Beauty Industry Puts Profits Ahead of Consumer Health

A new study shows a link between frequent use of chemical hair straighteners or relaxers and an increased risk of developing cancer.  

In 2021 alone, makers of these products raked in upwards of $700 million in sales.

These companies, including L’Oréal, ORS, Revlon, Strength of Nature Global, Softsheen-Carson, and many others, knew their products contained toxic chemicals and could cause cancer. Yet, they failed to warn women of these risks.

Study Links Hair Relaxers/Straighteners and Doubled Risk of Uterine Cancer

In October 2022, a groundbreaking study found that women who used hair relaxers were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer.

The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, estimated that 4% of women who used hair relaxers at least 4 times per year would be diagnosed with uterine cancer by the time they were 70 years old, compared to just 1.6% of women who did not use these products.

The researchers theorized that chemical hair straightening and relaxer products could be riskier than other products because they contain carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting chemicals such as formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates that could be absorbed into the body.

These hair straightening and relaxer products commonly cause burns and abrasions to the scalp, which could provide a pathway through broken skin for the chemicals to be absorbed into the body.

The conclusions of the study were based on data from nearly 34,000 women in the U.S. who said they used hair treatments. The study also looked at other hair products, like dyes and perms, but only hair relaxers and chemical straighteners were associated with uterine cancer.

What is the Problem?

Unfortunately, many of these “gentle” hair relaxers also contained hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde or phthalates like DEHP.

Some of the toxic chemicals in hair relaxers are known to cause cancer or mimic hormones like estrogen, which could explain why they are linked to reproductive side effects like endometriosis, breast cancer, or pre-term birth.

These toxic chemicals are known as synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which may contribute to uterine cancer risk because of their ability to alter hormones. These chemicals have been associated particularly with hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences warns that exposure to even small amounts “can alter the body’s sensitive systems and lead to health problems.”

Despite these life-threatening risks, few women who use hair relaxers (or their hair stylists) really know what chemicals they are putting in their hair.

Does the FDA regulate chemical hair relaxers/straightener?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cosmetics, including hair relaxers, based on the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act for products marketed for retail.

Companies and individuals, manufacturing or marketing hair relaxers, are responsible for the safety and labeling of their products and ingredients.

The law requires companies to list their products’ ingredients, however, the law allows exceptions to protect “trade secrets.”

According to the National Women’s Health Network, this exception can allow harmful and toxic ingredients to remain hidden from consumers.