How safe are braids and synthetic hair extensions? Consumer investigations in the United States have raised concerns, claiming to have detected cancer-causing agents in all products tested.

Consumer Reports in the United States has conducted a study revealing concerns about the safety of some synthetic hair products commonly used in braiding. The organization tested 10 popular brands and found that these products contained potentially harmful substances, including heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. Lead was found in nine out of the 10 products at concerning levels, and acetone was present above safe limits. The nonprofit highlighted the different ways these chemicals could enter the body — through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation. Benzene, a chemical linked to cancer, was also found in the hair products.

This investigation was partly inspired by a student from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine who experienced adverse reactions shortly after using synthetic hair. Her symptoms prompted further research on the potential health risks associated with such products. The findings are significant as Black women and people of African descent are the primary consumers of synthetic hair, wigs, and extensions in the U.S. The study underscores the need for more research into how these products might contribute to health disparities among Black women, who already face higher rates of hormone-related illnesses and cancers.

In response to these findings, some Black women in America are beginning to explore plant-based alternatives for hair products. These alternatives start with natural materials like sugarcane or corn, in contrast to synthetic hair's petrochemical origins. This shift reflects a growing awareness and concern over the potential long-term health impacts of synthetic hair products. However, the convenience and practicality of synthetic hair continue to make it a preferred choice for many, despite the potential risks indicated by this research.



Is synthetic hair a health risk for Black women in the U.S.?

Imagine having natural hair that is constantly judged. As a Black woman myself, I know a thing or two about the struggles that Black women face. Maintaining an Afro is a difficult task, and so many women resort to going for braids. But synthetic hair is generally woven into braids to make them longer, fuller, and more stable. And that, as it turns out, could pose a problem. Consumer Reports is a U.S.-based nonprofit that works to inform consumers about the quality and authenticity of goods and services sold in the country, and it recently uncovered a potential danger to Black women in America. The organization tested 10 popular brands of synthetic hair products and found they contained heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. We found a number of the samples had cadmium, but at low levels. But nine out of the 10 products had lead, and the lead was at a concentration that concerned us. And then we found out of the 65 volatile organic compounds, we found 18. The only volatile organic compound that we found that was above a concerning level was acetone. And you may be familiar with acetone. If you get your nails done, your toes done, or you have artificial nails that use acetone to remove it, it's a solvent. Other than lead and acetone, Consumer Reports also found benzene, an aggressive chemical that is regulated in the United States because it's been closely linked to cancer. But how exactly do these chemicals enter the body? One is oral. So between you're handling it, it's brittle, it's on your hands, you touch your mouth, you eat your meals, et cetera. That's one. Another one is called dermal or transdermal, where the hair is laying on the skin, and heat, humidity, et cetera, can cause, for instance, lead to migrate from that product into your skin. And then there's inhalation. The testing was built on a commentary by Crystal Thomas, a student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She went to a stylist to have her braids done using a popular brand of synthetic hair. Then things grew very unpleasant. I had trouble breathing, I realized my throat was tightening up, and it got so bad that I would get up in the middle of the night and wash my hair multiple times. Experiencing constant discomfort, she removed the braids and set out to research possible health issues tied to braiding hair as part of her public health coursework. I spent time working on this project, and after learning what ingredients are in braids, I thought, okay, I don't want to just keep this as coursework, I want to take this to the next level and publish it in a commentary to have more research into this area, because I want a conversation about this now. Black women and people of African descent are the largest group of consumers when it comes to synthetic hair, wigs, and extension. The study has had an impact across the country. Well, with all this stuff coming out, I feel like I need to embrace my natural hair more so that I could just stray away from all of this chemical stuff. Do you think that this, at one point in time, will impact black women, even in the workplace, or black women who have no time to do their hair? I think it already is. It's already happening. It's why the study probably was done in the first place, because somebody noticed that something was wrong. We definitely need to do more research. I feel like we're a group that's been overlooked or maybe not as researched or studied because we're not as valued in the same way in some spaces, and so I don't know that we know all there is to know, but at the same time, you know, I have the synthetic hair, and it's easier for me to maintain my hair this way, so I don't know that I'm gonna stop tomorrow. I believe that the study that Consumer Reports conducted is the start of a really important conversation about exposure disparities, especially as it relates to black women, which is higher levels of hormone-related illnesses or health-related issues like fibroids or more severe cases of breast cancer. There is no safe level of exposure for something like benzene, which is a known carcinogen, and it is associated with things like leukemia. In the wake of the study, many black women in America are now embracing plant-based alternatives. So for our material, the very first step in the process is a plant, right? It could be sugarcane, cassava, sugar beets, corn, right? That is the very first step of the process. You harvest that. With the synthetic hair that we have been using for decades on the market, the very first step is drilling a hole into the ground to extract oil. For many black women, braids made from synthetic hair have been a popular choice. However, the new research raises doubts about whether they will continue using it in the future.

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