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The Brazilian style hair smoothing treatments were actually discovered by a Brazilian mortician in Brazil (which is why the treatments are called Brazilian) who noticed that embalming fluid was straightening the hair of the corpses!
When he manufactured it for hair, it was made with formaldehyde which is used in embalming.
The smell from the formaldehyde was so strong that the initial hair stylists who used the treatments felt burning in their noses and throats for days afterward.
The original Brazilian could not be performed on anyone who was pregnant, nursing or had other known health issues. It was not advised for anyone with lung problems.
After the treatment was discovered by companies in the United States they took it and reformulated it. Initially the first companies to introduce the product in the US claimed it was formaldhye free. However, that could not conclusively be proven.
The important thing to note is that the treatments have only been available in the US for a few years and it's too soon to know if any health related problems can develop from the treatments.
I actually have taken three classes in three different Brazilian style treatments and based on my reactions to those formulations will not do them.
I know some hairdressers who will not do the treatments at all, others who will only do it wearing canister style masks to protect their lungs and some who aren't concerned at all with the long term potential for damage.
Although the treatment was initially discovered in Brazil, you don't have to go there to find the treatment.
The Brazilian, also known as Brazilian Keratin Treatments (BKT) is one of the fastest growing salon services around. It should be easy to find here in the US. If you have decided to have it done to your hair.
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That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
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