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Bella's BFF on Brazilian Hair Straightening

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:00:16 -0700

Longtime readers will remember a post about Brazilian hair straightening. The technique relaxes hair by using a protein-filled solution on hair, then applying a hot iron to it. It's a little controversial, though, because the solution includes formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Since I'm a hypochondriac, I run when I see the word "carcinogen," but that hasn't stopped the procedure from becoming popular.

As it turns out, my BFF Jen went in for Brazilian straightening this weekend. Naturally, I bombarded her with questions over instant messaging to get the scoop. Overall, she's still deciding whether it was a success. If you're thinking of having this treatment and want to get some unbiased opinions from someone who's just had it done, read more.

Rather than bore you with the details of our IM conversation, I've created a guide that I like to call Jen and the Art of Brazilian Hair Straightening Maintenance. Here are her thoughts.

On the smell:
I stink.

On the scariest part of the procedure:
The "baking into my hair" part where there was actually poofs of smoke coming from the straightening iron she used? uhhhhh. . . I was freaked.

On her hair now:
My hair is in very good condition . . . odd. It's more shiny than before I had it done, which is kind of blowing my mind considering that my head was *smoking*. And my hair is about 2 inches longer. Genius.

On maintenance:
You can't wash your hair for four days, and you have to use a shampoo without sodium chloride. The stylist gave me samples for some shampoo called Aqualage, I believe. I doesn't contain the sodium chloride. Also, no ponytails, barrettes, anything for four days; that will cause a wave.

Would Jen recommend it?
I think it's a good alternative to the thermal, price-wise. [Jen paid $200.] Do I prefer it over Japanese straightening? We'll see once I'm able to wash it. It's not as fried, which is good.

It's Japan vs. Brazil in the Hair-Straightening Wars

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:03:16 -0700

My best friend has thick, very wavy hair, but you'd never guess it from looking at her. That's because she goes in for Japanese thermal conditioning, a treatment that leaves hair straight for months. Now I have to tell her about a newer process from Brazil called escova progressiva. According to the New York Times, it can be used on most hair types, even color-treated hair. And now it has migrated from South America to the States.

"Right now, it’s blowing everything away," said Meryle Nemeth, the nuBest stylist who administered Ms. Epstein’s treatment, one of about 500 she’s done since February, when it became available at the salon [in Manhasset, NY]. "I've never seen anything take off like this as far as relaxing hair."

For details on this treatment, read more

Brazilian hair straightening takes up to four hours and costs between $150 and $600. The Times explains the process, which truthfully sounds a little... un-fun:

A stylist applies a solution made with active keratin, a protein akin to a component of human hair. Using a 450-degree iron, the hairdresser seals the formula onto the outer layer of the cuticle. The formula adheres to the cuticle’s inherently rough edges. Thus, it is said, it traps moisture, hydrating the hair, and adds a glossy veneer.

Buried deep in the article is this little nugget: "The formula often contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that can irritate the eyes and lungs if the fumes are inhaled." Yikes.

Are you interested in getting this treatment done, or are you happy with your curls and waves?

Source

Beauty Byte: UK Bars Offering Bathroom Hair Straighteners

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:00:55 -0700

First came condom machines, tampon dispensers, and even perfume spritzers. But the latest bathroom vending trend is just plain weird: coin-operated hair straighteners and curling irons. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip.) Strange, but true: A British company called Beautiful Vending has created a hair-straightening vending machine called Straight Up.

Found in nightclubs, bars, malls, and gyms, these wall-mounted machines offer GHD flat irons for customers who need a quick fix for misbehaving hair. According to the Beautiful Vending web site: "Your customer’s bad hair days are now a thing of the past, and they will thank you once our Beautiful Vending machine is installed."

Now, I can see how this might be a nice feature in a locker room or hotel - much like the ubiquitous hair dryers - but nightclubs? It's hard to imagine women taking dancing breaks to line up and straighten their hair. So please, tell me: Would you use a straightening iron during a night out?

Source

New Product Alert: Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:35:18 -0700

Well, we may not have flat irons in public bathrooms like they do the UK, but now, you can straighten your hair just about anywhere else with this awesome purse-sized Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener ($225). This 7-ounce flat iron is great for travel or a long night out, but just because it's small doesn't mean it can't pack a punch.

The high-end tool is made from ceramic, which is much better at smoothing cuticle than metal, and it warms up in under a minute with three different heat settings. It takes about three hours to fully charge and even comes with a car adapter, so you can recharge the battery in your car. Better yet, all this on-the-go straightening is safe: The Professional Cordless Straightener has a sensor to prevent overheating and an automatic shutoff after 30 minutes.

