Hair Straightening Products Research Articles

Aesthetic Transcendence: Fashion's Evolution, Philosophical Reflections, and Societal Impact

This research paper explores the evolution of fashion from its utilitarian origins over 170,000 years ago to its contemporary role as a symbol of cultural expression and individual identity. Tracing the historical trajectory through ancient civilizations, the Renaissance era, and significant societal shifts post-World War II, the study highlights the dynamic interplay between culture, external forces, and fashion. It also delves into the commodification of beauty in the contemporary era, examining the persuasive techniques used by beauty brands in advertisements, such as leveraging emotional states to connect deeply with consumers. The global impact of beauty standards and the perpetuation of white-centric ideals are scrutinized, emphasizing influential figures like Marcus Garvey, who challenged these norms. The study sheds light on the beauty industry's promotion of skin-lightening and hair-straightening products, particularly in Asian markets, and offers philosophical reflections on these beauty standards. Engaging with the works of Hume, Kant, Santayana, and Schiller, the paper dissects the subjective and objective dimensions of beauty, including Hume's emphasis on pleasure and pain, Kant's categorization of beauty, Santayana's concept of objectified pleasure, and Schiller's influence on German Idealism. It culminates with an exploration of Jean Baudrillard's "Death of the Real," examining the implications of a society immersed in creating identities detached from objective reality. This paper weaves together the historical evolution of fashion, beauty brand strategies, and philosophical reflections on beauty, offering a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between aesthetics, identity, and societal perceptions.

Acute Kidney Injury and Hair-Straightening Products: A Case Series

Keratin-based hair straightening treatment is a popular hair styling method. The majority of these products in Israel contain glycolic acid derivatives, which are considered safe when used topically. Systemic absorption of these products is possible and anecdotal reports have described kidney toxicity associated with their use. We report a series of cases of severe AKI following use of hair-straightening treatment occurring in Israel over the past several years. Case series. We retrospectively identified 26 patients from 14 medical centers in Israel who developed severe AKI and reported prior treatment with hair-straightening products between 2019 and 2022. The 26 patients described had a median age of 28.5 years (range, 14-58) and developed severe AKI following hair-straightening procedure. The most common symptoms at presentation were nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Scalp rash was noted in 10 (38%) patients. Two patients developed a recurrent episode of AKI following a repeat hair-straightening treatment. Seven patients underwent kidney biopsies that demonstrated intra-tubular calcium oxalate deposition in six and microcalcification in tubular cells in one. In all biopsies, signs of acute tubular injury were present, and an interstitial infiltrate was noted in four cases. Three patients required temporary dialysis. Retrospective uncontrolled study, small number of kidney biopsies. This study describes cases of acute kidney injury with prior exposure to hair straightening treatments. Acute oxalate nephropathy was the dominant finding on kidney biopsies, which may be related to absorption of glycolic acid derivatives and their metabolism to oxalate. This case series suggests a potential under-recognized cause of AKI in the young healthy population. Further studies are needed to confirm this association and to assess the extent of this phenomenon as well as its pathogenesis.

Development of a novel ex vivo model for chemical ocular toxicity assessment and its applicability for hair straightening products.

This study developed an air-liquid interface (ALI) corneal model using explants bovine eyes for ocular toxicity assessment of ten chemicals and seven hair straightening mixtures. It was successfully maintained physiologically viable and normal for six days. Both eye damage (GHS cat. 1) and irritating (GHS cat. 2) chemicals induced corneal injury in our model. However, cat. 2 irritants triggered moderate damage when compared to cat. 1 agents, which induced a marked cytotoxicity profile. The mixtures were also able to trigger viability reduction associated with histopathological changes in the corneal tissues, especially when the exposure was via aerosol particles. Thus, the chemical exposure microenvironment simulation seemed to provide more reliable toxicological data. Moreover, mixture-induced corneal damage correlated with increased ROS levels, suggesting a close correlation between tissue death and oxidative stress. Besides mixtures showing the potential to induce moderate/mild ocular toxicity, we could verify that the corneal tissue damage showed reversibility due to the recovery from the injury after exposure to some of the mixtures. Hence, our ex vivo corneal model seems to be a simple and cost-effective approach for future studies related to further investigating the reversibility of damage in the cornea triggered by chemicals and their mixtures.

