According to health watchdogs in the US and Canada, the treatment used by many celebrities to improve the appearance of their hair could actually be causing it to fall out.
Health Canada issued a warning this week about the Brazilian Blowout, a hair treatment designed to smooth out frizz and relax the hair. It is often used by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and in some salons in the UK, but the latest reports suggest that it may not be entirely safe.
Health officials have alleged that the product used in the treatment contains higher than permissible levels of toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde.
A lawsuit has even been filed in Canada, by a hair stylist who has used the treatment on many clients not knowing that it could cause symptoms such as a burning nose, eyes and throat, breathing difficulties and in some cases, hair loss. More than 200 women have signed up to the lawsuit so far, with many others expected to follow.
Although it has not been officially proven that the Brazilian blowout is dangerous and can cause hair loss in women, it is recommended to avoid it until the case is concluded. It simply isn’t worth risking female hair loss for this purely cosmetic treatment, especially when there are so many women currently suffering from the unavoidable hair loss condition alopecia throughout the world.