A recent investigation by Consumer Reports has uncovered alarming levels of hazardous chemicals, including lead, benzene, and methylene chloride, in ten popular synthetic hair products widely used for braids, extensions, and other protective hairstyles predominantly worn by Black women.
The tested products-sold under brands such as Magic Fingers, Sensationnel, and Shake-N-Go-contained substances linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and developmental damage, raising red flags about the long-term health risks associated with extended use.
One package of braiding hair was found to exceed California's maximum allowable lead dosage by over 600%, with nine out of ten products showing some level of lead contamination.
Benzene, a known carcinogen associated with acute myeloid leukemia, was also detected, as was methylene chloride, which the EPA links to liver and lung cancer.
