RENOVAR SALON UPDATE, JULY 2012

As of July 13, 2012 we have not heard back from the IRS on our tax exempt status.  Granted, we could go ahead and open the salon now but because we are asking manufacturers for donations of our initial products we feel they should be able to get a write off .  Its only fair.  The IRS website states that they are currently working on applications received in October 2011.  Our application was submitted on October 28, 2011.  We will keep everyone updated on our progress.   

BEAUTY FOR A BUCK?

I was wandering through a local Dollar Store when I happened upon a long row of beauty and personal care products. Curious, I started looking at the ingredient labels of many of the products and what I found was rather profound.

I've done some research on Parabens in products and what I discovered was parabens are most hazardous when they are in products that are designed to stay on the skin such as Face creams, Makeup, Body lotions, and Hair styling products. There is no other product that is of more concern than that of Deodorant.   

(Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers and affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.  British researchers have found traces of chemicals called parabens in tissue taken from women with breast cancer.  Their tests suggested the chemicals had seeped into the tissue after being applied to the skin)

The reason deodorant is such a concern is that it is applied to the underarms where some of the most active follicles and sweat glands are.  Plus, the underarms contain lymph nodes.  The lymph nodes are a part of the lymphatic system, which is connected to the immune system.  It is thought that there is a direct connection between parabens in deodorant and parabens found in cancerous tissues.

I’ve looked at many popular deodorant labels only to find that almost every single product contained at least one form of paraben where many had up to 5 different parabens. 

But when reading the ingredients listed on almost every (stick formula) deodorant at the Dollar Store I did not find any parabens whatsoever.  Not only did I not find any parabens, I noticed that the ingredient list was much shorter than the other brands.  After purchasing a stick I found that it worked as well if not better than some of the big name brands.

This got me thinking about other personal care items that were offered at the Dollar Store.

I started comparing shampoos and conditioners, hairsprays, detanglers (my daughter needs it every day), styling products, shower gels, basic moisturizers, toothpaste and fragrance.

Although it’s a hit or miss situation to find the same products every time to visit the Dollar Store, I did find that many of the “copy cat” items contained the same or better ingredients as the more expensive brands. 

I found salon quality shampoos, conditioners and hairsprays that were as good as Paul Mitchell and Sebastian products.  I picked up a case of spray detangler (12 for $12.00) for my daughter that was safer and more effective than the $15.00 a bottle brand I was buying.

I found a big jar of Cocoa and Shea Butter Body Cream that is so natural you can eat it.   

I think the best find was fragrance.

We’ve all seen them; “If you like Calvin Klein Obsession, You’ll Love……”  Well, I did, and I do!

A while back I did a piece on this blog on how dangerous fragrances are.  It talks about the numerous hazardous chemicals in brand name perfumes and fragrances and that by law the fragrance industry does not have to list the ingredients in their products.  It is said that there are hundreds of ingredients that are used in fragrances that are known to be dangerous to humans. 

I noticed a display at my local Dollar Store of various “copy cat” fragrances.  One of them was my favorite, Obsession by Calvin Klein.  I thought what the heck; it’s only a dollar, so I bought one.

I tried the fragrance and could not tell the difference so I decided to wear it to work one day.  I work in the cosmetic department of a large department store chain.  As I was working many of my coworkers commented on how nice the “obsession” smelled on me.  I even had a couple of the fragrance sales people comment on how nice it was.  I didn’t tell any of them it was a $1 copy cat. 

The fact that it was a convincing copy cat was secondary to what else I discovered. 

I noticed that the ingredient list had only 3 ingredients listed; Water, Alcohol and Fragrance. 

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing so I called the company and asked them if all of the ingredients were in fact listed.  What I was told was “yes, we list every ingredient….”  The reason their fragrance was so inexpensive was precisely for that reason.  The company that makes the copy cat fragrance does not use the expensive chemicals that are added to other fragrances to make them last longer on the body or evaporate quicker. I did notice that when you spray the copy cat fragrances on, they do not dry as quickly as the other expensive brands.  But who cares?  I’d rather have a fragrance that takes longer to dry than one that may potentially kill me.

My love for the Dollar Store hasn’t stopped with personal care and beauty products.  I found that I can get cleaning products, detergents, hair clips (again my daughter goes through a lot), and other home needs for a lot less.

Granted, at the Dollar Store there aren’t as many choices available as the department store, and you have to visit regularly to see what’s available but what I did find is, there are some awesome and cheaper alternatives available for only a buck.

RENOVAR SALON UPDATE

Many of our followers have asked us whats happening with the new salon, so we thought we would fill you all in. 

We have applied for Non-Profit Tax Status with the IRS but have not gotten the final OK.  Hey, its the government, what can we say.  We expect an answer any day now. 

Once we have the "Go Ahead", we can start soliciting donations from vendors and supporters.  As soon as we have enough donations, we will start interviewing hair stylists and manicurists. 

Our goal is to have a unique, high end salon without the high end prices.  All of our services and products will be the safest available.  We will NOT have any harmful chemical services such as Perms, Chemical Relaxers, Harmful Hair Color (we found an awesome organic hair color system), Acrylic or Gel Nails, or Bacteria Producing Pedicure Chairs.   Everything we do will be safe enough for pregnant women, people going through chemotherapy, children etc.

We will have the safest and most effective skin care, hair care and makeup available at extremely affordable prices.

Our recycling program will be the most aggressive ever.  Our clients can bring in their clean, empty containers (that they purchased from us) to be refilled at a discount.

