“When safety depends on awareness instead of standards,

the burden quietly shifts onto the people most at risk.”

I received this wonderful article written by Shalwah Evans with Consumer Reports in my inbox. PLEASE read it for yourself when you have time. In the meantime, I pulled out the highlights because there is a petition.

*Remember that this is not just about synthetic hair. It also covers human hair and products to care for natural human hair.

We Found Heavy Metals and VOCs in CR’s Follow-Up Braiding Hair Investigation

New tests show that human hair contains the highest amounts of lead, and some companies can reach lower levels. Brands like Gyal and Rebundle were tested in this round. by By Shalwah Evans

🔍 The Big Picture

Consumer Reports tested 30 braiding hair products (synthetic, human hair, plant-based).
This is a follow-up investigation—and the results are still concerning.

⚠️ 1. Heavy metals were found in almost everything

Lead showed up in 29 out of 30 products.
Human hair products had the highest lead levels—worse than synthetic in many cases.
Other heavy metals (like cadmium) were also part of testing concerns.

👉 Translation:
This isn’t just a “synthetic hair problem.” Even “natural” options are not automatically safer.

💨 2. 100% of products contained VOCs (chemical fumes)

Every single product released volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
These included:
- Acetone (respiratory irritant)
- Low levels of carcinogens (linked to cancer)

👉 Why this matters:

Heat styling (hot water dipping, sealing ends) can increase exposure
You may inhale these chemicals, not just touch them

🔥 3. Exposure builds over time

Braids are often worn for weeks or months, meaning:
- Long-term skin contact
- Repeated exposure to chemicals

👉 This is not a one-time exposure situation.
It’s constant, low-level exposure over time.

🧪 4. “Safer” brands still had issues

Even products marketed as:
- “clean”
- “non-toxic”
- “high quality”
  …still contained contaminants in many cases.

👉 Marketing ≠ safety.

🌱 5. BUT safer options DO exist

At least one product had no detectable heavy metals:
- Dosso Beauty Hypoallergenic Kanekalon Fiber

👉 This is important:

It proves cleaner production is possible
The issue is industry standards—not inevitability

⚖️ 6. The real problem: lack of regulation

The industry is under-regulated
No strong requirements for:
- ingredient transparency
- safety testing

👉 Translation:
Companies are largely left to police themselves

🧠 7. What experts are saying (practical advice)

From reporting tied to the study:

You don’t have to stop wearing braids
But you can reduce risk:
- Avoid burning hair ends when possible
- Be cautious with hot water sealing
- Pay attention to irritation (itching, burning)

🧭 Bottom Line

Almost all braiding hair tested contained toxic substances
Exposure is real and cumulative
Safer alternatives exist—but are not the norm yet
The issue is systemic, not individual choice

💬 The Real Takeaway

This is not about blaming women or hairstyles
It’s about product safety being neglected in plain sight

The uncomfortable truth:

Products used heavily by Black women and girls are not being protected or regulated at the level they should be.

*Remember that this is not just about synthetic hair. It also covers human hair and products to care for natural human hair.