Consumer Reports published a new study finding “harmful chemicals” in multiple synthetic hair brands. After Chrystal Thomas experience scalp irritation from her braids, Consumer Reports decided to conduct a study regarding the possibility of chemicals in braiding hair and what the risks of synthetic braiding hair might be.
Thomas created her article, offering commentary on the risks of synthetic braiding hair, which were under-researched and unregulated. Consumer Reports tested 10 synthetic braiding hair products for heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to see if they had any hazardous results.
In the Consumer Reports article, they found that all brands were positive for carcinogens and other volatile organic compounds. James E. Rogers, PhD, director of head of product safety testing is the one who finalized these results. As a braiding hair test leader, he listed the carcinogen benzene as positive for many of the synthetic hair brands. Other substances found were cadmium and lead.
Consumer Reports broke down its full study into a TikTok video, which went viral. Black women were going into a full-blown panic while sharing their experience with braiding products.
@consumerreports Could “protective hairstyles” like synthetic braids do more harm than good? Our latest investigation revealed surprising findings in some hair available today. Learn more through the link in our bio. #hairtok #braidinghair #blackhairtiktok #protectivestyles ♬ original sound – Consumer Reports
However, not everyone agrees with the results of this study. Scisaac, a Doctoral Paediatric Haematological Cancer Researcher and science content creator from the UK, took issue with the study, citing a major flaw. He created his own TikTok video combating the study. Scisaac believes that the claims are misleading as you would have to eat or burn the synthetic hair to cause harm.
@scisaac1 @Consumer Reports I had to work from home for this #hairtok #braidinghair #blackhairtiktok #protectivestyles #scisaac1 #fyp ♬ original sound – Scisaac 👨🏿🔬| PhD & Life
“The standard of the test conducted by Consumer Reports and their subsequent findings were not sufficient to make the claims that they did. It appears that they conducted only one experiment, when the standard is a triplicate data set and this speaks to a careless and haphazard approach towards the possible Black health implications of this study. Hopefully, I can continue to debunk and call-out scientifically flawed research, aimed at hurting and confusing the Black community,” Scisaac expressed.
Scisaac isn’t the only one calling out the Consumer Reports study, as Javon Ford Beauty, a cosmetic chemist, shares the same view. “You’re much more likely to ingest lead via lipstick than you are via hair. But, you might ask ‘Why is there lead allowed at all?’ It’s because lead is kind of impossible to get rid of. It’s elemental. It’s in the ground. These are very conservative limits to account for the fact that lead is just ubiquitous,” Javon Ford Beauty explains.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports ♬ original sound – Javon Ford Beauty
The Consumers Reports never makes a direct accusation that the products cause cancer, only that the chemicals were found in that samples they collected. The good part of the CR study is that they did their part to start a conversation about what people should do with the information they found. To find a solution to these toxic chemicals in hair products, the conversation has to start somewhere. We must be aware of the products we decide to invest in and decide what is best for our hair.