All of our profits (after running the business) will go to local charities that are nominated by you, our customers.

Our goal is to open at least 1 new location a year.

Other services we will be offering through our Mother Non-Profit company (The Saf Salon Project) will consist of, Free haircare, skincare and makeup services to women in shelters that are trying to find work.  We will work with other Non-Profit organizations that help these women to develop resumes, assist in interviewing and find free clothing for their interviews.

We are also raising money to purchase wigs for women and children going through chemotherapy.  We will also maintain the hairpieces for them at no cost.

We would also like to offer Medical Corrective Makeup Artistry training to makeup artists.

This project will show that you can have a successful salon without the rediculous amount of waste and hundreds of harmful chemicals associated with most salons. 

We promise to keep you up to date on the progress of these programs and the opening of the salon.

Thank you for your interest and support.

SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS THAT WORK

People have asked us to provide a list of ingredients to look for when they are purchasing skin care.  We compiled a list of the ingredients we feel actually benefit the skin.  Keep in mind that just because the ingredient is in a product, it doesn’t mean it’s the best on the market.  The concentration of the ingredient is very important.  Many companies add these ingredients to their product but the concentrations are so low they become useless.  If you see an ingredient you are interested in listed on a skin care product ask the salesperson if they know what the concentration of that ingredient is.  You can also look on the list of ingredients.  If the ingredient in question is listed in the second half of the list, chances are the concentrations are too low.     

Aloe Vera:  A cactus-like plant growing in the warmer climates of the world and are described as succulents. Aloe Vera is a very popular herbal remedy. The Aloe Vera plant (also called Aloe Barbadensis) is unique among plants for its importance in natural skin care.  Aloe Vera contains burn healing effects, anti-inflammatory properties, scar reducing and wound repairing properties.

Alpha Arbutin:  From the North American Forests, Alpha-Arbutin, and extract of the Bearberry Plant, is a natural skin whitening agent. Substantially more stable and effective than any other skin whitening product available in the market today. A tyrosinase inhibitor, Alpha-Arbutin can be up to 10 times more effective without the negative side effects typically found in other skin lightening agents.  Reduces and prevents hyper-pigmentation, fades unsightly discoloration while brightening skin tone and blocks and inhibits tyrosinase (melanin production in skin) activity.

Alpha Lipoic Acid:  Lipoic Acid is a well-known natural substance found in certain foods and also produced in the human body. It has an impressive array of potentially beneficial mechanisms of action. Lipoic Acid is a potent and versatile antioxidant. It is a co-factor in a key biochemical pathway responsible for energy production in the cells (citric acid cycle). It inhibits cross-linking which is the formation of chemical bridges between proteins or other large molecules. Cross-linking contributed to the aging process by causing hardening of arteries, wrinkling of the skin and stiffening of joints. It has moderate anti-inflammatory effect.  Finally, it has a capacity, albeit a modest one, to neutralize and remove from the body a variety of toxic metals.

Borage Oil:  Borage, also known as starflower, has been used as a medicinal and culinary plant for centuries in Europe, Asia and North Africa.  The moisturizing fatty acids help to improve skin quality and texture and keep it young and supple-looking. Borage also helps reduce and prevent redness and skin inflammation.  Borage is widely used in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. 

DMAE:  DMAE is naturally found in some foods. It is a highly bioactive nutritional precursor to acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter. DMAE has a firming effect on facial and neck tissue. and helps diminish fine lines around the eyes and mouth. DMAE also boosts other antioxidants, resulting in increased brightness, smoothness, and wrinkle reduction. DMAE also acts as a membrane stabilizer, and can even help erase and prevent age and liver spots.

Evening Primrose:  Evening Primrose is a wildflower that grows throughout the U.S. Although Native Americans used the seeds for food and made poultices from the whole plant to heal bruises, evening primrose oil (EPO) has only recently been used as medicine.  A study of 1,207 patients found that EPO helped relieve symptoms from skin conditions, including itching, crusting, edema (fluid, swelling), and redness.

Glycolic Acids:  Due to its excellent capability to penetrate skin, glycolic acid finds applications in skin care products, most often as a chemical peel performed by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or licensed aesthetician in concentrations of 20 to 70% or at-home kits in lower concentrations between 10 and 20%. In addition to concentration, pH also plays a large part in determining the potency of glycolic acid in solution. Physician-strength peels can have a pH as low as 0.6 (strong enough to completely keratolyze the epidermis), while acidities for home peels can be as high as 2.5. Glycolic acid is used to improve the skin's appearance and texture. It reduces wrinkles, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation and improves many other skin conditions, including actinic keratosis, hyperkeratosis, and seborrheic keratosis. Once applied, glycolic acid reacts with the upper layer of the epidermis, weakening the binding properties of the lipids that hold the dead skin cells together. This allows the stratum corneum to be exfoliated, exposing live skin cells. Highly purified grades of glycolic acid are commercially available for personal care applications.

Green Tea: Of all the antioxidants known to mankind, the components of green tea are the most potent.  Antioxidants are those agents which can counteract the effects of oxidant radicals. Oxidant radicals -- or free radicals, as they are commonly called -- are byproducts of the body that can cause damage to cells and tissues. Antioxidants bind to the free radicals, deactivating them before they can cause harm.

