33 Toxic Hair Straighteners Under International Recall Still Sold in U.S.

Thirty-three hair-straightening products have been recalled over the last three years in several countries due to high levels of formaldehyde, however, the U.S. has yet to pull the toxic products, according to new research from the national nonprofit Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE).
Read on to find out which toxic hair straighteners remain on the market, which have been banned or recalled and which are formaldehyde- free. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
The issue has alarmed many consumers given that formaldehyde (also called methylene glycol) can cause severe eye, nose and throat irritation and increase cancer risks.
The increased risks to salon workers alone, who offer hair-straightening treatments, merits further investigation, said Alex Scranton, director of science and research at WVE.
“Based on sound science, other countries are taking strong measures to protect the health of salon workers and their customers from formaldehyde-containing products,” said Scranton. “While U.S. government regulations continue to fall short, consumers deserve to know what’s in their products in order to make safer decisions about their hair care.”
Formaldehyde Effects
Natalija Josimov used to swear by hair-straightening treatments for her own coarse, frizzy hair. When she became a hair stylist in 2009, she said she was eager to offer the service to her clients. But just nine months after launching her career, she experienced chronic sinus and respiratory infections, painful blisters in her nose and heart palpitations—all caused by formaldehyde gas released during treatments.
“I think many stylists performing these treatments are under the mistaken impression that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would not allow these products on the market if they were dangerous,” Josimov said. “It took me doing at least 100 treatments before I realized it was making me so ill, and I still have side effects from it."
Josimov is part of a growing number of stylists and consumers concerned about toxic chemicals in hair-straightening products and the double standard that allows formaldehyde-containing products to be sold in the U.S., despite being banned by the European Union Commission.
Stories like Josimov’s led WVE to release a new fact sheet alerting stylists and customers to the international recalls of hair-straightening products.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), an industry-funded and operated panel that assesses the safety of cosmetic ingredients in the U.S., declared that formaldehyde was unsafe to be used in hair straightening products in March 2011.
The FDA lacks the authority to issue a mandatory recall of cosmetic products that have been found to cause health problems to consumers. In fact, the agency has yet to issue a voluntary recall of Brazilian Blowout, the first hair straightener found to contain high levels of formaldehyde. The original formula of Brazilian Blowout was ordered off the market in California by the California Attorney General in 2012 for violating California air pollution regulations.
See below which toxic hair straighteners remain on the market, which have been banned or recalled, and which are formaldehyde- free:
International Recalls of Hair StraightenersProducts that have been recalled in other countries, but which are still for sale in the U. S. This list is not exhaustive. There may also be other hair straightening products containing formaldehyde. | |||
Brand/ | Product Name | Level/Range of Formaldehyde | Countries Where Recalled |
BioNaza Cosmetics | KeraHair – Premiere Brazilian Keratin System | .7-2.5% | |
BioNaza Cosmetics | Choco Hair – Brazilian Keratin Chocolate | 1.2-1.8% | |
BioNaza Cosmetics | Diamond – Premiere Brazilian Keratin System | 0.8-1.7% | |
BioNaza Cosmetics | KeraVino Premiere Brazilian Keratin System | 0.9-1.6% | |
Brazillian Blowout | Brazillian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution Brazillian Blowout Solution | 6.4- 8.8% | |
Cadiveu | Brazillian Thermal Reconstruction | 7% | |
Cocochoco Professional | Complex Brazilian Keratin Straightening Treatment | 3% | |
Coppola/Copomon Enterprises LLC | Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy | 2% | |
Coppola/Copomon Enterprises LLC | Keratin Complex Express Blowout | >.2-1.7% | |
Coppola/Copomon Enterprises LLC | Keratin Complex Intense RX, Smoothing Therapy | 0.5-0.8% | |
Global Keratin | Global Keratin Taming System with Juvexin Strawberry Resistant | 4.40% | |
Global Keratin | Global Keratin Taming System Strawberry | 3.00% | |
Global Keratin | Functional Keratin Hair Taming System Blond/Light Wave Colored “Chocolate” | 1.7% | |
Global Keratin | Global Keratin Taming System with Juvexin Strawberry Light Wave | .2-1.4% | |
Global Keratin | Global Keratin Hair Taming System with Juvexin Light Wave/Curly | >.2% | |
Goleshlee | Goleshlee Keratin Hair Therapy | >0.6% | |
Hair Go Straight | Keratin Treatment | 2.60% | |
