Friday, July 15, 2011
Update July 15, 2011
After almost a year, the hair is growing back and life has returned to normal. I still hear from others all over the world that have had the Brazilian Blowout done (even in the past month) and are now experiencing hair loss. I feel for the women out there who are taken in by such false advertising and marketing. It has come to my attentiont he product was rebranded as "Zero" formaldehyde but yet once again, reports of hair loss. Not sure if anyone actually reads this blog but wanted to make a statement that this product appears to be a chemical nightmare. Most readers who find this blog do so after they start losing their hair. My hair just does not feel the same. The grow out is rather crazy but can state the hair does grow back.
Monday, September 27, 2010
There may be very serious problems with the Brazilian Blowout product
October 7, 2010
Breaking News:
Health Canada just released results - product to be banned in Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_167-eng.php
______________________________________________________________________________
Hi, I have just created this blog (and a daily log of sorts) out of sheer frustration and big concerns regarding my recent experience with the product known as "Brazilian Blowout" and marketed as such with bronze packaging on the bottles and the tradename and web site too. Please read my experience and research first and post any issues, health concerns or comments as I am desperately seeking others experiences.
Here is my story so far:
I had the Brazilian Blowout done at a high end salon in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on August 19, 2010. At first I thought is was fantastic! My hair was straight and took less than 15 minutes to blowdry and style. Being blessed with thick auburn hair it used to take forever and I would always have it layered and thinned out by my stylist or it was just too heavy. After about two weeks I noticed I was losing hair like crazy. I could feel it falling on my arms and running my fingers through my hair resulted in many strands coming out and lots of breakage. It is everywhere. It has broken off to such a degree that my hair is starting to look and feel very different.
I have been researching every where online to see if anyone else has had this issue or any other issues. What I have found is alarming to say the least. I have found many posts from women stating hair loss of 50% and breakage for this to be an islolated thing. Obviously my next move was to call the salon who was shocked to hear my hair was falling out and they offered to send me some products to help as I live in Calgary, Alberta.
The next call I made was to Brazilian Blowout in Hollywood California and I spoke with a Customer Service agent named Erin who stated it was not the product. I asked for a list of all ingredients used in the formula applied at the salon, the ingredients for the Acai Shampoo and the Mask. She stated that the ingredients were natural and could not be sent to me as they were "patent pending". She did however send me the Material Safety Data Sheet. She also stated that my hair breakage was likely due to the salon using too high of heat during the flat ironing stages of the procedure and that the stylist may not have been adequately trained. What she emailed me is known as a MSDS and the Chemical Technician who composed it is someone named Suely J. Abe. (I cannot track her down or find her yet) and there is no alarming issues on the MSDS.
I have found several web sites with postings from others sharing their experiences both good and bad. What I found of great concern is others stating severe hair loss and breakage, eye irritation and even one who claimed it made her physically sick. The following sites have posts from women experiencing the same thing http://www.oprah.com and http://www.short-hair-styles.com and to be 100% fair, there are many postings from women who love the results so I am writing this blog in hopes of finding others who have had problems and because I have found some very alarming information and want to share with you what I have done so far to get to the bottom of what this product actually is. This is ALARMING so read on:
A salon in Oregon sent the University lab (from what I can tell) the "Brazilian Blowout" trade named product to be tested for formaldehyde September 1, 2010 and they stated they conducted 4 seperate tests each resulting in finding formaldehyde levels ranging from 6.4% to 10.6%. But wait, there is more! The guidelines for formaldehyde in cosmetic products sold in Canada as a "cosmetic item" cannot exceed 0.2% and this information is readily available through the Health Canada web site http://www.hc-sc-ga.ca/
So, to be clear and totally fair, I immediately called Brazilian Blowout and asked to speak to a Supervisor about what I had found as I am now growing more and more convinced that my hair loss is not an isolated incident nor is the itchy feeling on my scalp. I spoke with a Supervisor named "Toni" who when I raised my severe concerns regarding the Emerging Issues and Alerts found on the Oregon Health and Science University web site she immediately said she was aware of it and it was completely false. She stated that the company lawyers were working on this and that the results posted are wrong and were fabricated by a company she called "peopleinbeauty.com" as they were angry at Brazilian Blowout for not getting the distribution rights to the #1 hair product in North America (Her words, NOT mine as I wrote it down mainly from shock). I asked her why a University in Oregon would publish such results without ensuring the accuracy. She started to get short with me and I could tell I was going to get no where with her. I have contacted the University Media relations department and am waiting to speakwith the Strategic Communications Director tomorrow as he was out of the office.