Hyaluronic Acid:  Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. Hyaluronic Acid can be applied to the skin for healing wounds, burns, skin ulcers, and as a moisturizer.  It helps to keep skin smooth and "plump" through its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

Idebenone:  Idebenone is an extraordinary antioxidant, first recognized in the medical field for its protective, restorative and corrective capabilities. Idebenone has been proven as the only topical antioxidant that can act on all three levels of free radical assaults, working deep within the surface layers of the skin to restore skin cells. It helps prevent further damage and supports skin’s natural repair mechanisms to help address past damage, and provides the most effective and highest level of antioxidant protection available.

Lavender:  Native to southern France and the Canary Islands, Lavender is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), with its silvery foliage and tall purple flowers.  Throughout history, lavender had been prized for its impressive healing properties. It was used by the ancient Romans for its healing and antiseptic properties.  Lavender works well in the treatment of acne, eczema, dermatitis, fungus, burns and wounds.

Lemon:  Part of the citrus family, Lemon has the ability to reduce oil production, clear acne inflammation and breakouts, tone and purify the skin, and reduce acne scaring.

MSM:  The raw materials used to synthesize MSM have many sources, including plants or other organically-based material.  MSM is a safe and effective anti-inflammatory agent.  MSM has been shown to inhibit the development of abnormal antibodies to collagen.  Reports suggest that MSM improves the suppleness of skin.

Niacinamide:  Niacinamide is one of the two principal forms of vitamin B3.  Plays a key role in the metabolism of glucose, cellular energy production and synthesis of lipids.  Topical Niacinamide appears to reverse the decline of co-enzymes present in the skin. Niacinamide also appears to have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, Niacinamide is stable, safe and well tolerated in topical formulations even at relatively high concentrations.

Peptides:  Peptides are among the most powerful and interesting skin care ingredients being used in successful anti wrinkle products.  Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins and many other different types of organic molecules. Peptides are frequently created by the digestion of proteins in the body, and many types of peptides are readily and rapidly absorbed by the bloodstream. For this reason, peptides are particularly effective as skin care ingredients.  Peptides work to relax certain types of facial wrinkles, increase overall collagen production, protect the skin from damage, and heal wounds.

Retinol:  Retinol is the whole Vitamin A molecule, which can be broken down into thousands of smaller components, including “retinoic acid” (also called Tretinoin).  An important role in anti-aging skin care. The purest and most active form of Vitamin A, Retinol aids in the resurfacing and rejuvenating of skin, helping to impart a clearer, more vibrant complexion.  Retinol penetrates deep into the skin, where it becomes fully operative. Wrinkles and lines are gradually smoothed, moisture and elasticity increase, the complexion glows and damage is diminished.  A beneficial cell-communicating ingredient, as well as an antioxidant. It assists in creating stronger, healthier skin cells and increases the amount of skin-support substances.  Used in the management of acne in topical applications. The increased skin exfoliation of Vitamin A helps unclog pores. Retinol has also been shown to stimulate new collagen production, which is critical in the battle against aging.

Rosehip Oil:  Rosehip Oil educes wrinkles and signs of premature ageing. Helps to counter the drying effects of the sun which are usually first noticed in fine wrinkle lines or "crows feet" around the eyes and mouth. Evens tone and smoothes roughness.  Improves surgical and accidental scars, restores normal skin color (reduces redness or hyper pigmentation). It also avoids the formation of the keloid type of scar (lump) which may appear after surgical procedures and helps to make less apparent old scars left by acne or chickenpox.

Tea Tree:  From the Melaleuca tree in Australia, Tea Tree has been used for centuries as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiseptic solution which makes it the perfect treatment for acne. 

Vitamin C:  Vitamin C derived from citrus, is used to protect the skin against the sun, pollutants, and other environmental hazards. Vitamin C applied to the skin can help with damage from radiation therapy.  Used for infections including gum disease, acne and other skin infections. Commonly used as an Antioxidant to prevent free radical skin cell damage.  Vitamin C can be used to brighten and even out skin tone.

Vitamin E:  Vitamin E benefits are numerous. In fact, skin care products that contain Vitamin E have become an essential part of healthy skin care.  Because of its antioxidant activity, Vitamin E is vital in protecting skin cells from ultra violet light, pollution, drugs, and other elements that produce cell damaging free radicals. Used in skin care products to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, reduce inflammation, care for burned skin, reduce erythema and prevent forms of skin cancer.

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT PROFESSIONAL, SALON AND COMMERCIAL COSMETICS

Myth: If products are at a Salon by a professional and licensed cosmetologist, they must be safe.

Fact: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no authority to require companies to assess ingredients or products for safety. FDA does not review or approve the vast majority of salon products or ingredients before they go on the market. The agency conducts pre-market reviews only for certain color additives and active ingredients in cosmetics classified as over-the-counter drugs.

An example of a product that is for professional use only and not safe is “Brazilian Blowout” thermal hair straightener.  Although the ingredient is not listed on the product, it contains toxic Formaldehyde.   

Myth: The salon and cosmetics industry effectively polices itself, making sure all ingredients meet a strict standard of safety.

Fact: There is no industry recognized national safety panel for Salon products in the United States. In its more than 30-year history, the industry’s safety panel (the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, or CIR) has assessed fewer than 20 percent of cosmetics ingredients and found only a handful of ingredients or chemical groups to be unsafe. Its recommendations are not binding on companies.

Myth: The government prohibits dangerous chemicals in professional salon products, and companies wouldn’t risk using them.

Fact: Cosmetics companies may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives and a few prohibited substances (such as vinyl chloride and cow parts), without government review or approval.