I.B.S Beauty Inc. | Istraight Keratin Advanced Keratin Treatment | 2.30% | |
Inoar | Moroccan Hair Treatment | 2.84%-7% | |
KeraStraight | Treatment Original Formula | 2% | |
La Brasiliana | Zero (apple) | 0.76% | |
La Brasiliana | Veloce | 0.35% | |
La Brasiliana | Spruzzi | > .2% | |
La Brasiliana | Domani | > .2% | |
La Brasiliana | Original | > .2% | |
Lazaros general trading LLC | TCQ Plus Phase 2 – Nano Hydra Keratin | 2.30% | |
Marcia Teixeira – M & M International | Chocolate, extreme de-frizzing treatment | 2% | |
Marcia Teixeira – M & M International | Advanced Brazilian Keratin Treatment | 1.70% | |
Marcia Teixeira – M & M International | Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Marcia Teixeira | 1.60% | |
R & L Trading Corp | Soft-Liss Intelligent Brush Morango Step 2 | >0.2% | |
Rio Keratin | Brazilian Keratin Treatment Step 2 Grape Extract | 3.50% | |
Royal Keratin Professional Line by Keratin Connection | Brazilian Keratin Treatment in Mint, Chocolate, Strawberry | 1.54% | |
Tahe | Thermo Keratin No. 2 Active Treatment | >0.2% |
Hair Straighteners High in Formaldehyde, Not Yet RecalledProducts that have been tested and found to contain formaldehyde higher than acceptable levels in other countries, but have not yet been subject to recall. | |||
Brand/ Manufacturer | Product Name | Level/Range of Formaldehyde | |
Brazillian Gloss | Keratin Smoothing Gloss | 7.30% | |
Kera Green | Keratin and Protein Hair Treatment | 1.50% | |
Keratin Express | Keratin Express Brazilian Smoothing Treatment | 1.2% | |
QOD | Max | 3.52% | |
QOD | Gold Solution | 2% | |
Simply Smooth / American Culture Hair | Brazilian Keratin Treatment | 0.93% | |
Simply Smooth / American Culture Hair | Xtend Keratin Replenishing After Color Lock | 0.55% |
Formaldehyde-Free Hair StraightenersThe following products have been tested and found not to contain measurable levels of formaldehyde. This list is not exhaustive. There may also be other hair straightening products which do not contain formaldehyde. | |||
Brand/ Manufacturer | Product Name | Level/Range of Formaldehyde | |
JKS International | JKS Smoothing Treament | 0% | |
Bio Ionic | Bio Ionic Kera Smooth Anti Frizz Treatment for Virgin Resistent Hair | 0.01% | |
Pravana Naturceuticals | Pravana Naturceuticals Keratin Fusion | 0.01%
|
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By Daisy Simmons
In a wildfire, hurricane, or other disaster, people with pets should heed the Humane Society's advice: If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your animals either.
1. Stay Informed
<p>A first order of business in pet evacuation planning is to understand and be ready for the possible threats in your area. Visit <a href="https://www.ready.gov/be-informed" target="_blank">Ready.gov</a> to learn more about preparing for potential disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Then pay attention to related updates by tuning <a href="http://www.weather.gov/nwr/" target="_blank">NOAA Weather Radio</a> to your local emergency station or using the <a href="https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app" target="_blank">FEMA app</a> to get National Weather Service alerts.</p>2. Ensure Your Pet is Easily Identifiable
<p><span>Household pets, including indoor cats, should wear collars with ID tags that have your mobile phone number. </span><a href="https://www.avma.org/microchipping-animals-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Microchipping</a><span> your pets will also improve your chances of reunion should you become separated. Be sure to add an emergency contact for friends or relatives outside your immediate area.</span></p><p>Additionally, use <a href="https://secure.aspca.org/take-action/order-your-pet-safety-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'animals inside' door/window stickers</a> to show rescue workers how many pets live there. (If you evacuate with your pets, quickly write "Evacuated" on the sticker so first responders don't waste time searching for them.)</p>3. Make a Pet Evacuation Plan
<p> "No family disaster plan is complete without including your pets and all of your animals," says veterinarian Heather Case in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9NRJkFKAm4" target="_blank">a video</a> produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association.</p><p>It's important to determine where to take your pet in the event of an emergency.</p><p>Red Cross shelters and many other emergency shelters allow only service animals. Ask your vet, local animal shelters, and emergency management officials for information on local and regional animal sheltering options.</p><p>For those with access to the rare shelter that allows pets, CDC offers <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/emergencies/pets-in-evacuation-centers.html" target="_blank">tips on what to expect</a> there, including potential health risks and hygiene best practices.