Brazilian Blowout Class Action Lawsuit Filed
Brazilian Blowout is coming under fire from all sides after last week’s news that supposedly “formaldehyde-free” samples tested in Canada contained 12% formaldehyde. As a result, a class action lawsuit has been filed in British Columbia, with a Seattle law firm announcing last week that it is also investigating possible proceedings.
In other Brazilian Blowout news, Oregon OSHA has released a statement in response to Brazilian Blowout’s claims that Oregon OSHA violated proper testing protocol in obtaining samples directly from salons (you know, the places where Brazilian Blowouts are actually performed), instead of requesting samples directly from Brazilian Blowout themselves.
I wonder how that conversation might have gone:
Oregon OSHA: Hey, lots of people are getting sick, so we’re investigating you to see if your treatments have formaldehyde in them. Rather than doing a thorough and non-biased analysis by going directly to a variety of salons to see what you’re releasing into the marketplace, can you just send us samples instead?
Brazilian Blowout: Sure, here you go! Look: clean as a whistle!
Oregon OSHA: Cool, thanks. Even though lots of people are having health problems consistent with formaldehyde exposure, we’ll let ‘em know they simply must be crazy. Thanks for sending us those samples! So glad they were formaldehyde-free!
I mean, honestly.
Read Oregon OSHA’s statement detailing their testing protocols here.
More on the controversy, including testing results for other brazilian keratin treatments.
Tags: Brazilian Blowout, class action lawsuit, does the Brazilian Blowout contain contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde-free, Oregon OSHA
October 11th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
[...] Nadine Jolie and other favorite sites have been covering the issue as well. And as Jolie reported today, a class [...]
October 11th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I love your updates on the Brazilian Blowout.. BLOWOUT! (haha yea, not that funny)
Go OSHA! and CANADA!
October 11th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I am so glad the truth is coming out! I hope OSHA sticks it to Brazilian Blowout!! I hope the USA bans it as well!! I am a stylist who had side effects from this treatment. I am furious that Brazilian Blowout takes us (hairstylist) as a bunch of idiots!! Seriously, do they not think people will do research and find out they are full of crap?!?! I check back on their website often to see what “new crap” or excuse they have posted on there. I am glad I never did this service on any of my clients! Thank goodness I felt the side effects, and had enough sense to look into this more! I am not that money hungry to endanger myself, or my clients for this treatment!!
October 13th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
[...] application and the Brazilian Blowout treatment (which has been under fire lately – read Nadine Jolie for more information). We are talking facials, massages, salon services, Ionothermie body [...]
October 15th, 2010 at 10:02 am
BREAKING NEWS: OSHA and HSA confirm Brazilian Blowout is SAFE for clients and stylists! http://bit.ly/aPYnAC
October 15th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
@ Kelly & Gloria: “Brazilian Blowout is safe!” Ha ha ha! Who’s laughing now!….Jealousy is a crutch, and envy is ignorance.
October 16th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Just a note: Comments are welcome, but nasty and/or unconstructive personal insults have been (and will continue to be) deleted as spam.
October 17th, 2010 at 8:43 am
This is a chemical war on the beauty industry!!!I am a stylist in california, Everyone just will not believe these reports and keeps referring back to BB statements!!he has banned it in the salon To the patio.well we will see that’s so posed to take place this week??? There are laws in place to protect us from this chemical butt but can’t just take place over night.I will be fighting down here in california too but going to need some more help because people are just to blind to understand that a beauty protect can really kill you!! This is a chemical war and I’m here to fight!!!
Cortneypaine@sbcglobal.net.
October 17th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I hope and pray this information is not true. Brazilian Blowout sold us the product to use in our salon stating it was formaldehyde free. We did our research several companies before we made the decision to go with the company. I even demanded an MSDS from the company, so they have either lied on this California state OSHA form required for all salons to have available if they use the product, or somethings wrong. I know years ago when all these products came out, there were not good and reformulated because of the formaldehyde. I wonder if the salons tested had old product. Or….a competitor product is trying to blast this company, or….Have I been lied to? P.S. I want to know what California is doing about this!
October 21st, 2010 at 1:15 am
It’s true people, believe it. This information has been out there for many years. When Brazilian Blowout first started, the Formaldehyde content was higher, up tp 22%, they cut it down in the last few years. It has always been harmful, it will always be harmful. Unless you are wearing a gas mask you are not safe. And what about the client, with it on the head for weeks or even years seeping into the skin doing all kinds of damage.
October 29th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
New OSHA report released
http://www.orosha.org/pdf/Final_Hair_Smoothing_Report.pdf
November 11th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
OSHA was wrong (marketwire – November 10) Levels were well below OSHA’s standards! Now how about compensation for all my lost business from the bad press!!!!
