Salon Owners Must Take Measures To Ventilate Salons Of Toxic Hair Straightener fumes

Most hair straightening treatments emit toxic smoke that can be inhaled causing irritation and leading potentially to cancer

Thursday, December 22, 2022 - Approximately 95% of Black women reportedly use chemical hair straighteners and relaxers marketed under the brand names African Pride, Africa's Best, Avlon Affirm, Creme of Nature, Dark and Lovely, Just for Me, and many other brands. Dozens of hair relaxer lawsuits have been filed and more are on the horizon. Hair relaxers consist of volatile, toxic chemicals that primarily destroy the molecular structure of the hair and leave it limp, lifeless-looking, and ready to be styled. Chemical hair straighteners contain formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide, ammonium thioglycolate, cysteine, thioglycolic acid and other toxic substances to achieve their intended results. Most people who use chemical hair straighteners report burning of the scalp and eyes, eye, nose, and sinus irritation and a general feeling of being ill when the chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream. Formaldehyde is a scientifically documented carcinogen that causes respiratory problems if inhaled and skin irritation upon contact. It is commonly used as a preservative in hair straighteners. Formaldehyde is most often used when permanent hair straightening is desired. Formaldehyde smoke can be inhaled when the hair is heated after straightening. Sodium hydroxide is known to have caused chemical burns and respiratory scarring if inhaled. Sodium hydroxide breaks apart the hair's molecular bonds allowing them to be repositioned as desired. Ammonium thioglycolate breaks down the disulfide bonds in the hair, like sodium hydroxide, making it more pliable and easier to straighten when heat is applied. Ammonium thioglycolate causes chemical burns and lung scarring if inhaled. Cysteine is an amino acid repairs molecularly damaged hair and makes it easier to style. Like all of the chemicals previously mention, it can cause skin irritation and may be harmful if inhaled. The same can be said for Thioglycolic acid.

Beauticians are at the highest risk of developing hair relaxer uterine cancer of the uterus and breast when they specialize in hair straightening in their salon business. Indeed, most hair styling begins with chemical hair straightening and then the hair is heated, flattened, and curled. When the hair is heated immediately after a chemical hair straightener treatment, toxic smoke is emitted that contains all of the dangerous chemicals mentioned above. State and federal government health agencies insist that beauty shop owners have proper ventilation in their salons so that the toxic fumes from heating chemically treated hair can be vented. "It can cause your eyes to burn and probably your skin to burn," Davis said. "Absolutely. But only without the proper ventilation and the circulation of air within your salon." Davis points to two fans running in the room. She said she's never had health problems as long as she followed the guidelines [PDF] of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on proper ventilation. "So even if it has a [label saying] 'caution: formaldehyde in it,' basically I'm like, 'And? We already have smoke in our salons," according to KWED.com in California.

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