Chemicals of Concern in Chemical Hair Straightening Products: A Scoping Review
Emily Weaver, Marissa Chan, Lariah Edwards, Ami R Zota · 2026
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Description
Emily Weaver and co-authors mapped the research on harmful chemicals in chemical hair straighteners in a 2026 scoping review. Two product types dominate the market: relaxers and keratin treatments. The reviewers gathered 21 studies and reports that tested products, read labels, measured chemicals in people's bodies, or sampled salon air.
Formaldehyde and chemicals that release it appeared often, especially in keratin treatments, while relaxers more often carried hormone-disrupting chemicals and fragrance ingredients. Metals and volatile organic compounds also turned up across products. Salon workers may face higher exposure than customers. The authors urge newer exposure science and community-led steps to cut the risks, which fall heavily on women of color.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Emily Weaver, Marissa Chan, Lariah Edwards, Ami R Zota |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 77 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |