Hair dyes and chemical hair straighteners are jeopardizing your health!

Few women question the safety of their hair dyes and chemical hair straighteners. The decision to use a particular hair product is often made based on hair type, affordability, availability, the individual’s perception of how it makes them look, recommendations from others, and other non-health-related considerations.

Apart from some colour additives, no regulatory body determines what chemicals the manufacturers of hair products must exclude.

The skin is the body’s largest organ and can absorb substances. The scalp’s excellent blood supply, coupled with an abundance of hair follicles, makes it four times more absorbent than any other skin area on our body.

Hence, when a chemical hair straightener or hair dye is applied to the hair, the chemicals enter the bloodstream shortly after they come into contact with the scalp. Unfortunately, most straighteners and dyes are packed with hundreds of toxic chemicals, which can impact the user’s health.

The epidemic of breast cancer, especially in young Black women, and the comparatively higher incidence of dementia seen in older Black women, is likely linked to their hair products.

Many chemicals found in hair dyes and chemical hair straighteners are disruptive to the body’s finely tuned hormone balance. Most of the newer hair care formulations contain more powerful endocrine-disruptive reagents when compared to older products. Chemicals found in hair dyes for Black women are more toxic than chemicals in hair products for other hair types.

Hair dye, hair straightener, and breast cancer

A landmark study, which was published in the International Journal of Cancer in December 2019, showed that women who used a permanent dye in their hair over 12 months had a 9% increased risk of developing breast cancer when compared to women who did not. The Black women in the study had a 45% increased risk of developing breast cancer when compared to Black women who didn’t dye their hair. The association between hair dyes with breast cancer was not linked to the frequency of their use.

The same study also showed that there was an unequivocal link between hair straightener use and the development of breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer increased by 18% among all women who chemically straightened their hair. If a woman used a chemical straightener more frequently than every eight weeks, the probability of her developing breast cancer jumped by 31%. The association between breast cancer and hair straighteners seemed to be similar for all races of women. However, because Black women were more likely to use chemical hair straightening products more frequently than women of other races, they were more likely to develop breast cancer when compared to other women.

Generally, there was no increased risk of breast cancer in women who used semi-permanent dyes when applied by a professional. However, those women who self-applied hair dyes had a higher chance of developing breast cancer. It was postulated that in the latter instant, dyes were more likely to come into contact with the scalp, allowing the chemicals within to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

It should be noted that those who participated in the aforementioned study had at least one first-degree relative with breast cancer, so these participants were at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. However, the study’s authors concluded that the alarming and disproportionate
increase in the incidence of breast cancer in Black women who used hair dyes could not be explained by genetics alone. The chemical exposure from their hair dyes and hair straighteners likely played a significant role.

How to Reduce the Risk of Getting Cancer From Hair Products

1. Love and embrace who you are.
2. Be sceptical regarding the claims made by hair product manufacturers.
3. Go easy on the hair dye. If dyeing your hair, only use semi-permanent and temporary dyes.
4. When dyeing and chemically relaxing your hair, seek the services of a professional hairstylist.
5. Chemically relax your hair no more often than every 12 weeks.
6. NEVER use a chemical hair straightener in a child’s or adolescent’s hair.
7. Consider going natural. However, avoid products with lavender and tea tree oils.
8. Before using a hair dye or chemical hair straightener, do your research. If there are any of the following substances within they should be avoided:

● Formaldehyde
● Phthalates
● Parabens
● Mineral oils
● Coal tar
● Triclosan
● Benzene
● Hydrogen Peroxide
● Heavy metals
● Bisphenol A

Ovarian and uterine cancers have also been linked to hair dyes and chemical hair straighteners.

Non-cancerous medical conditions that are associated with hair products include dementia, asthma, reduced fertility, fibroids, endometriosis, and premature menstruation.

Ultimately, the question you are left with, are you prepared to subscribe to a hair maintenance programme which endangers your health and places your life on the line?

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician – Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale – Former Tutor, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, Cave Hill, Barbados. Host of the weekly radio show, Physician on Call. For appointments: clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300 (Office),
1(784)455-0376 (WhatsApp)
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.