softblackcotton
Well-Known Member
Good evening Fellow LHCFers!
There have been many threads in LHCF and other hair forums posted about the wondrous and amazing results of Brazilian Keratin Treatment aka BKT, and after reading so many good things about it I know many ladies including myself have been considering trying BKT to ease the management process of our natural/transitioning hair. However, I would just like to warn the ladies who are considering BKT to do your research first!
The Good: BKT can straighten, strengthen, and smooth the curliest curls. It make your hair shiny, bouncy, virtually break-free, and a dream to manage. All this without permanently changing the texture of your hair like a relaxer! rolleyes: given that you haven't suffered heat damage in the process).
The Bad: According to some of the articles I have been reading; there are many overwhelming hazards and disadvantages that come along with the benefits.. The main hazard concern about BKT is that it contains formaldehyde (yes, the same stuff they use to embalm dead bodies and biology lab frogs). Formaldehyde is a proven carcinogenic (it causes cancer) and all the brands that have been tested contain unsafe amounts of formaldehyde (even the brands claiming low or alternatives).
The Ugly: It is highly recommended that during a BKT treatment, the hair stylist and their clients wear gas masks in a heavy ventilated area.erplexed The fumes released during the treatment are from formaldehyde. The fumes not only effect the client and the hair stylist, but also the people in close proximity. Even after treatment the formaldehyde on the hair slowly breaks down and is consistently released in small amounts in the air you breath, your clothing, your pillow, car head rest, when you brush, comb, etc. It can cause irritation to people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, sinus problems, and/or allergies. Getting the process over the long-term may have major health effects and it is risky. Many salons in NYC have discontinued the use of BKT to protect employees/clients until safer alternatives are found.
BKT has recently gained popularity in the USA and thus there has not been much done to regulate it by the FDA. However, as long as there is money to be made The government won't regulate much of anything especially when it means some of that is $$$ lining their pockets. Other than the health risks; BKT is very, very expensive from $150-600 for a single treatment in most salons; not being able to touch/wet/put anything on hair for 4 days while it "sets";the process includes the extremely high use of heat 450 degrees at least!!! I'm not really trying to discourage anybody who has their heart set to do BKT, however, I just want to help you be inform and encourage you to do your own research. Here are some useful links to some articles about BKT below:
http://www.short-hair-style.com/keratin-hair-treatment.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/26/earlyshow/health/main3414868.shtml
http://stylebell.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/brazilian-keratin-treatment-faq/
http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/39331/
There have been many threads in LHCF and other hair forums posted about the wondrous and amazing results of Brazilian Keratin Treatment aka BKT, and after reading so many good things about it I know many ladies including myself have been considering trying BKT to ease the management process of our natural/transitioning hair. However, I would just like to warn the ladies who are considering BKT to do your research first!
The Good: BKT can straighten, strengthen, and smooth the curliest curls. It make your hair shiny, bouncy, virtually break-free, and a dream to manage. All this without permanently changing the texture of your hair like a relaxer! rolleyes: given that you haven't suffered heat damage in the process).
The Bad: According to some of the articles I have been reading; there are many overwhelming hazards and disadvantages that come along with the benefits.. The main hazard concern about BKT is that it contains formaldehyde (yes, the same stuff they use to embalm dead bodies and biology lab frogs). Formaldehyde is a proven carcinogenic (it causes cancer) and all the brands that have been tested contain unsafe amounts of formaldehyde (even the brands claiming low or alternatives).
The Ugly: It is highly recommended that during a BKT treatment, the hair stylist and their clients wear gas masks in a heavy ventilated area.erplexed The fumes released during the treatment are from formaldehyde. The fumes not only effect the client and the hair stylist, but also the people in close proximity. Even after treatment the formaldehyde on the hair slowly breaks down and is consistently released in small amounts in the air you breath, your clothing, your pillow, car head rest, when you brush, comb, etc. It can cause irritation to people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, sinus problems, and/or allergies. Getting the process over the long-term may have major health effects and it is risky. Many salons in NYC have discontinued the use of BKT to protect employees/clients until safer alternatives are found.
BKT has recently gained popularity in the USA and thus there has not been much done to regulate it by the FDA. However, as long as there is money to be made The government won't regulate much of anything especially when it means some of that is $$$ lining their pockets. Other than the health risks; BKT is very, very expensive from $150-600 for a single treatment in most salons; not being able to touch/wet/put anything on hair for 4 days while it "sets";the process includes the extremely high use of heat 450 degrees at least!!! I'm not really trying to discourage anybody who has their heart set to do BKT, however, I just want to help you be inform and encourage you to do your own research. Here are some useful links to some articles about BKT below:
http://www.short-hair-style.com/keratin-hair-treatment.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/26/earlyshow/health/main3414868.shtml
http://stylebell.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/brazilian-keratin-treatment-faq/
http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/39331/
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