Clinical-environment characteristics among Brazilian women diagnosed with benign breast disease

Introduction: Although benign breast disease (BBD) is one of the main breast cancer risk factors, its natural history is still unclear. The breast development, maturation, and differentiation suffer hormones and growth factors influence that may modulate BBD development. Thus, clinical-environment risk factors could influence BBD histological type. Aim: To evaluate the distribution of selected environmental, clinical, sociodemographic, and reproductive factors in cohorts of Brazilian women diagnosed with benign breast disease, according to histopathology group. Methodology: Cross-sectional study conducted with women with BBD diagnose referred to two hospitals in Rio de Janeiro (IFF/Fiocruz and HFL/Ministry of Health) from 2013 and 2018. A standardized questionnaire was applied by trained interviewers. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% respective confidence interval were estimated using multinomial logistic regression. Results: From 353 women included, 62.9% had non-proliferative diseases, 27.8% had proliferative diseases without atypia, and 9.3% had proliferative diseases with atypia or lobular carcinoma in situ. About 30% were either current or former smokers, and reported alcohol consumption. Women exposed to hair dyes and hair straightening products (81.8%) were statistically higher in the proliferative lesion with atypia/lobular carcinoma in situ compared with non-proliferative and proliferative without atypia lesions. Compared to women with non-proliferative diseases, those with proliferative diseases with atypia or lobular carcinoma in situ were more likely to be older at diagnosis (OR =1.05;95%CI:1.01-1.09); to have 3+ histological types in biopsied lesion (OR=26.74;95%CI: 9.79-73.01); and to have regular menstrual cycles (OR=2.98; 95%CI: 1.03-8.66). Conclusion: Findings suggest that age at diagnosis, increased histological types found in biopsied tissue, and having presented regular menstrual cycles throughout the reproductive period may be associated with benign lesions with a high risk of breast cancer. Keywords: breast diseases; epidemiology; breast neoplasms.

Psoriasiform skin reaction due to Brazilian keratin treatment: A clinical-dermatoscopic study of 43 patients.

Introduction:Hair straightening products like the Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT) contain high concentrations of formaldehyde, and its use is associated with adverse effects. In 2016, seven cases of eczema-like psoriasiform skin reaction secondary to BKT were described for the first time. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics and dermatoscopic findings of patients with psoriasiform skin reactions due to BKT.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed from October 2017 to June 2020. Patients who developed erythema and scales on the scalp following the use of BKT were included. Age, sex, number of BKTs, time elapsed between BKT and the skin reaction, pull test, and dermatoscopic findings were investigated. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.Results:We found 43 patients with a mean age of 35 ± 10 years, predominantly females in 42 (98%) cases. The mean number of BKTs was 2 ± 2. The mean length of time elapsed to present the reaction was 12 ± 17 months and this was related to the number of BKTs (P = 0.01). The pull test was positive in 37 (86%) patients. The most frequent dermatoscopic findings were perifollicular scales in 42 (98%), red patches in 35 (81%), and peripilar desquamation resembling the outer skin of an onion bulb in 32 (74%).Conclusion:Hair straightening products are widely used and the psoriasiform skin reaction that develops afterward might be underdiagnosed. It is important to investigate the background of BKT in conjunction with the clinical and dermatoscopic findings suggestive of this cutaneous reaction.

Hair Cosmetics for the Hair Loss Patient.

Medical professionals that treat patients with alopecia usually lack knowledge about hair cosmetics. Trichologists focus on hair cycling and growth problems and not on the hair shaft integrity. This may lead to abandon of the use of the prescribed treatment, such as topical minoxidil or to inadequate traumatic grooming habits that may jeopardize hair follicle health. Shampoos, hair dyes, and hair-straightening products may alter hair fiber structure, remove lipids, and elude protein. Hair procedures such as hair dying and straightening have side effects and health concerns, especially for pregnant women or sensitive hair and scalp patients. Hair breakage, follicle traction, frizz, contact dermatitis, and mutagenicity are possible side effects of hair cosmetics misuse. The proper use of hair care products may help to increase patients' adherence to alopecia treatments and avoid health problems related to inadequate application of hair cosmetics and procedures.

Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of using hair-smoothing products among women in Saudi Arabia

Background: Hair-smoothing products have been developed by the cosmetic industry, targeting the popular desire among women for beautification. The products are also used as a treatment for hair. All hair-smoothing products contain different levels of formaldehyde, which is classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of using hair-smoothing products among women in Saudi Arabia, as well as identifying common side effects of their use. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 in Saudi Arabia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to more than 1600 women, administered in the Arabic language using paper and an online survey. Results: Only 35% of the participants had previously used hair treatments, whereas 24% of the participants identified formaldehyde as a carcinogen. Close to two-thirds (59%) of the participants used hair treatments to facilitate management of their hair. About one-third (35%) of participants read the instructions for hair treatments before their use. The main symptom participants mentioned related to formaldehyde exposure was hair loss (34%). The majority of users (71%) use personal protective equipment during their use of hair-smoothing products. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated low levels of knowledge, a number of misconceptions, and faulty practices. Women must be made aware of the risks of some hair-straightening products that contain large concentrations of formaldehyde exceeding the recommended exposure levels. Therefore, we recommend raising the overall general public knowledge and awareness of hair-straightening products by establishing marketing campaigns and spreading knowledge through social media.

New study links hair chemicals to breast cancer.

New study links hair chemicals to breast cancer.

AVALIAÇÃO DO TEOR DE FORMALDEÍDO EM AMOSTRAS DE ALISANTES CAPILARES UTILIZADOS EM SALÕES DE BELEZA DE PEDRO GOMES, MS, BRASIL

É cada vez maior a demanda pelos produtos de beleza, dentre esses, os alisantes capilares. Entre as várias substâncias que podem ser empregadas no alisamento capilar, destaca-se o formaldeído, que é utilizado com o intuito de aumentar a durabilidade e a qualidade do tratamento. Porém, que desde 2009 é permitida a utilização da concentração de 0,2% de formaldeído unicamente para a conservação do produto. Assim, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a concentração de formaldeído em alisantes capilares utilizados nos salões de beleza do município de Pedro Gomes, MS. Para isso, foram coletadas 28 amostras de 20 marcas distintas, em 6 salões de beleza. Para análise desses alisantes foram utilizados o método colorimétrico estipulado pelo Guia de Controle da Qualidade de Produtos Cosméticos, da Anvisa, e também o da reação da acetilacetona. Do total de amostras, 12 apresentaram concentração de formaldeído acima do permitido pela Anvisa. Com isso, os profissionais que atuam nos salões de beleza e os clientes podem estar sujeitos a complicações de saúde. Dessa forma, é importante a fiscalização das agências regulamentadoras para que esses produtos de beleza sejam retirados do comércio, visando preservar a saúde da população.

Hair straightening products and the risk of occupational formaldehyde exposure in hairstylists

