Fort Myers - Keratin hair treatments have won the approval of curly-haired women everywhere.
While those treatments prove popular, they do draw health warnings. So, is smooth hair worth taking a risk?
Maureen Calderone wants shiny and frizz-free hair.
'I have wave and course hair, but as you can see it smoothes it out really nicely," said Calderone.
For Calderone, the smoothing solution comes from keratin treatments. She's had a couple herself and as a hair stylists she's also given the treatments to others.
"We want perfectly straight shinny hair so I think that's what we lean towards. It looks nice, " said Calderone.
But what isn't so nice is the chemical combination that creates the sleek look.
A protein found in hair and nails called Keratin is combined with formaldehyde to form that straightening solution.
OSHA recognizes formaldehyde as a carcinogen.
"Overtime it can cause cancer, When it is used on your skin hair and nails that's when we get alittle more concerned because its directly applied, " said Dr. Aurora Badia, dermatologist.
Hairdresser Jim Zonta is aware that those treatments carry a potential risk. He's done close to 100 treatments himself.
"It completely protected me. I felt no headaches, no burning eyes, nothing like that and it did the trick," said Zonta as he points to a gas mask.
He used to wear a gas mask when he did the treatments.
"What was the reaction when you would wear that in front of clients?" I asked Zonta.
"They were amazed, kind of freaked out. They didn't know what was going on. I'd get alittle nervous too if I saw someone wearing that in a hair salon," said Zonta.
He says he wore the mask so he wouldn't breathe in harmful fumes. Several studies have shown unacceptable levels of formaldehyde in these treatments.
"Some of these ingredients are kind of hidden in these Keratin products. It doesn't say formaldehyde directly, but it might be methylene or different ingredients that release a formaldehyde gas when aerosolized," said Zonta.
Jim urges you to ask your stylist for a material data sheet to find out exactly what chemicals a stylist is putting on your hair.
But despite knowing the potential risks, Maureen Calderone can see why women would take a chance for beauty.
"Do you think ladies are willing to do whatever for beauty?" I asked Calderone.
'Yes, I don't think they really worry about that to be honest with you because if you only get them done every now and then but we do tend to lean towards not worrying about any harm that can come from it to be honest with you," said Calderone.
The FDA has received complaints of eye irritation, breathing problems and headaches associated with a product used to straighten hair.
For more information from the FDA regarding hair treatments visit: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm228898.htm
For more information on Dr. Badia who offered her thoughts on the hair treatments visit: http://www.floridaskincenter.com/drbadia.asp
Julie Salomone
Fox 4 In Your Corner
jsalomone@fox4now.com
