NEW YORK (PIX11) – Millions of women rely on braids as a go-to summer protective style, but what if the hair used is putting their health at risk?
New reports are shedding light on a troubling reality: popular synthetic braiding hair brands have tested positive for toxic chemicals , including formaldehyde and lead, both linked to cancer and respiratory issues. The chemicals pose a particular threat to Black women, who often wear braids for long stretches at a time, and to the stylists who install them.
More Local News
“There are VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are released when the product is heated, ie dipped in hot water, like is very commonly practiced at the end of the style,” Ciara Imani May, the founder of Rebundle. “It should be concerning, not only to people who wear their hair and braids, but very importantly, to the people who install the braids, braiders and hair professionals.”
Rebundle is the first U.S.-made plant-based hair extension brand, created to tackle these very issues, years before the alarming data made headlines. Her solution? Banana fiber…