Hair straitening products are widely used by hairstylists. Many keratin-based hair smoothing products contain formaldehyde. This study aimed to investigate occupational formaldehyde exposure among hairstylists dealing with hair straightening products and the relation between genotoxicity biomarkers and the short-term formaldehyde exposure concentrations and the working years. The study was carried out in Cairo, Egypt on 60 hairstylists use hair straightening products divided into two groups according to the working years. All hairstylists were subjected to micronucleus (MN) frequencies in both epithelial buccal cells (EBC) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Fifteen-minute (min) formaldehyde exposure concentrations were measured at workplace during hair straightening procedure. Fifteen-minute formaldehyde concentrations in both groups exceeded the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist thresholds levels. The MN frequencies in EBC and PBL showed a significant increase in group II in comparison to control and group I, which in turn showed a significant increase in MN frequency in PBL and a nonsignificant increase in the MN frequency in EBC when compared to control. A positive correlation was found between genotoxicity biomarkers and working years. Occupational exposures to hair straightening products in the studied hairstylist were found to expose them to formaldehyde concentrations that exceeded the standard limits. All selected genotoxicity biomarkers showed a significant increase in exposed workers and were positively correlated to the duration of exposure.

Pre-column derivatization HPLC method for rapid and sensitive determination of free and total formaldehyde in hair straightening products

This paper describes development and validation of rapid and sensitive pre-column derivatization HPLC method to determine free and total formaldehyde content in five hair straightening products purchased from the local market. None of these products was labeled to contain formaldehyde and all of them were labeled with specific formaldehyde releasers. The formaldehyde derivative was separated using a µBondapak™ C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile: water (70:30, v/v) and detected at 350 nm. The method was linear over the concentration range of 8–80 ng mL−1 (r = 09997) with detection limit of 0.8 ng mL−1. The formaldehyde derivative was stable for 30 days at room temperature. The results showed that all the samples were formaldehyde positive. The concentrations of free and total formaldehyde were 0.015–3.336 g% and 1.462–3.877 g%, respectively. The method showed high precision as the values of relative standard deviations (RSD) did not exceed 2.20%.

Environmental and biological monitoring of occupational formaldehyde exposure resulting from the use of products for hair straightening

The evaluation of formaldehyde (FD) exposure in beauty salons, due to the use of hair straightening products, and its relation with genotoxicity biomarkers was performed in this study. Regardless of official recommendations, the inappropriate use of homemade hair creams has became a popular practice in Brazil, and high formaldehyde content in the "progressive straightening" creams can contain mutagens that could increase the incidence of neoplasia in those people who use them. Damage to DNA was assessed by conducting a micronuclei test (MNT) on buccal cells and the comet assay on heparinized venous blood samples. A total of 50 volunteers were recruited at six different beauty salons (labeled A to F). At two salons that used products that did not contain FD (salons D and E), environmental FD concentrations were 0.04 and 0.02 ppm. In contrast, the products used at salons A, B, C, and F contained 5.7, 2.61, 5.9, and 5.79% of FD, and these salons had environmental FD concentrations of 0.07, 0.14, 0.16, and 0.14 ppm, respectively. Comparison of the beauty salon workers from each of the six beauty salons revealed significant differences in urinary formic acid (FA) concentration before exposure (p = 0.016), urinary FA after exposure (p = 0.004), variation in FA concentration before and after exposure (p = 0.018), environmental FD concentration (p < 0.001), cytogenetic damage detected by the comet assay according to both damage index (p < 0.001) and frequency of damage (p < 0.001), and for karyorrhexis only according to the MNT (p = 0.001).

Hair cosmetics: an overview.

Hair cosmetics are an important tool that helps to increase patient's adhesion to alopecia and scalp treatments. This article reviews the formulations and the mode of action of hair cosmetics: Shampoos, conditioners, hair straightening products, hair dyes and henna; regarding their prescription and safetiness. The dermatologist's knowledge of hair care products, their use, and their possible side effects can extend to an understanding of cosmetic resources and help dermatologists to better treat hair and scalp conditions according to the diversity of hair types and ethnicity.

