possibly happened was that after doing the treatment, she was in the bathroom taking a shower and the heat caused a heart attack. She died in the shower."
I don't have naturally straight hair and it drives me crazy, but not crazy enough to apply formaldehyde to my hair.
What do you think? Is beauty worth the risk or just plain stupid?
marcie 10-25-2007 @ 8:10PM
y would u put formaldehyde in your hair? its used in biology labs to preserve dead animals that are used for dissection. people these days dont think about their safety before they thing about "beauty".
RIP
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Liz 10-25-2007 @ 8:11PM
just plain stupid! why not just go with your natural hair or use a ceramic straightner. (my hair is not naturally straight and it works for me) It is also much cheaper than that!
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Marlita 10-25-2007 @ 8:11PM
That is just plain crazy. What about working with your own beauty? Accepting yourself?
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bluenew2ndsun 10-25-2007 @ 8:12PM
It won't really matter how good my hair looks when I'm cremated or in a coffin looking pastey anyway.
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Where's Michael? 10-25-2007 @ 8:12PM
The Japanese process (thermal reconditioning) lasts as long as your hair is on your head, nothing makes it curl outside of a flat iron, and that just slightly. It takes hours to do but then its wash and go. NO Frizz at all. The process is pricey but its worth it if you want to go truly curl free.
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Liz 10-25-2007 @ 8:14PM
just plain stupid! why not just go out with your natural hair or use a ceramic straightner! (my hair is not naturally straight but it works for me) It is also much cheaper!
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moom612 10-25-2007 @ 8:15PM
My oh my, Girls be careful. I was born with dark brown hair straighter than a stick. Never would I consider even perming to get curly hair again. I hair is stil slick and dark and straight and fits me to a tee even at my senior age. You were born with it and you are a beautiful as you feel inside. Hey you girls, you are all beautiful somewhere. Use those qualities instead of trying the fad things people try to be pretty. Not worth digging a grave to do it. My straight hair is short and easier to manage. You gals with curly hair if you want to straighten it do what the girls did in the 50's and 60's. Put your hair up in big metal rollers after washing stretching your hair over the roller. Let dry naturally and wo-la take them out and run your fingers through the straight strands. Won't last but it is worth the work when you want to be straight.
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laurie 10-25-2007 @ 8:21PM
why would they put a chemical in something that you would use on yourself
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laurie 10-25-2007 @ 8:24PM
why would they put a dangerous chemical in something we use on our person and sell it on the market?
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linda young 10-25-2007 @ 8:25PM
Fpr years I had my very curly hair tortured straight because I thought it looked more elegant. During those years, no one ever commented on my hair. Eventually, I became concerned about potential damage to my hair with long term use of straightening chemicals, so I stopped straightening it. In the many years since it has grown back to it's natural curl, people are always commenting on what great curls I have and how they wish they had natural curls like mine. It's nice that they say that, but I still wish I had long, elegant, straight hair!
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Jess 10-25-2007 @ 8:25PM
It is amazing at what lengths people will go to get their hair straight. I ALWAYS research anything that I invest money in and that includes the YUKO straightening process that I had done several years ago which was absolutely wonderful and gave me so much freedom and time.
Considering the fact that I no longer have the resources to go the YUKO route I will stick to the time consuming task of blowing drying my hair straight and finishing with my CHI for a polished look.
Formaldehyde.....hmmmmm....I'll let the professionals use that on me when it doesn't matter anymore (in the grave).
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Shelby 10-25-2007 @ 8:28PM
My hair drives me crazy because I always want it board straight and it's wavy . However, I'd much rather wake up an extra 15 minutes early to straighten it and live the rest of my life . Sounds good to me .
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bmpbj 10-25-2007 @ 8:31PM
Doesn't aspartame (artificial sweetener) turn to formaldahyde when we ingest it? Sounds scary to me!
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Victoria 10-25-2007 @ 8:33PM
Are people nutz?? Why can't we all just be happy with the way God created us?? May the stupid lady RIP.
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onecraftykat 10-25-2007 @ 8:36PM
Just more proof that the chemicals in beauty products are HARMFUL! Say no to chemicals! Say yes to Miessence! Organic beauty products that are truly safe and natural. And they are just as good as the long lasting store bought, actually better in my opinion. At least the mascara doesn't run and i don't get circles under my eyes if i fall asleep with it on. Check it out for youself! www.onecraftykat.mionegroup.com I use most of the products and love 'em! And my skin has never looked better! Blemish free even before my "monthly". Please email me if you have any questions after visiting the site.
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gail 10-25-2007 @ 8:39PM
ok so there a re products on the professional market that do contain FORMALDYDE. But NOT EVERY PRODUCT DOES. Has anyone ever hear of the FDA? Yes, well we in this country have this so that stupid people don't hurt themselves doing stupid things!!! So go straight ladies in the good old USA!!! I teach Cosmetology in NY and know from experence!
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Vickie 10-25-2007 @ 8:41PM
WHO SAID STRAIGHT HAIR IS BEAUTY ANY OH WAY!!YOU HAIR IS BEATIFUL IF IT LOOKS RIGHT ON YOU! personally I hate straight hair, and hate when i am asked to do it to people. I find straight flat hair very boring, unflattering, and unclassy on MOST PEOPLE. I have been a cosmetologist for 22 years. I takes a certain face and bone structure to pull it off and lets face it we all aren't cookie cutter faces so let's lose the cookie cutter styles.
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kllveda 10-25-2007 @ 8:41PM
its just as bad as what everyone uses on their hair when they dont use natural products ( check the list of chemicals in common products) it will just kill you alot slower than this method...
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fishaholic00 10-25-2007 @ 8:44PM
you know what they say...hair today gone tommorrow.
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victoria 10-25-2007 @ 8:44PM
Hey now, you guys... maybe she was misinformed. A lot of beauty products and regimens are dangerous out there, and it is very irresponsible of these manufacturers to include high amounts of carcinogens in beauty products. Did you know that some hair conditioners contain formaldehyde? Cream bleaches for facial hair and hyperpigmentation contain hydroquinone, which has been proven to give lab rats cancer. Sure, we should all do our research, but you'd be surprised at how products have hidden little lethal chemicals. This story is a learning lesson for us. It is very unfortunate that this woman had to die this way.
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