The art of hair braiding holds deep significance in Black community culture, representing a tradition that has been passed down through generations.
In the Philadelphia area, a plethora of hair-braiding salons cater to this cherished practice.
However, a recent investigation by Consumer Reports has cast a shadow over the safety of the products used in these styles, revealing alarming findings about synthetic braiding hair.
The investigation tested samples from ten widely-used synthetic braiding hair products and detected known carcinogens.
Lead was found in nine of the products, alongside a range of other harmful chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Christine Martey-Ochola, a Philadelphia scientist and co-founder of the organic hair care brand Nuele, was not surprised by these results.
She stated, “It’s not peculiar to me that we have products that are made with synthetic fibers that are plastic polymers, made with ingredients and solvents that could be problematic.”
Reflecting on the findings, Martey-Ochola emphasized the necessity for awareness surrounding the safety of hair care ingredients.
“This knowledge has been accessible to the public,” she mentioned, “but not in the manner that it was composed in the Consumer Report.”
Her advocacy for transparency in hair care products stems from her own experiences dealing with scalp irritation that she initially attributed to tight hairstyles.
“I always thought that I just didn’t like braids because they made me feel miserable,” she said, “Not realizing that they made me feel miserable because they had these toxic ingredients in them.”
While scalp tightness can contribute to inflammation, Martey-Ochola highlights that chronic exposure to chemical components poses serious health risks.
Toxins from these products can be absorbed through hand-to-mouth contact or inhaled during the styling process.
Most synthetic braiding hair is crafted from plastic fibers and treated with various harmful chemical coatings.
When stylists dip braids in hot water to seal the ends, this process can release VOCs into the atmosphere.
These VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and are associated with severe health issues, including cancer and neurological damage.
“This raises significant concerns for the braiders who are continually exposed to these harmful compounds,
image source from：https://whyy.org/articles/harmful-chemicals-synthetic-braids-philadelphia-report/
