When pursuit of pretty hair harms health

Are you willing to risk your health just to have straight hair? In 2022 a study was released that links the use of specific hair straightening chemicals to an increased risk of uterine cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since evaluated the study’s claims, along with others, and taken steps to ban the sale of these chemicals in the U.S.

I agree that a ban should be put in place for the use of these chemicals, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people have no knowledge of the fact that these chemicals are so harmful to the body and that so many products have these chemicals in them.

Although I think that it's a great idea to ban the use of these harmful chemicals in these products, others disagree with the ban being introduced.

Author Kenya Hunter brings to light the feelings regarding these products held by hair stylists that currently use or have used them on clients and on themselves. In her article for The Associated Press titled, "The FDA is Thinking About a Ban on Hair-Straightening Chemicals. Stylists Say Black Women Have Moved On,” she quotes one of the stylists.

“Jasmine Garcia, who owns Jasmine Nicole Xclusives Hair Salon in Atlanta, estimated that less than 5 percent of her clients – who are Black women – want relaxers,” Hunter writes. “She told The Associated Press that a client texted her after learning about the potential ban, saying: ‘Of all the things the FDA needs to look into, why relaxers right now?’" Hunter states that stylists have noted a decline in the usage of products and believe that getting rid of these chemicals now wouldn’t make much difference than if they left them on the shelves.

The stylists claim that these chemicals have fallen out of favor recently, a point that rests on the assumption that these chemicals won’t ever come back into prevalent use. Additionally, just because they are not used as much in their chairs doesn’t mean they aren’t used regularly in other salons. They are also available to the general population to use in their own homes instead of going to a salon to get the service done, meaning that multiple women could be using these all over the world just because it's easy and they can pick it up in a drug store.

Even if these products aren’t favored as much anymore, as these stylists claim, it doesn’t take away from the fact that these products are harming women’s health in a potentially life-threatening way. I do believe that there probably are more pressing matters to be looked into but taking these chemicals out of these products would be very beneficial to women still using them as it helps to protect our health.

In a consumer update provided by the FDA in 2021 they state, “Individuals who have experienced formaldehyde exposure have described reactions such as eye problems or irritation, nervous system problems (for example, headaches and dizziness), respiratory tract problems (sore or scratchy throat, cough, wheezing), nausea, chest pain, vomiting, and rashes.” This further pushes the point that women using these products are putting themselves at risk of many health issues.

Being a woman I see the many different types of products we use that can cause health issues. One thing I have always enjoyed is being able to get my hair done, which helps to make me feel a little better when I’m not feeling great. Knowing that something that makes me feel good on my bad days could actually be potentially harming my health is so concerning. After reading this I learned that along with these health issues you may also put yourself at a higher risk of getting cancer.

The use of formaldehyde in hair straightening products has been shown in studies to produce a higher risk of uterine cancer in women. According to a study titled, "Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer": “Ever vs never use of straightening products in the previous 12 months was associated with higher incident uterine cancer rates. ... The association was stronger when comparing frequent use (>4 times in the past 12 months) vs never use …” (Chang, Che-Jung, et al., 2022).

I think this is important as this information is the reason for the FDA’s proposed ban. I also find this very important because I have family members who have had cancer, and even though it wasn’t uterine cancer I know how hard it can be on the body. I also know how much cancer affects the person who has it mentally and how difficult it can be. Knowing all this makes me want to make sure that in the future when I am a stylist I put my clients' health first, as that is more important than any hair style.

Personally, after learning about all of the health issues intertwined with these chemicals, I wouldn’t use them on myself as I feel it would be a big risk to my health. I like getting my hair done as much as the next person but not at the expense of my physical well-being.

The ban being put into motion by the FDA will help to protect women from chemicals that could be putting them at an increased risk of uterine cancer in their bodies.

A good way to help support the ban would be to call or email Elizabeth Anderson, the Senior Policy Analyst at the FDA who is leading the effort, and express your support of the ban. She can be reached by phone at (240) 402-4565 or by email at [email protected].

Let’s take back our health and get these dangerous chemicals out of our hair products!

Lora Wobbema is a senior at New Rockford-Sheyenne High School and a resident of New Rockford. This editorial was written for her Composition I dual credit class at Lake Region State College. Wobbema is completing an internship at the New Rockford Transcript this spring and fall.