BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“It’s appalling that toxic chemicals are in these products with so little scrutiny from those who are supposed to protect people, like the FDA. Consumers should never have to risk their health when choosing personal care products, and yet, harmful ingredients in products marketed to Black women continue to go unaddressed. This inaction has failed Black women for too long, and policymakers should take the steps necessary to address these gaps and hold companies accountable that put consumers at risk.”
Oriene Shin, Manager of Safety Advocacy for Consumer Reports
This issue is deeply personal to me, because it directly impacts our community—especially our African Caribbean women, who have long embraced braiding as a cultural expression, a protective style, and “Shoot, I don’t want to deal with my hair, I am going on vacation” experience.
Despite the widespread popularity of synthetic braiding hair, what do we really know about them, besides the fact that there are so many options. Sensationnel, Shake-N-Go, Magic Fingers, Sensationnel (X-Pression 3X, Pre-Stretched Braid, 58″), these are all names that some of my readers will be familiar with. I have some bad news about them, but we will get there in a minute.
“Our research confirmed the presence of toxic chemicals in every sample we tested.”
As an African-Caribbean woman who has worn extensions most of my life, it has led me to question things about my health, and the health of other women in the African Caribbean community.
More and more reports are emerging, warning that these products may contain toxic chemicals that we unknowingly wear for weeks at a time—chemicals that could be harming not just you, but also your talented braiders who install them. The question is, is Canada taking this seriously? If they aren’t, then as women, we must. This is not just about beauty; it’s about: health, safety, and demanding the transparency, and accountability, we deserve. Let’s dig deeper, because our well-being is non-negotiable. I will tell you a little something going on across the border.
First of all, I want to give a special thanks to: Consumer Reports, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Black Beauty Club, Black Future Lab, Black Mom Tribe, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Chums, Inc – DC Chapter , Conscious Black Beauty Movement, Mocha Moms- Brooklyn Chapter, My Style Matters, Natural Hairstyle & Braid Coalition, Oh My Heavenly Hair, and Simplee Beautiful for pushing this topic further.
This is a consortium of concerned community members expressing a need for: more information, transparency, and testing around Black hair care products. Synthetic braiding hair being identified as a top concern.
“The Black Mom Tribe is honored to continue our work and partnership with Consumer Reports, especially on a topic so important as our hair and ensuring that Black women are aware of the health risks related to using certain hair products,” said Maya Owens, Founder of The Black Mom Tribe, an organization that creates a space to encourage, educate, and uplift black millennial moms. “Having a full understanding of the chemicals in synthetic hair that we’re using, allows us to make informed decisions that will directly impact our health. The Black Mom Tribe is committed to spreading the word about the harmful risks related to something so simple as getting our hair braided.”
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace. They will partner with national and state advocates to fight for safer personal care and hair products for Black consumers. While they work to build momentum for federal policy changes, CR is supporting state-level efforts like the New York Beauty Justice Act (S.2057/A.2054), which would ban some of the most toxic substances found in personal care and cosmetic products sold in the state of New York. The list of banned toxic chemicals includes lead and benzene, which CR found in its tests of synthetic braiding hair.
They tested synthetic braiding hair in response to input from the Black-led community partners I mentioned above. Consumer Reports (CR) tested two samples each of 10 popular synthetic hair brands (yep, the ones I mentioned earlier. Told you I would be coming back to those products) and found carcinogens in all of the synthetic braiding hair samples. The products were tested for heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can pose health risks such as cancer and hormonal disruption. Users of synthetic braiding hair products have reported negative skin reactions.
James Rogers, PhD, Director and Head of Product Safety Testing for Consumer Reports said: “Synthetic braiding hair is widely used by Black women and children across the U.S., often worn for weeks at a time. As a father of two Black daughters, I know firsthand that getting braids is part of the culture, and alternatives to synthetic hair aren’t always accessible, or affordable.”
“Consumer Reports heard from Black consumers about concerns over possible hazardous chemicals in synthetic braiding hair, which led to our investigation. Our research confirmed the presence of toxic chemicals in every sample we tested, raising urgent questions about the health risks faced by millions of Black consumers.”Consumer Reports researchers identified these top findings:
- Carcinogens, or cancer-causing chemicals, were detected in 100% of the samples we tested. Benzene, a known carcinogen that can cause a kind of blood cancer – acute myeloid leukemia – was detected in three products. All the samples also contained a probable carcinogen, methylene chloride.
- CR tested for 65 VOCs, and the results revealed that VOCs were detected in all products. VOCs were emitted when the braiding hair was heated to boiling (212°F) in the lab, similar to dipping the braiding hair in boiling water to seal the ends of the hair. The higher the total VOCs in a product and the longer the exposure, the greater the likelihood of negative health impacts —including nausea, dizziness, nerve, and reproductive issues in more extreme cases.
- Lead was detected in nine of 10 products. With prolonged exposure, lead can cause significant health issues. This includes damage to the brain and nervous system and has been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive issues, kidney damage, and hypertension. No amount of lead is safe, and it is particularly harmful to children.
- Exposure to heavy metals and VOCs has been linked to serious health issues. Research has shown that toxic chemicals in beauty products contribute to hormone disruption, respiratory problems, reproductive harm, and increased cancer risks.
While their findings indicate that many synthetic braiding hair products contain toxic chemicals, they also show that it is possible to create safer products. Some products had lower concentrations of VOCs, and at least one tested negative for heavy metals, including lead. This demonstrates that healthier products are possible, including products made without lead and with fewer VOCs.
I am sure you are asking, now what? You might have synthetic hair on as we speak. What do you do now?
It is recommended that before buying and using a new pack of synthetic braiding hair, you should:
- Check for recalls. MedWatch is a good starting point (while our recent search didn’t reveal any recalls, they would be posted here). Consumers should also consult the manufacturers’ websites to see if there is additional information on the product.
- Read product labels carefully. There could be important information on ingredients that could cause allergic, or other adverse reactions.
- Report adverse effects. If there are any adverse reactions when using braiding hair, consumers should report the issue(s) to their healthcare provider, and to the FDA (via MedWatch).
We don’t know what we don’t know, but when we know better, we must do better! Take care of yourself ladies!
REFERENCES:
https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/what-we-do/
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