Keratin hair treatment side effects

An article in 2007 by Allure magazine caught my eye concerning the use of Formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen, known to cause cancer, and which is used in keratin hair treatment products. It mentioned a connection of a woman's death by asphyxiation to the possible and continued exposure to the treatment, and the Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency was quick to offer a rebuttal, which argued the two incidents were independent of each other, and that the whole incident was lacked a "link".

More recently in Oregon, there were incidences of complaints from consumers experiencing nosebleeds, difficulty in breathing and irritation of the eyes from being exposed to the keratin hair treatments. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted tests on random samples from beauty salons and a shocking result was that some of the products contained a high amounts of Formaldehyde, way exceeding the 0.2%, which is the accepted content in keratin treatment products.

Keratin is the quintessential structural protein that forms hair and nails. Just like any other component of the body, it is susceptible to wear external conditions, for example sunlight and heat. Keratin treatment serves to correct the exposure of hair to these conditions that gives a dull look and makes hair brittle, by providing the "silky radiance" or luster that every woman craves for. However, more products in the industry are causing more harm than good due to manufacturers incompetence, and increasing quantities of sub-standard keratin treatment products, which disregard the safety attributes of products well guaranteed in the customer bill of rights.

A common keratin treatment hair treatment side effect from consumers who have undergone the treatment is irritation of the eyes, which is caused by the harsh qualities of the chemicals used in the product. There have also been widespread cases of hair loss within two a week of treatment which is a real nightmare to women, infact this reason is the penultimate cause of decline in sales of keratin treatment products.

A vital way to protect your hair after treatment is to use a well-tested moisturizer which acts as a bridge to "seal the deal" before and after the treatment. Some stylists also claim that the use of shampoos known to have chemicals that contain "salt derivatives", significantly reduce the life span of the treatment. Most of the complications and severe hair loss which causes the "thinning" of the hair density, is caused largely by use of keratin treatment products that have a high formaldehyde content, although this is the very agent that is also credit with longevity of the treatment-up to 4 months.

A matter of concern is also the cases of allergic reaction to products. These would manifest in the form of itching and irritation and it is important to let your stylist know if you have a history of allergic reactions as well as seeing your dermatologist, who will give the proper advice on which products to steer clear from.

The treatment is fairly expensive and consumers should take time to do product research in order to get the best product that will them the most sought after, healthy, silky and shiny hair, at no expense to their safety.