Braids, they offer easy magnificence, versatility and the final word comfort. No every day styling, no extra warmth, no pointless breakage—simply weeks of flawless, low-maintenance slay. However whereas braids have been a staple in Black tradition for hundreds of years, rocking them may include extra than simply scalp rigidity and an occasional tight set up. A brand new examine means that the artificial hair we use for braiding could possibly be laced with dangerous chemical substances, elevating considerations about its long-term well being impression.
The Actuality Behind Artificial Braiding Hair
Braids are beloved for his or her accessibility. Whether or not you’re splurging on an intricate waist-length set or grabbing a couple of packs of artificial hair out of your native magnificence provide, they’re seen as a protecting type that retains haircare easy. However what if that very safety is placing Black customers in danger?
Chrystal Thomas, a medical scholar at Albert Einstein School of Medication and the Metropolis College of New York, discovered herself asking that very same query after a nightmare braiding expertise. Thomas had artificial hair put in utilizing what she remembers as the favored Kanekalon model. Nearly instantly, she seen one thing was off.
“I couldn’t sleep effectively, my throat felt irritated, and I had hassle specializing in any kind of labor due to the odor,” she recalled. Even after a number of washes, the scent lingered. Feeling depressing, she eliminated her braids after only a week and a half—far before the everyday four-to-six-week put on time.
Decided to resolve it, Thomas used her public well being coursework to dig deeper. She revealed a commentary article highlighting the presence of carcinogenic supplies in hair merchandise particularly marketed to Black girls. Seems, her expertise wasn’t only a one-off inconvenience—it could possibly be a part of a a lot bigger, extra harmful problem.
The Science Speaks: Shopper Stories’ Eye-Opening Findings
Shopper Stories (CR) took a deep dive into the potential dangers of artificial braiding hair, testing 10 widespread manufacturers for dangerous substances. The outcomes? Alarming.
Carcinogens, or chemical substances linked to most cancers, had been present in 100% of the examined hair samples.
Lead, a poisonous heavy metallic, was detected in 9 out of ten merchandise.
Unstable natural compounds (VOCs), together with acetone, had been current in all samples.
Dr. James E. Rogers, CR’s director of product and meals security analysis and testing, led the investigation with a private stake within the problem. “My two daughters put on braids usually, and I’ve helped with buying the hair and the braid takedown many occasions through the years,” he shared. The CR workforce centered on three key questions: Have been dangerous chemical substances current? How a lot of them had been detected? And what potential dangers do they pose to customers?
A Billion-Greenback Trade with Few Security Laws
The Black hair trade is booming. In 2023, the U.S. marketplace for hair wigs and extensions was valued at $2.79 billion, with projections reaching $6.34 billion by 2029. Black customers are on the coronary heart of this progress, but laws across the security of artificial braiding hair stay scarce.
“What makes artificial braiding hair distinctive is the prolonged publicity time,” Thomas defined. “In contrast to a wig that you simply may take away on the finish of the day, artificial braids are worn for weeks at a time. Meaning customers are always in touch with these chemical substances.”
What’s Subsequent? Defending Our Hair and Well being
So, what are you able to do if braids are part of your go-to hair routine? Listed below are a couple of steps to attenuate potential dangers:
Rinse Earlier than You Set up: Soaking artificial hair in a vinegar and water combine earlier than braiding might help take away some chemical residues.
Go for Human Hair Alternate options: Whereas pricier, human hair extensions eradicate the chance of artificial chemical publicity.
Assist Transparency: Push for manufacturers to reveal components and advocate for higher trade laws.
Pay Consideration to Your Physique: When you expertise irritation, complications or respiratory points after getting braids, take them down instantly.
This Is Not a Scare Tactic—It’s a Courtesy
Pay attention, we all know braids aren’t going wherever, and neither is our love for them. Like perms, everybody goes to do what they need with their hair, and we respect that. EBONY is just right here to offer the details so you can also make knowledgeable choices about what’s going in your scalp. The very last thing we would like is to police how Black of us select to put on their hair. However what we do need is for our neighborhood to have entry to secure, high-quality merchandise that don’t come at the price of our well being.
As we proceed to have a good time and reclaim our magnificence, we additionally must demand higher from the manufacturers making the most of us. Our crowns deserve nothing lower than the most secure, highest-quality choices on the market. Interval.
![Zendaya Joins ‘Shrek 5’ Cast In New Teaser Trailer [Video]](https://bossip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2025/02/17406760127383.jpg "Zendaya Joins ‘Shrek 5’ Cast In New Teaser Trailer [Video]")
