Congress Urges FDA to Take Action on Brazilian Blowout
We know we’ve covered the Brazilian Blowout ad nauseam, but bear with us: It feels important to keep a catalogue here of the most important news related to the ongoing controversy. Also, and just by coincidence, we got this comment from a salon worker this morning:
“I am so happy you are continuing on the horrors of these products…They are preforming this treatment all over South Florida with zero reguard for the toxicity…I have been a hairdresser for 24 years and have never seen anything this bad….please keep fighting…I am fighting on the state level!!!!!”
So with that in mind, here’s the latest on the Brazilian Blowout: The Wall Street Journal has published an excellent piece summarizing what has happened thus far and the latest developments. We already posted about the California’s impending injunction, but now members of Congress Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.) and Ed Markey (D., Mass.) have sent a letter to the FDA asking them to move on this. From the piece:
“These dangerous products are still available and used on a daily basis in salons across the United States,” the representatives wrote to the FDA. The lawmakers want the FDA to test chemical hair straighteners and recall those with high levels of formaldehyde.
Shocker, the FDA says it needs more time—they don’t like being rushed to act. And Mike Brady, chief executive of Brazilian Blowout, is claiming that the letter is “not based on any fact. It’s just based on emotion.” Really, dude? The old you’re-being-emotional line that so many women have been told by men at some point in their lives? That kind of mysogeny-laced language makes me want to barf in my mouth slash it’s the exact same thing the super-mean (and physically intimidating) BB hairdresser pulled on me when I called into question the treatment he’d given me. Which of course made me cry and feel like a total ass.
At a Congressional staff briefing taking place today, salon workers are going to be describing some of the adverse health effects they’ve experienced on account of working with the Brazilian Blowout. We only did it once and felt pretty wacked out, so we can imagine what these workers will have to report. And speaking of complaints, if you haven’t checked out the EWG’s report yet you should: They collected page up page of complaint filed with the FDA. But, you know, they need more time.
Here’s a question for you all: Do you think the FDA should test and recall these treatments, or is up to consumers and salon workers to make the choice for themselves?
Image via the WSJ article
I think the FDA should test and recall these treatments because its harmful for our health. Its just like suicide…according to the law committing suicide is a crime or torturing is not a good thing either. So, Americans and Canadians (every human) should not be getting these dangerous treatments done.
We shouldn’t get to choose to expose ourselves to known toxins at this level – stuff that’s toxic to all living things. I’m all for people making personal choices, but when something is just so completely bad and affects the overall environment, it shouldn’t be used around the general public. Especially not for cosmetic purposes!
What happens if you have had something similar done. I didn’t have the Brazilian Blowout but mine was called Opti Smooth. I have only had it done once and I loved it. How do we find out more about these products other than the Brazilian Blowout or are they all the same?
The salon where I get my hair cut performs Brazilian Blowouts and when I brought up the harmful effects to my stylist (who gets the treatment done regularly, even while she was PREGNANT), she said that the products they use didn’t contain formaldehyde and were approved by the FDA. I am emailing her a link to the EWG site so she won’t have any excuse to “play dumb” anymore… It is seriously scary how many people get this done everyday and either don’t know or choose to ignore the damage it causes to themselves. Keep up the good work and spreading awareness :)
I love the quote on the WSJ article where the rep says it’s “a perfectly safe product that.. generates money for the economy.” So the all-mighty dollar matters more than the health of countless salon workers and the clients they perform this on? (Toxic products are okay as long as they bring in cash! Oh.. I get it now!) He’s not really suggesting that regulating his product (hopefully out of existence) will result in the further downward spiral of our economy.. is he?
Other countries have already pulled this product off the shelves! I work in a salon that does this process,they refuse to listen to ALL the FACTS about this toxic evil.Because it’s MONEY…so therefore we all get poisoned.Disgusting that these stylists LIE to their clients about the safety just for the almighty buck.The FDA needs to pull this product and others like it. It is WRONG….