Well this is exciting…

We are proud to announce that we will giving  away a FREE “The One That Works” salon air purifier (an $850.00 value!!!) to the lucky winner of our first annual “The One That Works” Contest!  The winner will be announced at the Inova Professional booth (#4071) right at the entrance of IBS Las Vegas!

To enter is easy, and any salon can enter.  Just go to our contest page, like us on Facebook, and tell what is “hot” about your salon and why you think your salon deserves to win!  It just that simple.  But hurry, the contest ends June 9th!

Good luck!!!

We all know that keratin treatments are here to stay, but do we know how to make them safe for stylists and their clients?  Luckily word is getting out that when the proper steps are taken, keratin treatments can be performed safely and become a backbone service for salons and a life-changer for their customers.

In an article in this months issue of Beauty Launchpad Magazine authored by Alyson Osterman-Kerr, John Henshaw, lead scientific adviser for the Professional Keratin Smoothing Council (PKSC) explains how to avoid sensory irritation by taking the proper steps while performing keratin treatments, centering squarely on proper ventilation.  Mr. Henshaw states:

“In general, when using proper ventilation and correct treatment procedures, many of these products can be used safely without sensory irritation.”

So there it is again.  Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation.  The PKSC has once again stated that proper salon ventilation is the central safety measure in a list of procedures to ensure safe salon air while performing brazilian keratin treatments.  By capturing and eliminating the vapors at the source, and then supplementing that protection with a work station unit and salon-specific HVAC filters for the whole salon,  the worries of providing keratin treatments will truly be a thing of the past.

To check out the entire Beauty Launchpad article, click here.

In a new article on abcnews.com via the Associated Press, beauty industry expert Doug Schoon weighs in on the importance of proper ventilation in the salon industry.

With the recent revelations that certain nail polishes labeled free of toxic chemicals actually contain high levels of the agents, Mr. Schoon agrees that mislabeling of products should never be done, but stresses that proper ventilation and training of salon employees are much more important factors in preventing health problems.  Mr. Schoon states:

“[The] need for appropriate ventilation for the work you’re doing, whether it be in printing shops or other workplaces, is a huge area of opportunity that the (DTSC) should be focusing on”.

To learn more and read the entire article, click here

Poor ventilation and improper equipment – like using the wrong masks – can lead to health problems.  Spaeth says it’s fairly common to see nail salon workers with breathing problems, click here to learn more.

This post will offer some tools (engineering controls), to salons so that they can provide keratin hair smoothing services in both a safe & fresh air environment.  Almost every article on the internet pertaining to the “hair smoothing controversy”, and recent events (including OSHA warnings and fines), alert salons about the importance of appropriate work practices and proper salon ventilation.  As of right now, most salons lack the proper ventilation needed to ensure safety for the full range of chemical services offered, including hair smoothing, color, bleach and artificial nail services.  New technology (the salon chemical source capture system) has been developed and proven to be highly effective for improving salon air quality by minimizing exposure to formaldehyde, as well as the many other gases, vapors and dusts found in salons.

There are many helpful resources on the web to help salon professionals stay informed as well as assist them in meeting OSHA requirements for salon safety.  An example of this can be seen here.

Aerovex Systems recommends a three-tier approach to achieve proper ventilation appropriate for the salon chemical services being provided.  The three-tiers are as follows:

1.) Protect the breathing zone of the stylist and client with Source Capture Ventilation.

2.) Cleanse the work station air with a Salon Air Purifier.

3.) Filter the general buildings’ air (HVAC System), with an Absolute Filter, designed to remove salon vapors and dusts.

For more information on Aerovex Systems’ “Three Zone Protection” salon ventilation for all salon chemical services, click here.

When heated, methylene glycol creates formaldehyde vapors.  Hair stylists and salon owners are starting to understand this fact.

The days of “formaldehyde free” claims being placed on product labels which contain formaldehyde releasers and neglecting the necessity for proper ventilation are over.  For example, every bottle of Brazilian Blowout now has a bright sticker affixed to it clearly stating that the treatment needs to be performed in a well ventilated area and to be used as directed.

The caution on the bottle now reads:

“This product contains methylene glycol.  When heated this product releases formaldehyde.  Use in a well-ventilated area and only as directed.”

Formaldehyde vapors are released when high heat is applied during blow drying, product application, and flat ironing.  The best way to prevent clients’ and stylists’ overexposure to formaldehyde vapors is to use local source capture ventilation, as stated by the Professional Keratin Smoothing Council’s  Oct. 2011 press release:

“Aerovex Systems, one of our founding members, is the developer of a hair salon source capture ventilation system, which provides a premiere example of “appropriate” salon ventilation equipment.  Such equipment is useful for many types of salon services, including keratin hair smoothing, and can offer an extra layer of protection to help ensure the safety of clients and cosmetologists.”

All of the names listed below are listed under OSHA’s formaldehyde standard or can release formaldehyde when subjected to certain conditions (such as the high heat involved in a hair smoothing treatments).  OSHA has provided a list of what it calls “synonyms” for formaldehyde:

Methylene glycol

Formalin

Methylene oxide

Paraform

Formic aldehyde

Methanal

Oxomethane

Oxymethylene

Timonacic acid

Thiazolidinecarboxylic acid

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) has released a new webinar entitled “Navigate OSHA Standards with Industry Expert Doug Schoon“.  The presentation, delivered by renown scientist and industry expert Doug Schoon, highlights the importance of taking the proper steps to ensure a safe salon environment.  Subjects covered in the video include:

Proper salon ventilation (such as implementing a source capture system)

Who and what is OSHA?

Compliance requirements for salons

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

Formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens and hazard communications

Top OSHA issues and violations within the salon

Doug Schoon, a leading research scientist and educator, will shed light on how these topics relate to salons and the professional beauty industry in terms we can all understand.  The importance of proper salon ventilation can be seen twice in the presentation at minute marks 27:10-28-15 and 53:18-55:10   To check out the the video (number 22 in the PBA catalog), click here.

Aerovex Systems owner Jeff Cardarella explains proper ventilation appropriate for all chemical hair services with salon owners & stylists at the La-Brasiliana exhibit,  American Beauty Show – Chicago.  La-Brasiliana is one of the first keratin hair smoothing manufacturers to promote source capture ventilation in the salon, and actually demonstrate how it works at an industry trade show.  Company owner, Armando Petrucelli states:  ”La-Brasiliana has always placed a priority upon safe use of its products.  From the beginning, as one of the original manufacturers to introduce keratin treatments, we were extremely conscientious about keeping levels of formaldehyde producing ingredients as low as possible to ensure safe use.  Our labeling has always included the caution: Use in a Well Ventilated Area!

Check out the latest news from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health about chemical and dust exposure in Hair and Nail Salons including recommendation of Source Capture Ventilation to ensure a vapor and dust free breathing zone.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/manicure/

http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2012/02/hair-smoothers/#comment-2790

]]> http://cleanairmadesimple.com/?feed=rss2&p=524 0 http://cleanairmadesimple.com/?p=509 http://cleanairmadesimple.com/?p=509#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:16:36 +0000 Jeff Cardarella http://cleanairmadesimple.com/?p=509

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) currently has a research project to examine the effectiveness of different source capture ventilation systems (SCVS) units for use in nail salons, including downdraft vented nail tables and portable SCVS received from developers, manufacturers, distributors, or vendors (see the Federal Register Notice). Summarized results of the research and recommendations from NIOSH will be shared with salon workers, salon owners, and the public with the hope of providing valuable information for maximizing salon ventilation effectiveness.