A new study is raising alarm after finding that chemicals commonly associated with pipes, pesticides, and floor tiles are present in some wigs, braiding hair, and extensions sold to Black women.
Researchers from the Silent Spring Institute examined 43 products bought online and in beauty supply stores and detected 169 different chemicals, including flame retardants, pesticides, and substances used to stabilise plastics.
The findings are intensifying calls for tighter regulation, clearer labelling, and better protection for consumers who may face repeated, long-term exposure through everyday hair use.
