A model was temporarily blinded after using a hair product popular among women with braided hairstyles.

The incident occurred in the coastal city of Bertioga, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, during a holiday trip earlier this month (May).

Ivana Souza, 29, suffered a severe reaction after applying a styling pomade to her hair.

She said her eyes began to burn intensely within minutes as the product mixed with her sweat and dripped down her face, and she lost her vision shortly afterwards.

Doctors later diagnosed her with chemical burns on both corneas.

She had used the pomade to help fix a style of braided hair often worn by women of African descent.

The exact brand and ingredients of the product have not been confirmed, but the case is now part of a wider investigation by Anvisa, Brazil's national health surveillance agency.

Ivana said in a video posted online. "I had just arrived at the beach and wanted to fix my hair.

"As soon as the product got on my scalp, my head started burning, and then my eyes."

She said she rinsed her eyes with water but the pain worsened.

She added: "When I got to the hospital, I couldn’t see anything."

Doctors initially feared the damage could be permanent, but she has since partially recovered her vision.

Ivana urged others to check the safety of cosmetics before applying them, especially close to the eyes.

She added: "It felt like I had shards of glass in both of my eyes. I was completely blind for seven days. Seven. Days.

"But, thank God, I regained my sight, so here’s my warning to anyone who uses pomade!!"

Anvisa has since suspended several styling pomade brands and warned the public to avoid them while investigations continue.