The Hair Additions, Ingredients, and Risks (HAIR) Study: Impact of Hair Extensions and Hair Attachments on Women’s Health

Authors:

Kennedi Munson, Tamarra James-Todd

Date Created:

2025-01-01

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

Non-Hispanic Black women face disproportionately higher of EDCs and other harmful ingredients. Little is known about exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Research perceptions of hair extension and attachments with respect to shows that personal care product (PCP) use is a primary source their ingredients’ impact on safety and health. Yet, long-term of exposure disparities largely due to the presence of parabens use and prolonged exposure (either as a consumer or as a stylist) (preservatives) and phthalates (fragrance stabilizers). These to the chemicals in these products could have significant health chemicals can be absorbed via skin contact and inhalation, with impacts and contribute to persistent racial and ethnic health the ability to disrupt hormone production and action. Previous disparities. This study aims to evaluate the health and safety research has found hair products, such as hair oils and relaxers, toerceptions of hair attachments/extensions from two perspectives beaparticularlyimportantPCPthatcontributestoracialdisparities – individual consumers and beauty industry professionals. We will in EDC exposure. Recent studies have found links between use qualitative research methods to conduct four focus groups (i.e. hair product use, their EDC ingredients, and adverse health 2 consumer focus groups and 2 beauty professionals focus groups) outcomes, including: metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes), and to understand: usage patterns and product choices, perceptions reproductive issues (preterm birth, early onset menarche, fibroids,of product safety, and awareness of chemical risks as it relates infertility, etc.) – all conditions more prevalent in non-Hispanic to health. We will evaluate themes, and findings will be used to Black individuals compared to other racial and ethnic groups. inform future questionnaire development for a larger quantitative However, an understudied hair product – hair attachments and research study on hair attachments/extensions and health. extensions – were found to contain extremely high concentrations

Abstract:

Non-Hispanic Black women face disproportionately higher of EDCs and other harmful ingredients. Little is known about exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Research perceptions of hair extension and attachments with respect to shows that personal care product (PCP) use is a primary source their ingredients’ impact on safety and health. Yet, long-term of exposure disparities largely due to the presence of parabens use and prolonged exposure (either as a consumer or as a stylist) (preservatives) and phthalates (fragrance stabilizers). These to the chemicals in these products could have significant health chemicals can be absorbed via skin contact and inhalation, with impacts and contribute to persistent racial and ethnic health the ability to disrupt hormone production and action. Previous disparities. This study aims to evaluate the health and safety research has found hair products, such as hair oils and relaxers, toerceptions of hair attachments/extensions from two perspectives beaparticularlyimportantPCPthatcontributestoracialdisparities – individual consumers and beauty industry professionals. We will in EDC exposure. Recent studies have found links between use qualitative research methods to conduct four focus groups (i.e. hair product use, their EDC ingredients, and adverse health 2 consumer focus groups and 2 beauty professionals focus groups) outcomes, including: metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes), and to understand: usage patterns and product choices, perceptions reproductive issues (preterm birth, early onset menarche, fibroids,of product safety, and awareness of chemical risks as it relates infertility, etc.) – all conditions more prevalent in non-Hispanic to health. We will evaluate themes, and findings will be used to Black individuals compared to other racial and ethnic groups. inform future questionnaire development for a larger quantitative However, an understudied hair product – hair attachments and research study on hair attachments/extensions and health. extensions – were found to contain extremely high concentrations

Source:

Harvard / Stoney McKnight, Michelle Joseph / 2025

Topics:

hair, health, product, extension, attachment, ingredient, exposure, chemical, use, group, impact, women

Co-authors:

@kennedimunson172 , @tamarrajamestodd173