Hair care experts push for safer products

NEW YORK, May 17 (UPI) -- California salon workers and women's advocates said they will tell a U.S. congressional committee a hair-straightening product presents a health hazard.

The hair experts are scheduled Wednesday to brief the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus on their objections to the "Brazilian Blowout" and other hair treatments that contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen, the New York Daily News reported.

Some hair stylists said the products cause nosebleeds, severe coughing and red eyes.

Many salons, however, believe the products to be safe, the newspaper said.

"If there really is something in these products that is dangerous, we need to know because women will go to any lengths to look good," said Michelle Bender, 42, a New York writer who claimed she "had little scabs on my scalp" after a number of hair-straightening treatments.

Those meeting with the caucus want legislators to pass the Safe Cosmetics Act, which would ban the use of known carcinogens in hair products and give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration greater recall authority on personal-care products, the newspaper said.

Federal workplace safety agents said the Brazilian Blowout is dangerous, and it's banned in Canada and France, the newspaper reported.

"I find it extremely dangerous to the customer and surrounding clients. I'm not allowing it," said Ouidad, the owner of Ouidad, a New York salon.