DMDM hydantoin is listed by the FDA as one of the preservatives found to cause the most allergic reactions from the use of cosmetic products. It works as an antimicrobial agent and preservative in cosmetics and personal care products. It's also a “formaldehyde donor.” That means it releases a small amount of formaldehyde over time to help keep products fresh and free from contaminants. The FDA requires certain products to contain an ingredient declaration, but some ingredients may not be specifically identified and instead listed as “fragrance” or “perfume.”
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About the CUT IT OUT® Program
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CUT IT OUT®: Salons Against Domestic Abuse is dedicated to mobilizing salon professionals and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse in communities across the U.S. by building awareness and training salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients, colleagues, friends and family to local resources.

Why the Salon Professional?

Salon professionals are in a unique position to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse in their clients and co-workers. Because of the intimate and nurturing nature of the relationship between salon professionals and their clients and co-workers, salon professionals can often spot signs of physical abuse that others may never see.

Research shows that most battered women never call the police or go to a shelter. However, they do usually talk about the abuse with someone they trust. Because salon professionals are skilled and experienced listeners who are personally interested in those around them, many victims suffering from abuse feel comfortable confiding in them - even if they would never tell anyone else. For an abused woman, the salon may be an ideal environment to seek out help because it may be one of the few places she is allowed to go without her abuser.

With proper training on how to recognize the signs of abuse and safely refer victims to help, salon professionals can become invaluable and influential community partners in the fight against domestic abuse.
 
This article first appeared on Professional Beauty Association

Popular men’s cosmetic products are raising concerns over a potentially harmful ingredient. Lead acetate can be found in Grecian Formula and Youthair hair dye products in the U.S. Consumer groups filed a petition to the FDA to crack down on this lead compound, which is a known neurotoxin.
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Plaintiffs allege that thousands of women who bought the relaxer product have experienced distressing injuries.

The lawsuit, submitted on 14 September by high profile attorney Mark J Geragos, lists a number of complaints of the product posted to the Amazon website. 

Two US women have filed a class action lawsuit against L’Oréal and its hair care brand SoftSheen-Carson claiming that one of its hair relaxer kits causes hair loss and scalp burns.
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The SoftSheen-Carson Optimum Amla Legend No-Mix, No-Lye Relaxer is said to help afro-caribbean hair to feel fuller and silkier through the inclusion of amla oil from the Indian amla super fruit.

However, the plaintiffs allege that thousands of women who bought the product have experienced distressing injuries including hair loss and breakage, and scalp irritation, blisters and burns.

Despite not listing lye as an ingredient, the plaintiffs claim that the inclusion of lithium hydroxide can cause damaging effects including those listed above.
They also stated that it is unclear whether the product truly is a ‘no-lye’ relaxer as the retail lists sodium hydroxide in the products’ ingredients online.

Dorothy Riles, a resident in Cook County, Illinois and one of the key plaintiffs behind the lawsuit, claims that when she used the product she was left with bald patches, burns and scabs forcing her to wear a wig.

Sharon Manier, the other key plaintiff from Riverside County in California, similarly claims that upon using the product she immediately experienced scalp irritation and, after washing it out, she saw “significant” hair loss.
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The lawsuit, submitted on 14 September by high profile attorney Mark J Geragos, lists a number of complaints of the product posted to the Amazon website. One read: “Don't use it! My 26 year old daughter is upstairs crying her eyes out because her hair is gone.”

The plaintiffs are demanding that L’Oréal is tried by jury and are seeking compensation on the grounds of false advertising, unfair competition, consumer fraud, deceptive business practices, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, unjust enrichment, fraud and negligence.

(Sourse)