November, 2010, Campaign for  Safe Cosmetics

Dear Shelley,

There is a saying, “beauty is pain,” which we at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics never much cared for. After a hair salon worker complained about bloody noses and breathing problems after using "formaldehyde free" Brazilian Blowout, Oregon OSHA tested the product and discovered it's up to 10 percent formaldehyde. The search for miraculously smooth hair should not cause acute pain or long-term health problems.

Because formaldehyde is a nasty chemical linked to cancer and allergies, the governments of Canada and Ireland issued recalls of Brazilian Blowout in the last few weeks, after their own tests confirmed its presence.

But guess what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has done? Nothing.

This is unacceptable. The high levels of formaldehyde in Brazilian Blowout pose a serious threat to salon workers giving the treatment on a daily basis, and are dangerous for customers, too.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sent a letter to the FDA asking for immediate action, and now the agency needs to hear from you.

Please join us in asking the FDA to issue a voluntary recall of Brazilian Blowout products!

Even if you've never gotten a Brazilian Blowout treatment, this issue shows that we need a real change in the beauty industry. Under current law, it's perfectly legal for a product to contain carcinogens and other harmful chemicals, and the FDA doesn't have the power to issue a mandatory recall of any cosmetics. That's why the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working to pass the Safe Cosmetics Act – a law that will close the loopholes and protect our health.

But right now, we need to get formaldehyde out of salons ASAP: Ask the FDA to issue a voluntary recall of Brazilian Blowout.

Sincerely,
Jamie, Cassidy, Mia, Lisa, Stacy, Marisa and all of us at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics