For well over a decade, scientists have studied the possible health effects of chemical hair relaxers, and extensive research has linked them to several serious illnesses, including ovarian, uterine, breast, and endometrial cancer. However, it wasn’t until the release of research findings in October 2022…
Millions of Americans who use chemical hair straightener products may have been putting their health at risk for years. In October 2023, the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals as ingredients in chemical hair straighteners and hair relaxing products for sale in…
In October 2023, it was revealed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) planned to propose a ban on chemical hair relaxers containing formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. The proposal came just one year after yet another study found an association between ingredients in hair…
Another major study on the possible carcinogenic effects of chemical hair straighteners has linked their regular use to increased uterine cancer rates, particularly in Black women. Researchers who conducted the Boston University Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS) found that postmenopausal women who used hair-relaxing products…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may propose a ban on hair-straightening products connected with severe and potentially life-altering health conditions. The FDA administers the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), which regulates personal care products like chemical hair straighteners, hair smoothing…
Millions of Americans regularly use hair straightening products, which manufacturers have touted as safe. Last year, research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that women who regularly use hair relaxers were more likely to develop uterine cancer. A new study from Boston…
Hair straighteners, like all personal care products, may be brought to the market without approval for safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval. However, there are…
Hair straightening chemicals are in demand in the U.S., especially among Black women — this demographic makes up the majority of consumers. While the popularity of hair relaxers has declined recently, the market size is still expected to reach $854 million by 2028. These relaxers…
For the millions of Americans who have used chemical hair straighteners and relaxers, the release of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) study about the impact of these products on their health was damaging. For years women have applied chemicals to their hair to relax…
Countless women across the country regularly use chemical hair straightening products, especially Black women trying to change the appearance of their natural hair. But they may be unknowingly jeopardizing their health. A study released in October by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that…