Consumer Reports’ latest investigation into synthetic braiding hair—a product widely used by millions of Black women and girls in the U.S.— has found dangerous chemicals in every product we tested, including carcinogens and lead.

 

Dear Carl: Consumer Reports’ latest investigation into synthetic braiding hair—a product widely used by millions of Black women and girls in the U.S.— has found dangerous chemicals in every product we tested, including carcinogens and lead. Of the 10 popular synthetic braiding hair products tested, all contained multiple carcinogens, and three contained benzene, a known carcinogen that can cause acute myeloid leukemia. Compounding the dangers of toxic chemicals in synthetic braiding hair is the length of time people are exposed to these chemicals, because braids are typically worn for up to six weeks at a time—and sometimes longer. Yet our investigation found there is little to no oversight of the safety of these products. The Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for cosmetics and other personal care products, did not claim responsibility for the safety of synthetic braiding hair, a multi-billion dollar industry. Without any rules in place, companies are left to police themselves, and consumers are exposed to potential health harms. Companies aren’t even required to list what’s in these products. Join us in demanding that the FDA step up and protect consumers who are exposed to these serious health risks. Sign our petition to the FDA to limit dangerous chemicals in synthetic braiding hair and require that companies disclose all ingredients. Sign the Petition Consumer Reports tested synthetic braiding hair after meeting with leaders of Black-led community groups, who were concerned about the safety of a product that is so widely used and deeply rooted in Black culture. “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,” says Oriene Shin, manager of safety advocacy for Consumer Reports. “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.” You can join us this evening for a community forum to hear from the groups who requested this testing and the scientists who conducted the test. While our tests found toxic chemicals in many of the most popular synthetic braiding hair products, they also showed that it’s possible for manufacturers to create safer products. Some synthetic hair had lower concentrations of volatile organic compounds—toxic chemical gases that are given off when the hair is heated, which also puts those braiding hair at risk—and at least one product tested negative for heavy metals. But without strong rules or even clear disclosure of ingredients, there’s little incentive for manufacturers to get these risky chemicals out of their products. Sign our petition demanding that the FDA step up and set strong safety standards for all synthetic braiding hair products. Sign the Petition Thanks for taking action, and please consider sharing this message with parents and community members who will join us in calling for safer foods. We'll be back in touch about the bill’s progress and next steps! Thanks again,  Meg Bohne Consumer Reports Consumer Reports action alerts. © 2022 Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY, 10703 Contact Consumer Reports