• More than 500 products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients banned in cosmetics in Japan, Canada or the European Union.
• Nearly 100 products contain ingredients considered unsafe by the International Fragrance Association.
• A wide range of nanomaterials whose safety is in question may be common in personal care products.
• 22% of all personal care products may be contaminated with the cancer-causing impurity 1,4-dioxane, including many children’s products.
• 60% of sunscreens contain the potential hormone disruptor oxybenzone that readily penetrates the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans.
• 61% of tested lipstick brands contain residues of lead.

Myth: Salon ingredients are applied to the scalp and rarely get into the body. When they do, levels are too low to matter.

Fact: People are exposed by breathing in fumes and absorbing chemicals into pores. Biomonitoring studies have found cosmetics ingredients – like formaldehydes, phthalate plasticizers, paraben preservatives, the pesticide triclosan, synthetic musk’s, and sunscreens – inside the bodily fluids of men, women, children and even the cord blood of newborn babies. Many of these chemicals are potential hormone disruptors that may increase cancer risk. Products commonly contain penetration enhancers to drive ingredients deeper into the hair. Studies find health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including elevated risk for sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system, and low birth weight in girls.

Myth: The FDA would promptly recall any product that injures people.

Fact: The FDA has no authority to require recalls of harmful salon or commercial products or cosmetics. Furthermore, manufacturers are not required to report cosmetics-related injuries to the agency. The FDA relies on companies to report injuries voluntarily.

Myth: Consumers can read ingredient labels and avoid products with hazardous chemicals.

Fact: Federal law allows companies to leave many chemicals off labels, including nanomaterials, contaminants, and components of fragrance. Professional salon products and Fragrance Companies are not required to list ingredients by any Federal law in the United States. For those few that do list their ingredients, tests have revealed an average of 14 hidden compounds per formulation, including potential hormone disruptors and diethyl phthalate, a compound linked to sperm damage.

Myth:  Products that state that they are made in particular country must be made in that country.

Fact:  There is no Government entity that regulates these statements.  Any manufacturer can (and often do) state that their product is “Made in (for example) Paris” when in fact, the products are made in the USA, China or some other country.  These statements may be considered false advertizing but there is no one to prevent this from happening.  It is assumed that companies such as Lancome, Chanel and Dior (that label their products “Made in France” or “Made in Paris”) are all made in France, but in reality, many of their products are manufactured in the USA and China.   The same goes for products that claim they are made in the USA (Estee Lauder Companies, Bare Escentuals).  Many of those products are actually made in China.

Myth:  The FDA makes sure cosmetic company’s stand by their product claims.

Fact:  The FDA (or any Government entity for that matter) has no authority to require companies to prove that their product will do what they say it will do.  Many companies make claims that their product will reduce wrinkles or take wrinkles away when in fact they can’t and don’t.  Companies can (and often do) say what ever they want about their product without repercussion.  Commercial (Department and Drug Store) cosmetic companies develop products based on marketing ploys and not on the products efficacy.

Myth:  A $250.00 cream or serum is better than a $10.00 cream or serum.

Fact:  Expensive creams cost as much as they do because cosmetic companies play on the consumer’s ignorance (Other factors are advertising, celebrity face models, packaging, gift with purchases and returns). They are banking on the prospect that there are people out there that believe this myth.  Many cosmetic companies have built their empires because consumers continue to buy these overpriced products.  A prime example is the “La Mer” company (owned by Estee Lauder).  Their original cream sold for up to $500.00 per jar.  Consumers thought that if these companies were going to charge that kind of money for the cream, it had to be great.  Actually, this product has absolutely no active ingredients and is no more effective than most cheap drug store face creams.  La Mer developed an entire line of skin care, body care and makeup products due to the creams popularity.  All of the items in the line are far more expensive than most cosmetic company product lines yet no more effective.  In fact products such as Avon skin care, which sells for 200% less, is more effective than any La Mer skin care product.

Myth:  The FDA tests cosmetics for lead and other hazardous ingredients.

Fact:  The FDA does not test cosmetics for any ingredient, be it safe or hazardous.  The FDA relies on companies to list all cosmetic ingredients voluntarily.  Many companies do not list lead in their ingredients.  

In 2007, a report was released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) that presented an analysis of lead in lipstick products. The CSC report stated that more than half of 33 brand-name lipsticks tested contained detectable levels of lead, with levels ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). The CSC report noted none of these lipsticks listed lead as an ingredient.

Recently there have been a number of cases of inflammation on lips due to excessive use of lipsticks. The symptoms of lipstick poisoning varies from person to person. The lipstick poisoning can be classified into two different categories, allergic reactions and chronic lip eruptions. Chronic lip eruptions some times lead to skin cancer. The allergic reactions are due to the presence of certain ingredients used in the manufacture of lipsticks. It can be the color, preservative, lead or any other material present in the lipstick. Usually, these reactions will disappear upon the discontinuation of the lipstick.  It was found that the presence of Lead in the lipsticks is the major cause for the reactions. Almost all major brands of lipsticks contain Lead in considerable quantity. The lead is mixed with saliva and reaches the stomach even after 6 hours of application. In 1990s, reports of analytical results from a commercial testing laboratory suggested that traces of lead in lipstick might be of concern.

                                                                          Lead Poisoning

In a 2007 study, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that some brands of cosmetics had consistently higher lead levels compared to other companies. The worst offender in the CSC study was L’Oreal, which made some of the top highest lead-containing brands. Lancome, L’Oreal, Cover Girl and Maybelline.

Myth:  Skin-care products are all hype; soap and water works just as well.