So, I continued my research and started raising my growing concerns with the local health authorities. I submitted a product issue claim form with Health Canada and left messages with Alberta Health Services. Within a couple of hours I had a call from Health Canada asking for more information. I gave her my story verbally and also told her of my attempts to discuss the issue with the company directly. She then went on to tell me that the product was now being tested at a lab in Ottawa and there have been other complaints concerning eye irritation. I also emailed her the link for the University which she is now sending on to others at Health Canada looking into the product. I was also asked to email her a picture of my hair and the areas where it is thinning/balding around the temples. I will gladly provide her email should anyone need help here in Canada.
My next move it to have the product tested and am awaiting the fedex being sent to me with the solution used on my hair from the salon who did the treatment. They have been nothing but helpful and are very concerned and have followed up with me continually.
Where to go from here? Not 100% sure but I will keep going. If anyone out there has had issue, hairloss, eye irritation please, please email me. Unfortunately in the US, the laws surrounding formaldehyde in cosmetic products appear to be more lax than in Canada and Europe. I can be reached at susanne.harvey@shaw.ca and will place the following disclaimer to this blog: It is not my intention to cause any harm or distrust to the product and this blog is for my own personal research.
Something is not right here and I felt it necesary to go to this level to find others dealing with similar issues
Thank for reading - and I hope this reaches others out there
SH
Update: September 29th, 2010
I am new to blogging so I hope I am doing this correctly! Since my last post I have worked to do as much research as possible. I have heard from some others now who also have experienced eye irritation and throat irritation and had stories passed on to me about others with hair loss. I have saved these emails.
So, I spent most of Monday and Tuesday trying to reach my local and national media as well as emailing NBC. I spoke with the Strategic Communications head at OHSU and emailed him my contact information in case he hears from others with problems and chatted to Dede Montgomery at CROET.
I emailed Britney (the President) of Brazilian Blowout asking her to have a telephone conversation with me (and referred her to my blog). In all fairness she did email me back saying she would speak with me but did not leave a number.
Being in Canada, I thought a call to the company who distributes the Brazillian Blowout product would be beneficial. The head office for the distributor is here in Calgary and I managed to get through to a woman who I was told is the President (not the owner). I explained my story to her and asked her if she had seen the results from OHSU which she had not but she went on to tell me my hair loss and breakage could not be a result of the product as it is "100% safe" with NO formaldehyde. She told me that Health Canada had tested the product and all was fine. I then told her I was in contact with Health Canada and no results had been released yet to the best of my knowledge and where could I get a copy of them? She then stated she did not have them but was in contact with Health Canada as the they provided the product sample to the Health authorities. How could she make this claim that the product was safe??? I begged her to please read the results published by OHSU and that my goal in contacting her was to make them aware and seek some help. I am now trying to reach the owner of the distribution company so we will see if that helps at all.
An email was sent to me this afternoon by the Product Saftey Officer at Health Canada stating they are "continuing to look into this matter" and during my call to her on Tuesday September 28th no lab results had yet been released. But I did email her the results from OHSU!
The only media so far (I know it takes some time) is a story published by a KOIN Local 6 in Oregon and here is the link: http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Popular-hair-product-responds-to-KOIN-Local-6/zcRQGB5VAki78XGQ03oUow.cspx
but, something tells me more news will start coming out.
