A new study published in the journal Environment & Health reveals that most popular hair extension samples in the U.S. contain hazardous chemicals. Scientists analyzed 43 products and detected over 900 'chemical footprints,' identifying 169 unique substances. Among them were flame retardants, phthalates, pesticides, styrene, tetrachloroethane, and organotins, some of which are clearly linked to an increased risk of cancer, hormonal disruption, and/or immune system issues. Specifically, 36 samples contained 17 hormone-disrupting chemicals that can lead to a higher risk of breast cancer. Nearly 10% of the samples contained toxic organotans, some at concentrations exceeding established EU health limits. The authors attribute the problem to the 'obscurantism' of the industry and the lack of regulation on chemical use in such products in the United States. Companies that manufacture hair extensions in the U.S. 'rarely reveal the chemicals used to achieve those properties, which prevents consumers from knowing the health effects of prolonged use,' states one of the study's authors, Elissia Franklin, a researcher at the Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts.
The scientists warn that the chemical cocktail in hair extensions disproportionately affects Black women: over 70% of them in the U.S. report using them, compared to less than 10% of women from other racial and ethnic groups. 'Our findings make it clear that stricter oversight is needed to protect consumers and push companies to invest in manufacturing safer products,' Franklin concludes. Hair extensions, which are often treated with chemicals to make them flame-retardant, waterproof, or antimicrobial, are placed directly on the scalp. When heated and styled, they can release these chemicals into the air, which may be inhaled. The researchers used an 'untargeted analysis' technique to examine a wide range of chemicals, including compounds not typically screened for in such cosmetic products.