Fact:  The science behind skin-care products has grown in leaps and bounds over the past 20 years. Today, there is good scientific evidence behind the use of such ingredients as hyaluronic acid, alpha arbutin, peptides, antioxidant vitamins, green tea polyphenols, retinoids, alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, and essential oils in skin-care products to minimize wrinkles, fade dark spots, and strengthen collagen.

Myth:  Natural cosmetic ingredients do not work as well as synthetic chemical ingredients.

Fact:  Fruits, vegetables, or any pure food ingredients are not necessarily the best for skin. When it comes to skin care, more often than not, it is some small element of the plant that provides the benefit for skin. Extracting this component from the plant almost always requires a chemical process. Further, these extracts are far more stable than the whole food. Think about it this way: a plant in its pure form isn't stable in the least, especially in skin-care products. Even a sour lemon will grow mold in the refrigerator and imagine what would happen to the lemon over time if was sitting on your bathroom counter!

A slice of apple does little or nothing to benefit the skin however an element of the fermented apple (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) will promote skin cell proliferation by exfoliating dead surface skin cells.  Another example is the Bearberry.  In its raw state, it has no known skin benefits but an element of the Bearberry called Alpha Arbutin has been proven to eliminate dark spots in the skin even more effectively than Hydroquinone which is a synthetic ingredient. 

BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT! IS HAVING STRAIGHT HAIR WORTH IT?

It’s funny how we always want what we don’t have.  Especially when it comes to our hair.  People with curly hair will do almost anything to have straight, smooth hair and people with bone straight hair will endure smelly perms so they can have curly locks (even if they end up looking like “Little Orphan Annie”).  At Renovar, our goal is not only to teach our clients to live with but more importantly “fall in love” with the hair they were born with.  We will not use toxic straighteners or perms due to the dangers caused by the chemicals used in these products. 

One straightening product that has become very popular in salons is Brazilian Blowout. 

Women who frequent Brazilian Blowout salons need to be aware of the dangers and warnings surrounding Brazilian Blowout hair treatments. They should be aware that exposure to this hair product can be quite dangerous.  It is even more dangerous to salon workers who are exposed to it everyday.

Both the Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution and the Brazilian Blowout Solution contain high percentages of formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen. Carcinogen is a substance or agent that can cause or aggravate cancer.

Many people give up smoking cigarettes or avoid smoking cigarettes due to the carcinogens in cigarettes. Do these same people have Brazilian Blowout treatments at Brazilian Blowout salons? Would they have if they had been aware of the dangers? Are salon workers who know about the dangers and warnings and Brazilian Blowout ingredients not afraid of their frequent use and exposure to this hair product?

Formaldehyde is also a known allergen. Allergens can cause a terrible allergic reaction, respiratory problems, and eye, nose and throat irritations.  Formaldehyde can be used as a preservative in some cosmetics, but only in very small quantities, well under 1%.  Laboratory tests have been done that show that the product contains roughly 6% to 12% formaldehyde.

Frightening:

1)  The Brazilian Blowout manufacturers still leave labels on the products that claim that there is no formaldehyde in the Brazilian Blowout ingredients.
2)  Some countries no longer distribute the product, or have had it recalled.
3)  In November 2010 The California State Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Brazilian Blowout
4)  Brazilian Blowout has been banned in Canada
5)  A Brazilian Blowout facebook page has been “liked” by over 26 000 people
6)  UPDATE (9 Sept 2011):  The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has sent an official warning letter to the Brazilian Blowout manufacturers. The letter from the FDA warned that it is the responsibility of the Brazilian Blowout manufacturers to check that their product is safe for use and that the packaging is correctly labeled. The Brazilian Blowout label states that the product has no formaldehyde in it which is false, misleading or untrue, as Brazilian Blowout contains dangerously high levels of formaldehyde – a known carcinogen that may cause or worsen cancer.

After hairstylist becomes suspicious of Brazilian Blowout, tests find formaldehyde:

One Sunday late last year Molly Scrutton felt plain lousy. Her throat hurt and her chest ached as she and co-worker Pauline Steiner ran their usual four or five miles through Forest Park's fern- and fir-lined trails.

Steiner, who owns Platform Artistic Salon, felt crummy, too. As they pushed through their workout and talked, the women wondered aloud whether the new hair-smoothing product both used on clients -- with gorgeous results -- might be the problem. Brazilian Blowout's cocoa-colored plastic bottle doesn't list the ingredients, though the label declares it "formaldehyde-free."

Back at the salon, when they called Brazilian Blowout's manufacturer in Southern California, Scrutton says, the company declined to divulge what was in the solution.

The stuff was a huge hit with customers and lucrative for stylists, who charged $250 to $350 for the 90-minute treatment.

Not only did it turn frizzy or damaged hair silky and lustrous, but the procedure was a snap, as the training video illustrated. Stylists simply wash and towel dry clients' hair, apply the liquid Brazilian Blowout, blow-dry the hair, then pull a flat iron heated to 450 degrees from the roots to the ends. They rinse hair in warm water, apply a solution called a mask for 60 seconds, rinse again, comb in Brazilian Blowout leave-in conditioner and style hair as usual.

About a year ago, Platform Artistic Salon was among the first in Portland to offer the treatment that was becoming all the rage in cities nationwide. "It's the most popular new service to do right now," Scrutton says. "It's everywhere."

Scrutton performed the treatment about 20 times before concluding six months ago that it made her ill. A big red flag: About a month after she started using Brazilian Blowout on clients, Scrutton had the first nosebleed of her life.

