California Settles With Makers Of Brazilian Blowout For $600K

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Fans of the Brazilian Blowout are going to have to face the truth next time they get their favorite hair treatment: these popular hair smoothing products emit formaldehyde gas.

State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced Monday a settlement with the manufacturer of the wildly popular hair products that will require warnings about the chemicals its products emits. GIB, LLC, which does business under the name Brazilian Blowout, will also have to pay $600,000 in fees, penalties and costs.

"California laws protect consumers and workers and give them fair notice about the health risks associated with the products they use," Harris said in a statement. "This settlement requires the company to disclose any hazard so that Californians can make more informed decisions."

Brazilian Blowout previously advertised two of its products, the "Brazilian Blowout Acai Smoothing Solution" and the "Brazilian Blowout Professional Smoothing Solution," as formaldehyde-free and safe.

The state sued GIB, LLC in November 2010, alleging deceptive advertising and failure to provide consumers with warnings about the presence of a carcinogen in its products. Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians about exposures to chemicals in the products they purchase, like formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer.

The treatment makes the hair feel soft, straightens it and takes the frizz out for up to six months, according to hair stylists. However, at the height of its popularity, hair stylists got into the practice of donning gas masks or using outdoor cabanas while applying the product because of the fumes.