I am asking myself why I am doing this. It started out as pure vanity about my hair to be honest. But it has quickly grown to a need to make companies responsible and make our damn governments responsible. I have spent hours and hours on this and am learning about formaldehyde, government importing laws, product liability laws and more. If you think suing is my goal the best I could every hope for is a small claims court action that would probably not even cover my legal fees. In Canada the law states "it is the manufacturers/importers responsibility to ensure the safety of their products". What? So anyone can create a product, doctor a Material Safety Data Sheet and sell, sell, sell?
So far the most helpful and understanding person/group I have reached is safecosmetics.org - an American organization that was willing to listen to me and stated they would look into this. In Canada? No one. I called Alberta Occupational Health and Safety but they would not take my report as it was not work place related.
So, if anyone out there is actually reading this blog - thanks. It is now day 3 without washing my hair and I have started to save the ones coming out in my fingers in a bag.
I have booked a second visit to my family doctor for Monday October 4th.
Update October 3, 2010
Anxiously awaiting results from Health Canada which may be out this week - who knows?
Update October 4, 2010
I dont know what to do next as everyday I receive more and more emails from othe woman also losing their hair. The stories are all the same. Loving the results for the first week or so and now looking for answers as to why their hair is falling out, breaking and to make sure they are not the only ones. Everyone is really scared that we are going to lose all of our hair. I am telling everyone who is emailing me to save their hair loss, take photos, document who they have been in contact with a see their family doctor.
I saw my family doctor today and together we found out that toxicity testing would be useless as formaldehyde leaves no trace evidence in the system after several minutes. That does not mean it does no damage, just no way to find trace amounts in the body.
Health Canada still has not released test results but I have now been told "Health Canada is officially investigating the product. It has received several complaints. It advises people who've had problems to see a doctor." Great! Saw the doctor and nothing they can do. In just seven days I have now heard from a dozen other woman and all I have is this blog to try to find others. Have been approach by the local media after emailing them about this product and its potential harmful side effects. I will not go on camera or have my photo taken until Health Canada releases their test results as I am concerned about looking foolish but the more women I hear from the more I think I should. Dont know what to do just yet.
No fedex from the salon in Victoria that did the Brazilian Blowout on my hair and promised to send me the solution used to have tested myself. Tired of only washing my hair every 3-4 days, filling baggies with the ones falling out and starting to see more scalp.
Update October 7, 2010
As of this morning still no word from Health Canada and hair is still coming out. Frustrating!
Breaking News:
Health Canada just released results - product to be banned in Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_167-eng.php
______________________________________________________________________________
Hi, I have just created this blog (and a daily log of sorts) out of sheer frustration and big concerns regarding my recent experience with the product known as "Brazilian Blowout" and marketed as such with bronze packaging on the bottles and the tradename and web site too. Please read my experience and research first and post any issues, health concerns or comments as I am desperately seeking others experiences.
Here is my story so far:
I had the Brazilian Blowout done at a high end salon in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on August 19, 2010. At first I thought is was fantastic! My hair was straight and took less than 15 minutes to blowdry and style. Being blessed with thick auburn hair it used to take forever and I would always have it layered and thinned out by my stylist or it was just too heavy. After about two weeks I noticed I was losing hair like crazy. I could feel it falling on my arms and running my fingers through my hair resulted in many strands coming out and lots of breakage. It is everywhere. It has broken off to such a degree that my hair is starting to look and feel very different.
I have been researching every where online to see if anyone else has had this issue or any other issues. What I have found is alarming to say the least. I have found many posts from women stating hair loss of 50% and breakage for this to be an islolated thing. Obviously my next move was to call the salon who was shocked to hear my hair was falling out and they offered to send me some products to help as I live in Calgary, Alberta.
The next call I made was to Brazilian Blowout in Hollywood California and I spoke with a Customer Service agent named Erin who stated it was not the product. I asked for a list of all ingredients used in the formula applied at the salon, the ingredients for the Acai Shampoo and the Mask. She stated that the ingredients were natural and could not be sent to me as they were "patent pending". She did however send me the Material Safety Data Sheet. She also stated that my hair breakage was likely due to the salon using too high of heat during the flat ironing stages of the procedure and that the stylist may not have been adequately trained. What she emailed me is known as a MSDS and the Chemical Technician who composed it is someone named Suely J. Abe. (I cannot track her down or find her yet) and there is no alarming issues on the MSDS.