She called her customers, informing them she would no longer offer the treatment but could refer them to stylists who did.

Scrutton set to work researching Brazilian Blowout and similar treatments -- a move that doesn't surprise longtime client Iris Baldwin.

"She has the character, the integrity and the smarts to be able to scrutinize and analyze and put all these pieces together," says Baldwin, a midwife. "Who else in the hair world is doing that kind of thing?"

Scrutton found stories of others who suffered ill effects. One in particular caught her attention, a 2007 Allure magazine piece titled "Scared Straight." The magazine noted that no government agency is charged with approving beauty products before they go to market. Allure collected samples of the solution and sent them to an FDA-registered lab for testing. They contained "at least ten times more formaldehyde than the .2 percent that is determined to be safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, a group of scientists and doctors who assess and set recommended safety standards for cosmetics ingredients," author Mary A. Fischer wrote.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to large amounts of the chemical can cause serious health problems, including cancer.

As others in her salon kept performing Brazilian Blowout treatments, Scrutton's worrisome symptoms continued. She didn't want to cut into co-workers' livelihoods, she says, but she knew she couldn't keep working near the stuff.

Scrutton, an independent contractor, as are others in her salon, wrote a memo advising co-workers she could no longer work where the treatments were being performed. Eventually they all quit using Brazilian Blowout.

Concerned for stylists elsewhere, who are exposed to the product far more often than customers, Scrutton didn't stop. She asked a client who researches formaldehyde at Oregon Health & Science University for advice. The client put her in touch with Dede Montgomery, an occupational safety and health specialist and certified industrial hygienist at OHSU's Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology.

Montgomery visited the salon where Scrutton works, collected a sample of Brazilian Blowout, and delivered it to OSHA's Portland lab. A couple weeks later, Montgomery collected a sample from a second salon; OSHA gathered a third sample in September.

OSHA, the agency responsible for workplace safety and health, issued an alert warning Sept. 30 that samples of Brazilian Blowout and Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, which is sold by the same company, contained high levels of formaldehyde. A variety of testing methods showed samples containing between 4.85 percent and 10.6 percent formaldehyde. When Canada's health agency tested Brazilian Blowout, it found 12 percent formaldehyde.

OSHA requires manufacturers whose products are used in workplaces and that contain more than 0.1 percent formaldehyde to list the chemical and to address safe work practices on the material safety data sheet with the product.

Scrutton was furious. Concerned, too. She wondered whether contact with the product might cause long-term health problems for her or for stylists in other salons that offered the treatments. Especially, she says, she worried about effects it might have on two co-workers in particular: One is pregnant and the other has cancer.

Meanwhile, Brazilian Blowout blasted OSHA's test results. The company, which failed to return calls from The Oregonian, first maintained on its website that its products were formaldehyde-free. Then it said its own testing found only trace amounts. Friday on its website, Brazilian announced that an independent company, Health Science Associates, monitored air in a salon over eight hours when the smoothing treatments were performed and found the formaldehyde gas in the air was within federal OSHA's permissible exposure limit.

Oregon OSHA also conducted air monitoring tests and initial results found levels higher than the exposure limits recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA expects to have analysis of additional sampling data available this week.

Scrutton dresses simply in skinny jeans and cotton shirts, and her willowy frame and enormous blue-green eyes give her fashion-model looks. She says she tries to live as many Northwesterners do, exercising, eating locally produced food and "doing things that are good for my body."

Never, she says, did she want any part of her industry cast in a bad light. She never expected so much fuss to result from voicing her concerns. Yet, she's glad that authorities are investigating a company she believes deceived her and others with its "formaldehyde-free" labeling. The whole affair, she says, has made her wiser and warier.

"These companies," she says, "need to be held accountable."

FDA gets involved:

The FDA issued a warning letter to the makers of Brazilian Blowout saying that the levels of formaldehyde in their product are extremely high. In the FDA’s tests, levels of formaldehyde in samples ranged from 8.7% to 10.4 %, more than 10 times higher than the 0.2% that is considered safe.

Brazilian Blowout’s chief executive Mike Brady says he will work with the FDA, but maintains that levels of formaldehyde in their product are safe. He says salons can “continue to confidently offer the Brazilian Blowout Treatment to your customers with the knowledge that Brazilian Blowout falls well below the stringent standards set forth by OSHA.” This however, would clearly not be the first time Brazilian Blowout has lied.

Brazilian Blowout also now offers a product called Zero which supposedly contains no harmful chemicals. However, let’s not forget that their Original formulation was supposed to be formaldehyde free, and isn’t.

Brazilian Blowout is the manufacturer’s trade name.  There are many copy cat products like it on the market under different names.  They are also called “Thermal Straighteners” and or “Keratin Straighteners”. 

ARE YOUR COSMETICS REALLY CRUELTY FREE?

What is Cruelty-Free?   

The term “cruelty-free product” is generally understood within the animal rights movement as a product that has not been tested on animals by the manufacturer. It’s important to buy cruelty-free products to support companies that are animal-friendly and to boycott companies that still test on animals. Several mainstream cosmetics companies, such as Revlon and Avon, have been cruelty-free for many years.  Federal law requires drugs to be tested on animals, but no law requires cosmetics or household products to be tested on animals unless they contain new chemicals. With so many substances that are already known to be safe, cruelty-free companies can continue to offer new, quality products year after year without testing on animals.

