Health and Racial Implications of Hair Straightening Chemicals

WHEREAS, Extensive research (Feldscher, 2024) has documented that many hair straightening products contain harmful chemicals-such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and endocrine disruptors- that have been linked to reproductive health issues, respiratory issues, hormonal imbalances, early menstruation in adolescent females, and increased cancer risk; and

WHEREAS, Studies including those published in peer-reviewed journals have raised concerns that prolonged use of hair relaxers and straighteners may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and other adverse health outcomes in African American women; and

WHEREAS, The disproportionate use of these products in Black communities is not coincidental, but rather a response to longstanding societal pressures and discriminatory beauty standards that devalue natural Black hair, contributing to cultural and psychological harm; and

WHEREAS, Regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, have recognized the need for stricter safety standards and better labeling practices to protect consumers from toxic exposures in cosmetic products; and

WHEREAS, The legacy of racial discrimination and economic exploitation has led to a market in which Black consumers are disproportionately exposed to products with unacceptably high health risks while simultaneously facing systemic pressures to alter their natural appearance.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People reaffirms its 2022 commitment to The Crown Act – Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair and its 2020 stance that Hair Discrimination is Race Discrimination.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as an organization dedicated to advancing civil rights and public health, call upon federal and state regulatory agencies to:

1. Mandate comprehensive safety reviews of hair straightening products, including full disclosure of all ingredients and potential long-term health risks.
2. Enhance and enforce stricter labeling requirements so that consumers are fully informed about the risks associated with these chemicals.
3. Support further research into safer alternatives and the long-term health outcomes associated with these products.
4. Promote public education campaigns that affirm the beauty and cultural significance of natural Black hair, including safe straightening methods and protective styling, thereby counteracting the harmful social norms that compel the use of these risky products.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges cosmetic companies to reformulate hair straightening products and pursue safer alternatives to eliminate or significantly reduce hazardous chemicals and to market these products in ways that do not perpetuate racial stereotypes or unrealistic beauty standards.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP, through its health committees, work with beauty professionals, community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure that Black communities have access to safe and healthy personal care products, and to foster an environment where natural hair is celebrated and protected.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this NAACP resolution be widely disseminated via outlets, including but not limited to, public forums, health committee meetings of each unit, other community activations and engagements to raise awareness of the intersection between environmental health hazards and racial injustice, and that it serves as a catalyst for meaningful change in cosmetic regulation and cultural representation.