Croda promises customers straight hair without the dangerous chemicals

The Cosmetics Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR) declared late last year, that the use of formaldehyde and methylene glycol in hair straightening products is unsafe.

Despite all the uproar with regard to these products, professionally straightened hair remains in consumer demand, particularly as chemical processes tend to last a long period of time, and this urged Croda to launch its new treatment.

Croda’s Cystine Hair Smoothing System is a process that claims to straighten the hair and is mild enough to be used on all hair types, even color treated hair, which is typically more susceptible to damage.

Vegan treatment​

The treatment also contains no added methylene glycol or animal-derived ingredients and is less damaging than other chemical services, according to Croda.

It uses high concentrations of Cystine and other proteins to moisturize hair after treatment as well as protecting hair from damage during treatment.

Croda’s system contains four components: Cystine Smoothing Shampoo, Cystine Smoothing Treatment, Protein Leave-In Conditioner and Keravis Hair Strengthening Protein Conditioner.

Vegan hair smoothing treatments have become a lot more popular in recent times, due to the formaldehyde-free claims, particularly since the chemical came under such scrutiny.

The debate continues​

The US Food and Drug Administration has yet to bar formaldehyde from hair straighteners, even though the US Department of Health and Human Safety have labeled it a known human carcinogen.

The CIR Panel concluded that under present practices of use and concentration, formaldehyde and methylene glycol are unsafe in hair straightening products.

“CIR reached its conclusion after a comprehensive review of the available safety data and information and a robust discussion of this difficult and complex issue. We support the panel’s findings,”​ said Jay Ansell, PCPC scientist and vice president of cosmetic programs.

The panel also concluded that formaldehyde and methylene glycol are safe for use as a preservative in cosmetics at minimal effective concentration levels and that do not exceed established limits and are safe in nail hardening products in the present practices of use and concentration.