Gray Areas

One of the gray areas is when the individual ingredients might have been tested on animals by a supplier to the manufacturer. Some animal rights activists seek to support companies that do not purchase ingredients from suppliers who test on animals.

Another tricky issue is when a cruelty-free company is owned or acquired by a parent company that tests on animals. For example, The Body Shop is cruelty-free, but was acquired by L’Oreal in 2006. Although The Body Shop still does not test its products on animals, L’Oreal continues to conduct animal testing.

Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan

Just because a product is labeled “cruelty-free” does not necessarily mean that it is vegan. A product that has not been tested on animals may still contain animal ingredients

Companies like Origins and Urban Decay are cruelty-free, and carry both vegan and non-vegan products. The Urban Decay website has a page with vegan products, and if you visit an Origins store, their vegan products are labeled.

Vegan cosmetic manufacturers not only do not test their products on animals, they also do not use any products that come from animals such as milk, eggs, honey, and lanolin.

Companies v. Products

t is important to distinguish between whether a specific company tests on animals and whether a specific ingredient or product has ever been tested on animals. To expect that an ingredient has never been tested on animals is unrealistic, because centuries of animal experimentation mean that almost every substance, even those that are natural and generally considered safe, has been tested on animals at some point in history. Instead of focusing on whether an ingredient or product has ever been tested on animals, ask whether the company or the supplier conducts animal testing.

What Type Of Tests Are Performed

Tests performed on animals are undeniably cruel. In tests conducted to determine the safety of eye products, for example, rabbits are immobilized in shelf-like contraptions called stocks. Their eyelids are held open with clips while scientists drop various substances into their eyes. This type of test can last as many as 18 days.

Toxicity tests also are performed. The LD50 (lethal dose 50) test determines the amount of substance that will kill a certain percentage of animals. According to Mercy for Animals, a substance is forced via a tube into the animal's stomach, sometimes through holes cut in their throats. Experimenters then observe the animals' reaction, which includes convulsions, bleeding from eyes, nose or mouth, emaciation and skin eruptions, to name just a few. The tests continue until at least 50 percent of the animals are dead. While the LD test is not as widely performed as in years past, it still occurs.

Animal Testing in the EU

A cosmetic testing has been banned in the European Union. According to a press release by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, the ban took effect and it is now illegal to test cosmetic ingredients on animals anywhere in the EU, irrespective of whether there is a non-animal alternative method available (testing on the products themselves is already banned). It is also illegal to sell or import into the EU cosmetics ingredients or products where they have been animal-tested after 11 March 2009, with the exception of certain types of test which have an extended deadline until 11 March 2013.  While cosmetics testing on animals are now banned in the EU, other household products may be tested. Here in the US, we have no similar law, and any kind of cosmetic or household product may be tested on animals.

Why Animal Testing Is Unnecessary

Almost as outrageous as the cruelty of these tests is the fact that they are outdated and not always as reliable as tests generated with modern biology and biotechnology. It doesn't take much research to see that animal testing has inherent flaws. For one, each species reacts differently to substances, so proving that a particular substance irritates a rabbit's eye does not necessarily mean it will irritate a human eye. Even if a product has blinded an animal, it could still be marketed to you (according to PETA).

11 Myths About Animal Testing

You may be thinking that the globs of gel you put in your hair doesn't come at a cost, but products that test on animals might be crueler than you realize. 

1.     Animal testing exclusively involves mice and rats.  Companies that conduct animal testing use many different species. After mice and rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs are the most commonly used animals.

2.   When you test shampoo on animals, you simply rub it on their fur.

   Animal testing usually involves applying chemicals or products to animals’ shaved skin or eyes. In one of the most commonly used tests, researchers put chemicals into their eyes and record the state of the injured eye for 21 days.

3.   Animals can't feel pain.

   A recent experiment found that when mice are exposed to painful stimuli, they display facial expressions very similar to those humans show when in pain. Research has also found that many animals even suffer from depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders in laboratories.

4.    All animals in laboratories have some legal protection. 

   The only federal law that applies to animals used for testing is the Animal Welfare Act, which only regulates cage size, cleanliness, and food and water, but does not limit the procedures that can be done. This law excludes rats, mice, birds, cold-blooded animals, and animals commonly killed for food—so rats and mice, the animals most commonly used in toxicity tests, are not even given minimal protections.

5.   Animals are well cared for and are given anesthesia or painkillers during tests.  Generally, animals are not given anesthesia even during extremely painful tests.

6.    Some animals get to live happy lives once they are not needed for any more testing.  Every year, millions of animals used for testing are killed during the experiment or soon after.

7.   Cosmetic testing on animals is required by law. 

   The United States does not require tests on cosmetics. In fact, hundreds of companies do not test their products on animals, just look for the rabbit logo on the label that tells you that your beauty product is animal-friendly.

8.  Testing cosmetics on animals tells us whether the products are safe. 

   It’s difficult to interpret what animal test results mean for humans, because each species reacts differently to various substances.

9.  There aren't any alternatives to animal tests. 

   There are many cheaper and faster alternative methods that produce more accurate information. Examples include artificial human skin and robotic technology that can screen thousands of chemicals at once using cells grown in the lab.

10.    Companies always use the most current testing methods. 

    Many companies continue to test chemicals and products using animal-based tests developed in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

11.    There is nothing I can do to stop animal suffering in laboratories.

    There are many things you can do to help animals in laboratories.

1. Look for an animal-testing free logo on products you buy.
2. Use an alternative to dissection in science class.
3. Start a campaign making people aware about these animal testing myths.

