At 27, a woman from Les Sables-d'Olonne thought she'd simply achieve smooth, manageable hair. A few days later, she discovered her kidneys were severely damaged. Her story highlights the risks associated with Brazilian hair straightening, an increasingly popular cosmetic practice whose toxicity remains largely unknown.
Lightning pain after a routine session
It all started innocuously. After a successful first experience with Brazilian hair straightening in 2024, the young woman decided to repeat the procedure last June. But this time, a few hours after the product was applied, she felt severe abdominal pain and exhaustion, which she initially attributed to work. The next day, the pain became unbearable, localized in her back. Thinking it was a simple contracture or renal colic, she consulted several doctors before being sent to the emergency room. Tests revealed acute renal failure. The specialists at the nephrology department in La Roche-sur-Yon quickly made the diagnosis and sought to identify the cause. It was by meticulously retracing her schedule that the connection was established: the Brazilian hair straightening session a few days earlier.
A cosmetic product with toxic effects
The product used contained glyoxylic acid, a substance already known for its dangers. The problem: cosmetic manufacturers are not always required to list all the ingredients, especially on imported products. In this specific case, the incriminated acid did not appear on the label. The information has since been forwarded to the Angers Poison Control Center. Doctors believe that this exposure seriously weakened the patient's kidneys. Her condition was stabilized thanks to rapid hospitalization, but the after-effects will remain irreversible. She now says she regularly experiences pain after certain meals or during prolonged exercise, a sign that her kidneys will never regain their full capacity.
A commonplace practice but without strict supervision
This mishap highlights the lack of strict regulations surrounding Brazilian straightening. The French National Agency for Health Safety had already warned of the risks of these products, but in reality, no specific approval is required to practice this technique. Any salon or institute can offer this service after simple training, without in-depth monitoring of the substances used. The Sables-d'Olonne affair is a reminder that a seemingly trivial aesthetic procedure can turn into a health tragedy. The victim is now calling for vigilance: she is sharing her story with those around her and insisting that "having a Brazilian straightening treatment is not harmless." Behind the image of perfectly straightened hair, it's sometimes an entire body that pays the price.
