Recent studies show that synthetic and human hair extensions contain harmful, deadly chemicals that put Black women at risk. Here's what you should know.
When scientists tested 10 popular hair-braiding products for volatile organic compounds and heavy metals, they found cancer-causing chemicals in every sample. The hair-extension industry is projected to be worth $14 billion by 2028, but it is largely unregulated, and Black women are paying the price.
It's not just about braiding hair; human hair also contains toxic chemicals that other countries consider "severely restricted." This isn't a moral failure that should shame us or dictate how any of us chooses to wear our hair. It's not just hair extensions; permanent hair dyes increase risks of breast cancer and uterine fibroids. It's a systemic one: Corporations know the harm that chronic exposure to these chemicals causes, and it goes unchecked.
We deserve to wear our hair however we wish without being exposed to poisonous chemicals. But in an anti-Black world where lawmakers aren't in a rush to create laws that protect Black women, we must do our own research and due diligence to protect ourselves.
Rebundle is the first U.S.-made plant-based braiding hair brand, among other Black-owned hair brands, prioritizing our beauty and safety. We know Black is beautiful, and we deserve products that honor that.