What do Brazilians have against natural hair??

[nadine_mn]

I confess, when I first heard of a Brazilian Blowout - I thought it was a new twist on the "down-there-hair" and was concerned what it could mean. No wax? They just blast you with hot air until your pubic hair falls out? How odd.

Then I read that its a straightening process for your head hair - ahhhh, makes more sense. Then I read about the formaldehyde in the process.

Now I have "ethnic hair" - sorry I just laugh at that term - and have used straighteners/relaxers for years and my momma always advised me to stay away from lye in my relaxers - but formaldehyde? Ugh and what its doing to the salon workers (nosebleeds, repiratory coughs, swollen eyes)

Man, I cannot wait until the pendulum swings back and the "natural" look is back in - 'fros for everyone everywhere

[baldguy]

1. I'm no expert on hair, but...

I thought a "brazilian" was something else.

:evilgrin:

[siligut]

2. Did you see this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9670394

And your moniker is just a little ironic considering the subject :rofl:

[madinmaryland]

3. Huh? How many is that???

:P

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. Formaldehyde is a COMMON ingredient in many shampoos -- including Johnson's Baby Shampoo.

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See the chart towards the bottom.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-12-formaldehyde_N.htm
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[BillStein]

5. why I make my own soap

Nothing in there but vegetable oil and natural fragrance.... and, um lye

[MiddleFingerMom]

7. You're lyin'. n/t

[Iggo]

6. I got formaldehyde in my eye once.

I worked at a clinical lab for a couple of years, and part of the busy-work at the end of the day was you get to fill about 50-100 specimen cups with formaldehyde.

God forbid you get an itch in the corner of your eye.

It was pain so bad and so fast that I probably woud've killed someone to make it stop.

But hey, I finally got to use that emergency eyewash thingy. So there's that. Yeah.

Formaldehyde ain't no joke, kiddos.

[MorningGlow]

8. Actually

The proper name for the process is called "keratin treatment". Very few brands have formaldehyde; many others don't. My hair stylist refuses to use any of the brands that contain formaldehyde.

Also, it's not a straightener; it's a heavy-duty protein that "fills in the holes" in the hair shaft, so to speak, nourishing the hair and making it smoother and heavier, so it hangs straight.

I have "ethnic" hair. I've had it done three times and I LOVE it--won't live without it ever again.

[struggle4progress]

9. Dunno. But I always admired this look:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/3630/4058754621_f0d82ce997_o.jpg