</p><p>Beyond that, talk with family or friends outside the evacuation area about potentially hosting you and/or your pet if you're comfortable doing so. Search for pet-friendly hotel or boarding options along key evacuation routes.</p><p>If you have exotic pets or a mix of large and small animals, you may need to identify multiple locations to shelter them.</p><p>For other household pets like hamsters, snakes, and fish, the SPCA recommends that if they normally live in a cage, they should be transported in that cage. If the enclosure is too big to transport, however, transfer them to a smaller container temporarily. (More on that <a href="https://www.spcai.org/take-action/emergency-preparedness/evacuation-how-to-be-pet-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.)</p><p>For any pet, a key step is to establish who in your household will be the point person for gathering up pets and bringing their supplies. Keep in mind that you may not be home when disaster strikes, so come up with a Plan B. For example, you might form a buddy system with neighbors with pets, or coordinate with a trusted pet sitter.</p>4. Prepare a Pet Evacuation Kit
<p>Like the emergency preparedness kit you'd prepare for humans, assemble basic survival items for your pets in a sturdy, easy-to-grab container. Items should include:</p><ul><li>Water, food, and medicine to last a week or two;</li><li>Water, food bowls, and a can opener if packing wet food;</li><li>Litter supplies for cats (a shoebox lined with a plastic bag and litter may work);</li><li>Leashes, harnesses, or vehicle restraints if applicable;</li><li>A <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/pet-first-aid-supplies-checklist" target="_blank">pet first aid kit</a>;</li><li>A sturdy carrier or crate for each cat or dog. In addition to easing transport, these may serve as your pet's most familiar or safe space in an unfamiliar environment;</li><li>A favorite toy and/or blanket;</li><li>If your pet is prone to anxiety or stress, the American Kennel Club suggests adding <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/create-emergency-evacuation-plan-dog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stress-relieving items</a> like an anxiety vest or calming sprays.</li></ul><p>In the not-unlikely event that you and your pet have to shelter in different places, your kit should also include:</p><ul><li>Detailed information including contact information for you, your vet, and other emergency contacts;</li><li>A list with phone numbers and addresses of potential destinations, including pet-friendly hotels and emergency boarding facilities near your planned evacuation routes, plus friends or relatives in other areas who might be willing to host you or your pet;</li><li>Medical information including vaccine records and a current rabies vaccination tag;</li><li>Feeding notes including portions and sizes in case you need to leave your pet in someone else's care;</li><li>A photo of you and your pet for identification purposes.</li></ul>5. Be Ready to Evacuate at Any Time
<p>It's always wise to be prepared, but stay especially vigilant in high-risk periods during fire or hurricane season. Practice evacuating at different times of day. Make sure your grab-and-go kit is up to date and in a convenient location, and keep leashes and carriers by the exit door. You might even stow a thick pillowcase under your bed for middle-of-the-night, dash-out emergencies when you don't have time to coax an anxious pet into a carrier. If forecasters warn of potential wildfire, a hurricane, or other dangerous conditions, bring outdoor pets inside so you can keep a close eye on them.</p><p>As with any emergency, the key is to be prepared. As the American Kennel Club points out, "If you panic, it will agitate your dog. Therefore, <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/create-emergency-evacuation-plan-dog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pet disaster preparedness</a> will not only reduce your anxiety but will help reduce your pet's anxiety too."</p>Evacuating Horses and Other Farm Animals
<p>The same basic principles apply for evacuating horses and most other livestock. Provide each with some form of identification. Ensure that adequate food, water, and medicine are available. And develop a clear plan on where to go and how to get there.</p><p>Sheltering and transporting farm animals requires careful coordination, from identifying potential shelter space at fairgrounds, racetracks, or pastures, to ensuring enough space is available in vehicles and trailers – not to mention handlers and drivers on hand to support the effort.</p><p>For most farm animals, the Red Cross advises that you consider precautionary evacuation when a threat seems imminent but evacuation orders haven't yet been announced. The American Veterinary Medical Association has <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/large-animals-and-livestock-disasters" target="_blank">more information</a>.</p>Bottom Line: If You Need to Evacuate, So Do Your Pets
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