Black women, girls at risk due to lack of safety rules
Sign The Petition
Consumer Reports’ testing of synthetic braiding hair widely used by Black consumers—especially Black women and girls—uncovered concerning findings: All of the 10 popular products we tested contained known carcinogens, and nine out of 10 contained lead, a toxic heavy metal. Millions of Black women use these braids every year, putting them at increased risk of cancer, reproductive harm, hormone disruption, and respiratory problems.
Despite their widespread use, there’s very little oversight of this product. The Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for cosmetics and other personal care products, did not claim responsibility for the safety of synthetic hair braids. Without any rules in place, companies are left to police themselves, and consumers likely have no idea about the potential health harms they’re being exposed to.
It’s time for the FDA to limit dangerous chemicals in these products—especially known carcinogens—and require companies to disclose all ingredients. Sign the petition now and demand strict standards for safer braiding hair.
PETITION TO FDA
We call on the FDA to take swift action to ensure the safety of synthetic braiding hair products, which are widely used by Black consumers, especially Black women and girls. Recent tests of synthetic braiding hair by Consumer Reports found carcinogens in all products tested, and lead in nine out of 10 products. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to serious health issues that disproportionately affect Black women, including cancer, reproductive harm, hormone disruption, and respiratory problems. The FDA should investigate synthetic braiding hair and set strict standards for these products by limiting dangerous chemicals—especially known carcinogens, such as benzene—and heavy metals, including lead. The FDA also should require companies to disclose full lists of ingredients, so consumers know about potential hazards in these products. It’s time for the FDA to assert its jurisdiction over synthetic braiding hair as a cosmetic product, and hold companies accountable for getting dangerous chemicals out of these widely used products.