I have found several web sites with postings from others sharing their experiences both good and bad. What I found of great concern is others stating severe hair loss and breakage, eye irritation and even one who claimed it made her physically sick. The following sites have posts from women experiencing the same thing http://www.oprah.com and http://www.short-hair-styles.com and to be 100% fair, there are many postings from women who love the results so I am writing this blog in hopes of finding others who have had problems and because I have found some very alarming information and want to share with you what I have done so far to get to the bottom of what this product actually is. This is ALARMING so read on:
Today is Monday September 27, 2010 and I discovered through facebook a link to The Oregon Health and Science University who just released an Emerging Issues and Alerts notice on there web site - here is the link- http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/research/centers-institutes/croet/emerging-issues-and-alerts.cfm
A salon in Oregon sent the University lab (from what I can tell) the "Brazilian Blowout" trade named product to be tested for formaldehyde September 1, 2010 and they stated they conducted 4 seperate tests each resulting in finding formaldehyde levels ranging from 6.4% to 10.6%. But wait, there is more! The guidelines for formaldehyde in cosmetic products sold in Canada as a "cosmetic item" cannot exceed 0.2% and this information is readily available through the Health Canada web site http://www.hc-sc-ga.ca/
So, to be clear and totally fair, I immediately called Brazilian Blowout and asked to speak to a Supervisor about what I had found as I am now growing more and more convinced that my hair loss is not an isolated incident nor is the itchy feeling on my scalp. I spoke with a Supervisor named "Toni" who when I raised my severe concerns regarding the Emerging Issues and Alerts found on the Oregon Health and Science University web site she immediately said she was aware of it and it was completely false. She stated that the company lawyers were working on this and that the results posted are wrong and were fabricated by a company she called "peopleinbeauty.com" as they were angry at Brazilian Blowout for not getting the distribution rights to the #1 hair product in North America (Her words, NOT mine as I wrote it down mainly from shock). I asked her why a University in Oregon would publish such results without ensuring the accuracy. She started to get short with me and I could tell I was going to get no where with her. I have contacted the University Media relations department and am waiting to speakwith the Strategic Communications Director tomorrow as he was out of the office.
So, I continued my research and started raising my growing concerns with the local health authorities. I submitted a product issue claim form with Health Canada and left messages with Alberta Health Services. Within a couple of hours I had a call from Health Canada asking for more information. I gave her my story verbally and also told her of my attempts to discuss the issue with the company directly. She then went on to tell me that the product was now being tested at a lab in Ottawa and there have been other complaints concerning eye irritation. I also emailed her the link for the University which she is now sending on to others at Health Canada looking into the product. I was also asked to email her a picture of my hair and the areas where it is thinning/balding around the temples. I will gladly provide her email should anyone need help here in Canada.
My next move it to have the product tested and am awaiting the fedex being sent to me with the solution used on my hair from the salon who did the treatment. They have been nothing but helpful and are very concerned and have followed up with me continually.
Where to go from here? Not 100% sure but I will keep going. If anyone out there has had issue, hairloss, eye irritation please, please email me. Unfortunately in the US, the laws surrounding formaldehyde in cosmetic products appear to be more lax than in Canada and Europe. I can be reached at susanne.harvey@shaw.ca and will place the following disclaimer to this blog: It is not my intention to cause any harm or distrust to the product and this blog is for my own personal research.
Something is not right here and I felt it necesary to go to this level to find others dealing with similar issues
Thank for reading - and I hope this reaches others out there
SH
Update: September 29th, 2010
I am new to blogging so I hope I am doing this correctly! Since my last post I have worked to do as much research as possible. I have heard from some others now who also have experienced eye irritation and throat irritation and had stories passed on to me about others with hair loss. I have saved these emails.
So, I spent most of Monday and Tuesday trying to reach my local and national media as well as emailing NBC. I spoke with the Strategic Communications head at OHSU and emailed him my contact information in case he hears from others with problems and chatted to Dede Montgomery at CROET.
