PBA Professional Keratin Hair Smoothing Products
October 21, 2011
The use of so-called "keratin" hair smoothing products has become increasingly popular over the last several years. The wide use of these professional-use products has sparked varying concerns regarding the ingredients contained in these products and questions around potential safety issues.
As the nation's largest organization of beauty industry professionals, the Professional Beauty Association is committed to providing relevant information to our members and the industry at large. The purpose of these FAQs is to provide interested persons with helpful information. This document is not intended to be a substitute for comprehensive training requirements, or to prescribe rules or standards, or to define or create legal rights or obligations.
On December 9, 2010 PBA sent a letter to the CIR asking them to re-exam the use of formaldehyde releasers in cosmetics, and to initiate a formal examination of the use of methylene glycol in personal care and beauty products. During the CIR’s quarterly meeting on March 3rd and 4th of this year in DC, the CIR concluded that there was insufficient data to determine if there should be changes to the allowed limits and uses that were previously determined and requested additional information.
In June the CIR met again and allowed an additional 60 days for input from companies and organizations regarding the intended use of formaldehyde in products, specifically the safety of formaldehyde being heated in a product. On September 26-27, 2011, at its 120th meeting in Washington, DC the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR) concluded that formaldehyde and methylene glycol is unsafe in the present practices of use and concentration in hair smoothing products (aka hair straightening products).
The CIR is an independent, non-profit body of scientific and medical experts that assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics in the U.S. This review was the result of a request by the FDA, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the Personal Care Products Council (the Council).
See PBA's press release for more information.
News Update
FAQs: Professional Keratin Hair Smoothing Products
PBA | NCA Letter to the CIR
FDA Letter
PBA Press Release
Legal Notice
This document is intended to provide interested persons with helpful information. This document is not intended to be a substitute for comprehensive training requirements, or to prescribe rules or standards, or to define or create legal rights or obligations.
All persons involved in the professional beauty industry are responsible for ensuring that their products and services are safe and comply with all applicable laws. Neither PBA, its members,
nor any person or entity related to any of them, makes any warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to the accuracy or completeness of this document, nor do they assume any liability for any use of anything in this document.
