You've heard the rumors and seen the "special reports": Formaldehyde in Brazilian Blow Outs, Toxic Chemicals in Keratin Hair Treatments, Are You Willing to Die for Straight Hair? But how much truth is there to these tales? That's what we wanted to find out.

That said, it wasn't easy. Most of the manufacturers of these Brazilian and Keratin hair straightening products don't exactly advertise their ingredients (a bit sketchy, no?). But we managed to track them down (even sneaking into a salon at one point, I kid you not) and talked to the experts to find the real truth about these products.

So how dangerous are they? Click here for the full story or get some of the highlights below.

What exactly is a Keratin Hair Treatment? Get the definition (in terms us non-chemists can actually understand) here.

What are these ladies sitting through to get straight hair? Read a step-by-step of the whole ordeal here.

Are these treatments safe? Or should we be reaching for our haz-mat suits? Find out once and for all (from an unbiased chemist, not the manufacturer's goon) here.

Or if you could care less about the controversy and just want to know which process will get your hair the softest and straightest, click here.

So what do you think, will you try a Keratin hair treatment? Or have the "special reports" gotten to you? Share here!

• The ingredients to their Brazilian Blowouts aren't the only things hairdressers are hiding. See what else they're not sharing here.

• Wondering what the world is thinking when they see your newly straightened 'do? Find out what your hair is saying about you here.

• Or if you'd rather get softer hair minus the formaldehyde, check out these tips.