PFM Hero of the Week: Molly Scrutton, Hair Stylist

We here at PFM believe formaldehyde belongs in middle school chemistry labs and episodes of Six Feet Under, not in your hair. And it seems stylist Molly Scrutton of Portland, OR agrees with us.  Within a month of running a “formaldehyde-free” product through her image-conscious clients, she got a nosebleed and was feeling routinely ill. Pain is beauty but this PFM Hero knows that a nose blood is too far. She stood up, probably somewhat weakly, and said something. The product has 10 times the safe level of formaldehyde for human use and her salon continued to use it, even after they knew it was unsafe.

According to The Oregonian thanks to Molly’s efforts, “Oregon’s Department of Justice launched its own investigation, and the state’s Occupational Safety & Health Division cautioned salon owners and stylists about potentially dangerous levels of formaldehyde in the product that bears a big, brassy name: Brazilian Blowout.”