Is it dangerous to use a straightening/keratin treatment on heat damaged hair?

[Ari-L]

I caused heat damage to my hair, I've lost a lot of it (it doesn't fall out now, I guess it was just pulled out by the iron) it isn't shiny anymore, and it's pretty broken and all different lengths. It's naturally curly but because of the constant straightening (with straightening iron) the curls are coming out. Some parts are curly some are straight so it looks horrible to wear natural. I don't want to continue using the iron but I also can't wear it curly. I was thinking that maybe permanently straightening it in a salon might help because I would no longer do anything to my hair and it may be able to grow out healthier. Would this be a bad idea? I do not want to lose any more hair. If anyone has any personal experience or hair knowledge that would really help! Also, if you could please be specific about the kind of straightening treatment I would appreciate it, thanks!!
I've heard certain treatments, maybe the brazilian treatment? makes hair fall out. I'm terrified of this, if anyone knows which one it is, that would also be a great help!

[Sur La Mer]

Very DANGEROUS and I've warned people since 2009.
There are many brands of hair straightening out there and they call them anyway they want to get your attention. Coco is another name brand. Some Japanese hair straightening processes can damage the hair and leave it flat and lifeless.
None is better than the other. But, now they found out, they contained formaldehyde CAUSING CANCER. Examples of what one suffering severe hair loss after Japanese Hair Straightening from YA HAIR:
I got my hair rebonded back in March and have lost more than a third of it since then. Everytime I run my hands through my hair, I lose 7-10 strands on average!
In the shower I lose clumps after shampooing and conditioning.
Bald spots are showing up in my hair.
I used to have beautiful thick hair, ho can I get it back?
Hair straighteners are known as hair relaxers, keratin treatments and hair-smoothing products. They work by breaking and reforming the chemical bonds in keratin, which is the main protein that gives shape to each hair.

> > > > BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT HAD BEEN BANNED by the Food & Drug Adm. Sept. 12, 2011.

Google: keratin treatment warnings. About 2,620,000 results (0.36 seconds) 6-24-12.
 1-23-12. and Google: Lawsuits Brazilian Blowouts. About 1,010,000 results (0.24 seconds) 
In Sept. the federal government put out a hazard alert about the hair-smoothing treatment, Brazilian Blowout etc. warning that it contains liquid formaldehyde that can turn into formaldehyde gas when heated during a treatment. Now, the company's bottles of solution carry a warning label to alert stylists to the potential formaldehyde risk and the need to perform the treatment in a well-ventilated area. The manufacturer said Monday (3-6-12) that it had agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit for about $4.5 million.

The FDA has previously received complaints that the products cause adverse reactions, including nervous system problems such as headaches, respiratory tract problems, nausea, chest pain, vomiting and rashes.
12-12-12

Hair-straightening products are allowed to contain small concentrations of formaldehyde (0.2 percent). But several hair-straightening solutions have been found to contain well above the allowable limit. For example, one popular hair-straightening product that advertised itself as “formaldehyde-free” actually contained 6.8 percent to 11.8 percent formaldehyde.
Another example: Fourteen women, including two from North Texas and one from Houston, are suing Unilever, the maker of a product they claim caused permanent damage to their hair.
"It transforms frizzy, unmanageable hair into hair that's sleeker and easier to style," said the commercial for the Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion 30-Day Smoothing Kit, which is no longer being sold
When she began looking online for more information about the product, she said she found some people who said it worked, but more who said it damaged their hair.
She discovered a Facebook page devoted to angry consumers, and there are multiple postings on YouTube. I've been warning people about relaxers since 2009 and people are giving me thumbs down!
BTW: A variety of hair-straightening products used in professional salons can expose both hairdressers and their customers to formaldehyde. The results show that three professional hair-smoothing treatments labeled "formaldehyde free" can produce the cancer-causing chemical at concentrations above the occupational exposure limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They tested four products: Coppola Keratin Complex Blonde Formula, Global Keratin Juvexin Optimized Functional Keratin, La Brasiliana Escluso Keratin Treatment with Collagen, and Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution. While ChemRisk tested four popular brands of hair straighteners, THERE ARE HUNDREDS on the market. Nov. 11-11

By contrast, beauty salon owners and stylists generally lack a scientific background and don't have a keen awareness of the danger of working with products that contain formaldehyde, experts say.

Watch: Good Hair a documentary by Chris Rock 2009 on BET or HBO. According to Tyra Banks, 80% of the black population are part of the billion dollar hair industry. Clips on youtube videos, also.

Chemicals can enter the body through the skin.