Elevated formaldehyde concentration in “Brazilian keratin type” hair-straightening products: A cross-sectional study

Brazilian keratin treatment (BKT) and similar straightening products fix and retain a straight shape even when the hair is wet. Unacceptably high concentrations of formaldehyde have been reported in such products. We sought to measure the formaldehyde concentration in all BKT brands marketed in South Africa in 2012. We quantified formaldehyde by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet light detection after derivatization with dinitrophenylhydrazine. All components of 7 identified commercial brands were each tested 3 times. The maximum safe concentration of formaldehyde set by the US Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel is less than 0.2%. Of the 7 commercial BKT brands, 6 had formaldehyde levels that ranged from 0.96% to 1.4%, ie, 5 times higher than the recommended level; these included 5 brands labeled formaldehyde-free. The study is limited by not including all internationally available BKT products. Formaldehyde concentrations in BKT products may exceed recommended levels and serve as a health hazard. Industry monitoring is needed to improve compliance and protection of hairdressers and consumers.

Determinação de formol em amostras de produtos de alisamento capilar

The objective of the present work was to determine the contents of formol (formaldehyde) in hair-straightening products used in various beauty salons. Formol can cause damages to hair, it is also toxic and carcinogenic in the medium term. Despite being banned by the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) it is frequently utilized, being disguised with flavorings, and its presence is not noted on product labels. Therefore, the study was intended to evaluate levels of formol in samples taken in the city of Rolandia (Paraná State, Brazil), where the surveillance does not always take place. The determined values ranged from 5.37 to 10.65 %.

Formaldehyde in hair straightening products: Rapid 1H NMR determination and risk assessment

Despite official regulations, the illegal use of formaldehyde-containing or releasing hair straightening products has become a popular practice in Europe and high contents of formaldehyde in such products have been reported. In this study, a methodology utilizing (1)H NMR spectroscopy has been developed to measure the concentration of formaldehyde in hair straightening products. For sample preparation, a dilution and alkaline hydrolysis is required. The total formaldehyde content can then be quantified by a distinct peak of the CH2 group of the methanediol molecule in the δ4.84-4.82 ppm range. The developed methodology was applied for the analysis of 10 hair straightening products. Seven of these products contained detectable amounts of formaldehyde that were higher than the maximum allowed concentration of 0.2%. The formaldehyde content of these products was found to be in the range 0.42-5.83% with an average concentration of 1.46%. The accuracy and reliability of the NMR results were confirmed by the EU reference photometric method. The air formaldehyde concentrations after application of hair straightening products were estimated in ranges 20-423 ppm and 1-18 ppm (for 1 and 24 m(3) salon volume). A probabilistic exposure estimation using Monte Carlo simulation found the average formaldehyde concentration to be 6 ppm (standard deviation 15 ppm). All exposure scenarios considerably exceeded the safe level of 0.1 ppm. Our findings confirmed that the risk of cosmetic formulations with formaldehyde above 0.2% is not negligible, as these products may facilitate considerable exposure of formaldehyde for consumers especially for salon workers.

Chemical hair relaxers have adverse effects a myth or reality

Context:Hair plays an important role in one's personality and builds confidence. Now-a-days, chemical hair relaxers are used very commonly in the society. We document the adverse effects reported by the sample that have used any one of the professional chemical hair relaxers.Aim:To study the adverse effects reported by the sample who underwent repeated chemical hair relaxing.Settings and Design:Cross-sectional questionnaire based study done on a sample taken from a medical college and hospital campus in Mangalore.Materials and Methods:The sample was restricted to females and to those who underwent it more than once. A questionnaire was given to a sample of 90, which matched our criteria.Statistical Analysis:SPSS software 17.Results:Adverse effects reported by the sample after undergoing the procedure were found to be a high 95.56%, out of which the following are the common adverse effects reported; frizzy hair in 67%, dandruff in 61%, hair loss in 47%, thinning and weakening of hair in 40%, greying of hair 22%, and split ends in only 17%.Conclusions:Very few studies have been conducted on the adverse effects of hair straightening products in India. From our study, it can be stated that most of the samples had adverse effects, which was as high as 95.56%. Hence from the details elicited from this study, we can conclude that, usage of chemical hair relaxers does cause adverse effects and is “not a myth.” Thus, it is necessary to make available a less harmful chemical hair relaxer to the society.