Hair Straightening Product Maker Settles With California Over Charges of False Advertising
April 10, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis GIB LLC, the maker of the famous Brazilian Blowout hair straightening products has reached a settlement with the California Attorney General’s Office on multiple charges of false advertising in describing two of its most popular products as formaldehyde-free and safe.
Image courtesy of beautystats.com.
The complaint alleges that the two products – Brazilian Blowout Acai Smoothing Solution and Brazilian Blowout Professional Smoothing Solution – were mislabeled as formaldehyde-free, and the company made no attempt to inform customer that the products released formaldehyde gas into the air during hair treatments.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a letter with concerns about the products to the maker, saying that based on FDA sample analysis, Brazilian Blowout contains methylene glycol which releases formaldehyde when treated hair is heated with a blow dryer and then a hot flat iron.
The FDA said that methylene glycol is a toxic substance that at the levels present in these products could pose health problems, even when used as directed.
The FDA said that it received reports of “injuries associated with Brazilian Blowout,” including:
- Eye irritation.
- Blurred vision.
- Headaches.
- Burning sensations.
- Coughing.
- Nasal discomfort.
- Through irritation.
- Cheat pain or discomfort.
- Vomiting
- Rash.
In the FDA’s Hazard Alert Update it also found that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and several state OSHA programs were also investigating questions and complaints from hair salon owners and workers about possible formaldehyde exposure from straightening/smoothing products.