 

Companies That DO Test on Animals (reported by PETA)

This section includes a short list of both companies that manufacture animal-tested products and brands that are owned by companies that have not yet adopted a permanent "no animal testing" policy. Please encourage them to announce a permanent ban. Listed in parentheses are examples of products manufactured by either the company listed or, if applicable, its parent company. For a complete listing of products manufactured by a company on this list, please visit the company's website or contact the company directly for more information. Companies on this list may manufacture individual lines of products without animal testing. They have not, however, eliminated animal testing from their entire line of cosmetics and household products.

• Bristol-Myers Squibb (Alberto VO5, Ban, Clairol, Keri, Final Net)
• Chesebrough Ponds (Faberge, Cutex, Vaseline)
• Carter-Wallace (Aim, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Close-up, Mentadent, Nair, Pearl Drops)
• Clorox (Green Works)
• Colgate-Palmolive Co.
• Dell Labs (Flame Glow, Sally Hanson)
• Dial (Dial Soap, Dry Idea, Right Guard, Soft & Dri)
• Estée Lauder (American Beauty, Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Coach, Darphin, Ermenegildo Zegna, Flirt, Goodskin Labs, Grassroots Labs, Jo Malone, Kiton, Lab series for Men, La Mer, MAC, Michael Kors, Missoni, Ojon, Origins, Prescriptives, Sean John, Smashbox, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger)  
• GlaxoSmithKline (Aquafresh, Sensodyne)
• Johnson & Johnson (Acuvue, Aveeno, Carefree, Clean & Clear, Johnson's, K.Y., Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, Purell, Reach, Rembrandt, ROC Skin Care, Rogaine Hair Care, Shower to Shower, Skin ID)
• L'Oreal USA (Biotherm, Cacharel, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Helena Rubinstein, Kerastase, Kiehl's, Lancôme, LaRoche Posay, Matrix Essentials, Maybelline, Mizani, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Redken, Shu Uemura, SoftSheen, Vichy, Viktor & Rolf)
• Mary Kay Cosmetics
• Melaleuca
• New Dana Perfumes
• Pfizer (Bain de Soleil, Chapstick)
• Pierre Fabre (Physicians Formula Cosmetics)
• Playtex (Banana Boat, Jhirmack Hair Care)
• Procter & Gamble (Always, Aussie Hair Care, Braun, Christina Aguilera Perfumes, Cover Girl Cosmetics, Crest, DOLCE & GABBANA, Dunhill Fragrances, Escada Fragrances, Fekkai Hair Care, Gillette Co., Gucci Fragrances, Halo, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Hugo Boss, Ivory, Joy Perfumes, Lacoste Fragrances, Max Factor, Natural Instincts, Nice ‘n Easy, Olay, Old Spice, Pantene, Physique, Scope, Sebastian Professional Hair Care, Secret, SK-II Skin Care, Vicks, Vidal Sasson Hair Care, Zest)
• Reckitt Benckiser (Calgon, Clearasil, Old English)
• SC Johnson (Glade, Nature's Source)
• Shering-Plough (Coppertone)
• Shiseido Cosmetics
• Unilever (Calvin Klein, Elizabeth Arden, Helene Curtis, Axe, Dove, Ponds, Suave, Sunsilk, Tresemme Hair Care, Vaseline)

It’s Not Just Your Makeup That Needs To Be Cruelty-Free

The makeup manufacturer states that they are cruelty-free, yet they sell makeup brushes that are made from squirrel, goat, pony, badger, rabbit and sable.  Animal hair brushes are a by-product of the food and fur industry.  Therefore, the animal is killed to make those makeup brushes.  Cosmetic manufacturers go to great lengths to create humane stories of how the animals are pampered while they wait for their monthly haircut.  In reality, they are either tortured in traps or made to live in cramp gages until such time they are slaughtered. The only way a makeup brush can be cruelty-free is if they are made of synthetic fibers. If the sales person tells you that their squirrel makeup brush is cruelty-free, they are either lying or most likely misinformed.

Same goes for your Boar Bristle hair brush. The reason these brushes are so expensive is, they come from wild Boars that are trapped with bone crushing jaw clamps.  In many cases, the animal is left in the trap for days before being retrieved.  Helpless and unable to free themselves from the trap, the animal will bleed or starve to death. 

Alternatives

In almost every case, there is an adequate if not superior alternative ingredient that that of animal based ingredients.  The only problem with these alternatives is, they cost a few pennies more than the animal ingredient.  Although there is no such thing as true plant lanolin, there are companies that are marketing plant based alternatives to lanolin.  In fact, they are calling it Vegetable Lanolin.  Same goes for Squalene.  Originally only derived from Whale blubber, now there is Squalene made from Olives.  When it comes to animal hair brushes, Taklon Nylon fiber is a superior alternative for makeup brushes.  Taklon is softer, more durable and there is less chance to harbor bacteria. Using Mineral Makeup is one way to avoid animal ingredients and animal testing altogether. Mineral Makeup is inert; therefore there is no need to test on animals.  You may not get the vibrant colors that you’ll find in conventional makeup lines, but you’ll be surprised at what’s available.        

Here is how you can stop this senseless practice. 

              ●Vow never to purchase another item from those manufacturers that continue
      to test on animals. 

●Look at the ingredient list and familiarize yourself with ingredients derived from dead animals (list is available at www.peta.org). Look for the cruelty-free logo.

●Tell those companies you refuse to buy another lipstick from them until they change their policies and ingredients.