Popular Hair Care Products For Black Women Contain Harmful Chemicals And Are Less Regulated
Written by Andre on May 16, 2018
#Frontliners we have to talk about this article I came across with attorney Al Parisi because it is scary.
A recent study published in Environmental Research found that there are 66 toxic chemicals in 18 commonly used hair care products for black women in the U.S, that include hair relaxers, anti-frizz products, and root stimulators.
The toxic chemicals found in the hair products can cause cancer, asthma, pre-term birth, early puberty, and obesity. The chemicals can be absorbed by the body via the skin or by inhaling.
The scariest part is the fact that the companies are not even listing some of the toxic ingredients on the label of the products or they use vague terms like “fragrances” which are misleading.
Because of this, black women are more likely to face exposure to toxic chemicals and have a higher concentration of them in their bodies than white or hispanic women.
According to a 2016 study the chemicals can cause hormonal imbalances and depending on the age of the individual using them lead to low fertility, early puberty, and even heart problems.
The goal of this study is to get better testing and labeling of these hair products to ensure all ingredients are listed before they are placed on shelves so consumers are aware of what they are using.
Some of the most frequent toxic chemicals found in the hair products are cyclosiloxanes, parabens, and the fragrance marker diethyl phthalate (DEP) at the highest levels, and DEP.
The hair relaxers for children is even scarier because they contained five chemicals regulated by California’s Proposition 65 or prohibited by EU cosmetics regulation. These chemicals cause asthma which can explain the higher rate of it in black women and children.
Did you know that African-American women spend more money on fragrances, feminine hygiene, and deodorizing products than other US women?
I could not find which “commonly used hair products” were tested in this study as they were not listed however, I have included the link to thew article so you can read and get the ingredients from so you can compare them with the labels on the products you have at home.
Here is the link ScienceDirect.com
Knowledge is power and health is wealth.
