Big BAD Formaldehyde...

Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, colorless gas commonly used in building materials, industrial applications, and even personal care products — including some hair straightening and smoothing treatments. While effective for its intended use, formaldehyde is known to pose significant health risks, which is why its presence in cosmetics has become a growing concern in Australia and globally.

Over recent years, formaldehyde has come under heavy scrutiny from Australian health and safety regulators. With clear evidence showing the harm it can cause to both salon workers and consumers, strict regulations have been introduced to manage exposure — and protect public health.

Why Formaldehyde Is a Concern

Formaldehyde is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), meaning there is sufficient evidence that it can cause cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to nasal and throat cancers, while short-term exposure can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, nausea, and skin reactions.

In salon environments, formaldehyde-containing hair products can release dangerous levels of fumes when heat is applied — for example, during blow drying or flat ironing after a keratin treatment. This poses risks not only to the client but also to salon staff who may be exposed repeatedly over time.

Even though formaldehyde may not be listed directly on some product labels, many treatments contain formaldehyde-releasing chemicals such as methylene glycol, which convert to formaldehyde gas when heated.

Australia’s Formaldehyde Regulations

In response to these concerns, Australian authorities — including Safe Work Australia and various state-based regulators — have introduced strict guidelines to limit exposure in both workplace and consumer settings.

Key actions include:

• Workplace Exposure Limits: Australia’s current occupational exposure standard for formaldehyde is set at 1 part per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average, and 2 ppm for short-term exposure. Employers are legally required to ensure that airborne concentrations do not exceed these levels.

• Health Monitoring: For workers who may be exposed to formaldehyde, particularly in salons or manufacturing environments, health monitoring is recommended under workplace safety laws to detect early signs of harmful effects.

• Product Warnings and Compliance: There have been multiple safety alerts regarding imported hair smoothing products that were found to contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde. Some products have even been withdrawn from the market after testing.

• Salon Safety Guidelines: Hairdressers and salons are advised to avoid products that release formaldehyde and to use adequate ventilation, personal protective equipment, and proper training when working with any chemical products.

Why This Matters for Hair Smoothing Treatments

Many traditional salon keratin treatments relied on formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients to "lock in" the smoothing effect. While the results were effective, the health risks were undeniable.

Thankfully, newer formulas — like ours — have found safer, smarter alternatives that still deliver sleek, long-lasting results without the toxic fumes or risk. Our formaldehyde-free keratin treatment uses advanced, gentle ingredients to smooth and protect your hair, giving you everything you want from a keratin treatment — minus everything you don’t.

The Takeaway

Formaldehyde is no longer seen as a harmless part of salon beauty. The science is clear, and Australia has responded with strong, proactive regulations to reduce risk and keep people safe.

As a brand, we’ve made the choice to go completely formaldehyde-free — not just because of the rules, but because we believe women deserve safer, smarter beauty. You shouldn’t have to choose between results and your health.

Our mission is to make salon-style beauty treatments safe, affordable, and accessible at home — starting with formulas you can feel good about.

Because beauty should never come at the cost of your wellbeing.