November 11th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Traci, Marketwire is a press release service, and this press release from Brazilian Blowout’s PR firm is a reprint of the defense they also have on their website.
Unfortunately, safety (for both the stylist and the client) trumps money, and as evidenced by California Attorney General’s lawsuit against BB yesterday, it’s illegal in CA (not to mention unethical) for BB to have marketed and promoted themselves as formaldehyde free to get business.
That being said, I know times are tough, and I’m truly sorry that you’ve experienced financial hardship. I hope stories like yours are further brought to light and that any companies knowingly lying to consumers are brought to justice.
November 13th, 2010 at 10:59 am
yes ,This is one of the worst experiences ever! Brazilian Blowout has brought devastation to my health and my career as a hairstylist. Since I used it I am under medical care and have severe breathing problems and allergys as a result of usage . I can not do colors or perms on my clients now. I can not color my own hair now so I will have black hair with light roots growing out. I cannot even wear eyeliner without my eyelids burning and swelling . My throat and tongue swells when I am now exposed to the colors now.Apparently this is one of the side effects of formadehyde. as it is a sensitiser . So if anyone trys to say there were no traces of this in the product well Let me tell you I am living proof that there definately was high levels of formaldehyde in the Brazilian Blowout !!!
November 15th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Devorah,
I really hope you have joined one of the class action lawsuits. You need to contact Girad Gibbs Law firm if you haven’t yet. 1-866-981-4800
I, like you, have had side effects from BB. Luckily for me, not as severe as yours. I am so sorry to hear it has effected you in so many ways.
All the more reason all of us Stylists, and even consumers should stand tall together, and fight THESE MONSTERS!!!
To EVERYONE ESLE:
It is sad to me, that this issue seems to have divided people in our industry. What I don’t understand is why so many stylists seem to back this company like it’s a family member or something. Why do they seem to have BB’s best interest at heart?? BB clearly didn’t have theirs/our interest at heart when they produced the formaldehyde/cancer causing packed product, and dispensed it to us!!
No, all they care about is making money off the “dumb” people, who seem to be more concerned about their looks, or filling their pockets, than they are with their health!!
Greed was clearly BB’s motive, and it’s probably the same motive for the stylist who continue to charge clients for this service, despite the health warnings.
Now that the Attorney General of California is involved, and there are multiple class action lawsuits…I am positive it is only a matter of time before Brazilian Blowout is DONE, and will be held accountable for breaking the law!
Until then, I guess the brainwashed BB followers, can continue getting all the false information they want off the BB site.
I really urge people to STOP using all Keratin treatments.
It is not worth it people!! You may say you don’t care, or it doesn’t bother you now…..but I guarantee five years down the road if you do get sick from this….you will be singing a VERY DIFFERENT tune!!!
November 21st, 2010 at 9:07 pm
If you have used this product and were mislead are you entitled to any of the money procured from these law suits? If so how do you pursue it, if not how do you go about handling your own damages.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Hi, I am a stylist….and switched salons back in Sept. About 1-2 months after I switched to the salon that does many many Brazilian Blowouts. I started having what felt like a lump in my throat and is very scratchy along with constant sinus drainage. I went to 2 different doctors who did chest xrays and convinced me that I was having some anxiety issues. However now it is almost March, and I am still having problems. However, it isn’t just the throat and nose that are bothering me now…I have difficulty breathing, which started as pain in my chest(almost like a very large person was sitting on my chest) causing me to be short of breath. I of course panicked thinking I was having a heart attack or something, which was the second time I went to the dr.
Anyway, long story short…I was convinced that it has to be the brazilian blowouts. Everyone in the salon thought that I was delusional…even our sales rep and I got into an argument. He kept trying to convince me that there is no Formaldehyde in it. Clearly something is wrong and did not start until shortly after I began working there. If some one in the salon is doing one, I can tell (because I instantly can’t breathe right) as soon as I step through the front door before I even see someone performing the service. I also just today, found a Brazilian Blowout memo that was sent out to salons saying that the level of Form. is .79 which is below OSHA’s legal limits….deeming it “safe”.
Obviously, I have been severely effected by what I now believe must be this product. My question is, what is the next step. I need to go to the Dr., to make sure that I am not allergic to it…otherwise I will not be able to work there. I need to figure out what to do, it’s not going to get better as long as I am around the salon where some stylists do several braz. blowouts in a single day.
What type of Doctor do i need to see? An allergist?
October 1st, 2011 at 6:42 am
I am sad that this treatment continues in our salons. Greed is winning over common sense, vanity is chosen over health of oneself and others. We were not informed of the ingredients and used this product for over a year. When it became popular and ventilation became difficult we called it quits. We were all getting sick breathing the fumes. But still, there is debate and stylists who want to continue even though the health risks are obvious. Their income is more important than their longevity. I feel it will be out there until the customers themselves get sick and file lawsuits.