I emailed Britney (the President) of Brazilian Blowout asking her to have a telephone conversation with me (and referred her to my blog). In all fairness she did email me back saying she would speak with me but did not leave a number.
Being in Canada, I thought a call to the company who distributes the Brazillian Blowout product would be beneficial. The head office for the distributor is here in Calgary and I managed to get through to a woman who I was told is the President (not the owner). I explained my story to her and asked her if she had seen the results from OHSU which she had not but she went on to tell me my hair loss and breakage could not be a result of the product as it is "100% safe" with NO formaldehyde. She told me that Health Canada had tested the product and all was fine. I then told her I was in contact with Health Canada and no results had been released yet to the best of my knowledge and where could I get a copy of them? She then stated she did not have them but was in contact with Health Canada as the they provided the product sample to the Health authorities. How could she make this claim that the product was safe??? I begged her to please read the results published by OHSU and that my goal in contacting her was to make them aware and seek some help. I am now trying to reach the owner of the distribution company so we will see if that helps at all.
An email was sent to me this afternoon by the Product Saftey Officer at Health Canada stating they are "continuing to look into this matter" and during my call to her on Tuesday September 28th no lab results had yet been released. But I did email her the results from OHSU!
The only media so far (I know it takes some time) is a story published by a KOIN Local 6 in Oregon and here is the link: http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Popular-hair-product-responds-to-KOIN-Local-6/zcRQGB5VAki78XGQ03oUow.cspx
but, something tells me more news will start coming out.
I am asking myself why I am doing this. It started out as pure vanity about my hair to be honest. But it has quickly grown to a need to make companies responsible and make our damn governments responsible. I have spent hours and hours on this and am learning about formaldehyde, government importing laws, product liability laws and more. If you think suing is my goal the best I could every hope for is a small claims court action that would probably not even cover my legal fees. In Canada the law states "it is the manufacturers/importers responsibility to ensure the safety of their products". What? So anyone can create a product, doctor a Material Safety Data Sheet and sell, sell, sell?
So far the most helpful and understanding person/group I have reached is safecosmetics.org - an American organization that was willing to listen to me and stated they would look into this. In Canada? No one. I called Alberta Occupational Health and Safety but they would not take my report as it was not work place related.
So, if anyone out there is actually reading this blog - thanks. It is now day 3 without washing my hair and I have started to save the ones coming out in my fingers in a bag.
I have booked a second visit to my family doctor for Monday October 4th.
Update October 3, 2010
Anxiously awaiting results from Health Canada which may be out this week - who knows?
Update October 4, 2010
I dont know what to do next as everyday I receive more and more emails from othe woman also losing their hair. The stories are all the same. Loving the results for the first week or so and now looking for answers as to why their hair is falling out, breaking and to make sure they are not the only ones. Everyone is really scared that we are going to lose all of our hair. I am telling everyone who is emailing me to save their hair loss, take photos, document who they have been in contact with a see their family doctor.
I saw my family doctor today and together we found out that toxicity testing would be useless as formaldehyde leaves no trace evidence in the system after several minutes. That does not mean it does no damage, just no way to find trace amounts in the body.
Health Canada still has not released test results but I have now been told "Health Canada is officially investigating the product. It has received several complaints. It advises people who've had problems to see a doctor." Great! Saw the doctor and nothing they can do. In just seven days I have now heard from a dozen other woman and all I have is this blog to try to find others. Have been approach by the local media after emailing them about this product and its potential harmful side effects. I will not go on camera or have my photo taken until Health Canada releases their test results as I am concerned about looking foolish but the more women I hear from the more I think I should. Dont know what to do just yet.
No fedex from the salon in Victoria that did the Brazilian Blowout on my hair and promised to send me the solution used to have tested myself. Tired of only washing my hair every 3-4 days, filling baggies with the ones falling out and starting to see more scalp.
Update October 7, 2010
As of this morning still no word from Health Canada and hair is still coming out. Frustrating!
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