Do You Still Straighten Your Hair?

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

With slightly fluffy, matte hair being on the beauty radar lately, suddenly super-shiny straight hair seems a bit last season. I have to admit that there is something WAG-ish about poker straight locks, especially when they're flat with no volume or bounce.

Having said that, I'm torn. I do love the shine that using straighteners brings to hair and whenever I see girls with glossy, straight hair in the street I'm more than a little jealous.

How about you, do you still straighten your hair?

Source

Hair straightener poisoning

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:59:24 -0700

Overview

Definition
Poisonous Ingredient
Where Found
Symptoms
Home Treatment
Before Calling Emergency
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
What to expect at the emergency room
Expectations (prognosis)

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Hair straightener poisoning occurs when someone swallows chemicals used to straighten hair.

Poisonous Ingredient

Ammonium thioglycolate (found in relaxer/straightener products that do not use lye)
Guanidine hydroxide (found in relaxer/straightener products that do not use lye)
Mineral oil
Polyethylene glycol
Sodium hydroxide (found in relaxer/straightener products that use lye)

Where Found

Various hair straighteners

Symptoms

Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat
- Loss of vision
- Severe pain in the throat
- Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
Gastrointestinal
- Blood in the stool
- Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Vomiting blood
Heart and blood
- Collapse
- Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
- Severe change in blood acid levels -- leads to organ damage
Lungs
- Breathing difficulty
- Throat swelling (may cause breathing difficulty)
Skin
- Burn
- Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
- Irritation

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. Do NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
Fluids
Medicines to treat an allergic reaction (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, or prednisone)
Surgical removal of burned skin (skin debridement)
Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
Washing of the skin (irrigation) -- perhaps every few hours for several days

If the poisoning is severe, you may be admitted to the hospital.

Expectations (prognosis)

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach is possible. The outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage can continue to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the product is swallowed.

Review Date: 1/23/2008

Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Source Doc: 1_002706

October Must Haves: Nourishing Hair Treatments

BellaSugarUK — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

If your hair is looking somewhat parched post-summer, then this is the perfect time to treat yourself to an intensive at-home hair treatment. I've trawled the high street and the salons to bring you the best hair masks for your hair type, including colour-enhancing treatments for just 99p. There's also the best deep-conditioning masque for afro hair and a treatment specially designed for those of us who are too dependent on our straighteners. Simply click through to see my new favourite hair saviours.

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Reader Review of the Day: Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Living Proof's Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment for Thick to Coarse Hair ($24) is one of the newest frizz-fighters on the market, and it promises everything from a humidity barrier to the ability to repel dirt and oil so that you can go longer between shampoos. Reader sabriel2 finds that it does deliver in some areas, but still gives it mixed reviews. She says:

I have long, thick, dry hair, so I was pleased with the amount of straightening and control I got when I heat-styled after using this. The only thing is that it left my hair feeling lackluster, kind of "gummy" to the touch, and hard to style - and I hadn't even used that much. The next day, the product buildup was even more nasty. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who doesn't wash their hair every day, but it does straighten fairly well.

Had a product experience that you want to tell everyone about? Want to know if the beauty buy you've been coveting is right for you? Just head over to our Product Reviews section to write a review of your own or read about other peoples' experiences with more than 50,000 products.

Oh, Stormy: 5 Ways to Weather-Proof That Hair

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:38 -0700

Ugh. The weather over the last week has been crappy, and my hair has totally rolled over into submission. Welcome to the grossest season, I guess. There are so many great things about this time of year, but the inclement transitional weather isn't one of them. To keep myself from giving up hope, I've decided to rally and find some ways to keep my hair looking good in spite of the gray mess outside. I've put together five solid ideas for keeping things smooth and pretty, whether the humidity's giving you crazy curls or sad, lank locks. To storm-proof your crowning glory, just keep reading

Good Hair Has a Greater Point

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:22 -0700

If you've ever felt as though you'll look bad unless you straighten your hair, get highlights, go blonde, get a perm, or cover your grays, you should see Good Hair. If you care about the effects narrow normative beauty ideals have on the people around you and the larger world, you should see it. Heck, if you've ever felt like you "needed" to do anything to be attractive or accepted, you should see it.

This movie's great triumph - and great tragedy - is that it deftly picks apart our social constructions of beauty and shows us just what they look like underneath. And believe me, though it's sometimes funny, it's certainly not pretty. Chris Rock has, disarmingly, disturbingly, hilariously, and sometimes very poignantly explored the minefield of hair products and social signals that African-American women are forced to navigate. The result is a film that's brimming with life as well as contradictions. See this film, and you'll never look at a hair process (or extensions, for that matter) the same way again.