HWN Suggests

What’s the Deal with Keratin Treatments and Other Hair Straighteners?

If you want to straighten your hair, remember that using a flat iron releases water vapor, which is much safer for your health. Of course, any form of straightening will damage hair and should be used sparingly, alternating with protective hairstyles that don’t require altering hair’s natural texture, such as braids or gentle twists. These will give your hair (as well as your skin and sinuses) a break from harsh chemicals and heating elements. We agree with other experts who say that the FDA should have prohibited the use of formaldehyde in hair straightening products years ago. The FDA started to do so in 2016, but for reasons that are not clear, that decision was blocked until 2024!. We also…

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 Are Keratin Hair Treatments Safe? The Truth About the Popular Straightening Solution

The reason why many are hesitant to get this treatment is because of the controversial ingredient formaldehyde. As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), formaldehyde is a colorless and flammable gas that is highly toxic. It’s used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and some resin and can be found as a food preservative or in household products such as medicines and cosmetics.

 Are these popular salon treatments a health threat?

Chemical hair straighteners promise smooth, frizz-free hair, but research has linked these treatments to an increased risk of serious health conditions. Multiple studies suggest that, compared to the general population, hairdressers have a higher risk of cancer; reproductive disorders and respiratory illnesses; and are more likely to give birth to babies with congenital defects.

 I Paused My Keratin Treatments For The First Time In 12 Years–And My Hair Is Thanking Me For It

Dr Kiran Sethi, medical director of Isya Aesthetics, recommends delving into the science behind the process in order to fully understand the impact of keratin treatments on your hair. “Keratin smoothing treatments work by breaking the disulfide bonds in the hair–bonds that are responsible for your hair’s natural structure and texture. By breaking these bonds, the treatment aims to reattach them in a smoother, straighter configuration. However, the reformed bonds are inherently weaker than the original ones, leading to increased susceptibility to breakage and hairfall. This fundamental alteration in the hair’s structure can have both immediate and long-term effects on its health,” she explains.

 Is Dyeing Your Hair Bad for Your Health?

Scientists have been looking into the association between hair dye and cancer for decades. And while some research suggests a link, the findings are mixed, making it hard to offer foolproof recommendations, said Alexandra White, an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Still, a closer look at the research could help you make an informed decision about what’s best for you and your hair style.

 Just because a stylist or hair-care company says a hair-smoothing treatment is formaldehyde-free, doesn't mean it is

No hair treatment will technically contain formaldehyde (because — a little more chemistry for you — it's a gas). What they can contain are methylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanediol — ingredients that release formaldehyde when heated or mixed with water. Because salon treatments don't require FDA approval, you need to do your own due diligence if you want a formaldehyde-free service.

 What to Know About the Health Risks of Chemical Hair Straighteners

The Food and Drug Administration plans to propose banning the use of formaldehyde in hair straighteners, which have been linked to increased cancer risk.

Articles of Interest

Read This Before Getting a Keratin Smoothing Treatment

Though keratin treatments are commonplace, many experts believe they can damage hair and be dangerous. The presence of formaldehyde, also known as methylene glycol, can be a significant health hazard. Heat is used to encourage formaldehyde to bond to the hair strands, and formaldehyde fumes are released into the air. The Food and Drug Administration warns that those exposed could inhale the formaldehyde fumes if the salon isn't in a well-ventilated area.

Detangling the roots and health risks of hair relaxers

For decades, Black women have been using hair relaxers to help them “fit into” global mainstream workplaces and the European standards of beauty that continue to dominate them. More recently, research has linked these relaxers to cancer and reproductive health issues — and a spate of lawsuits across the United States, and at least one in Canada, have been brought by Black women against the makers of these relaxants.

Everything You Need To Know About Keratin Hair Treatments

Keratin is a beauty buzzword synonymous with smooth, shiny strands and healthy hair. You’ve probably seen it on countless shampoo bottles and overheard your hairstylist mention it–but it's more than a marketing term. Keratin is a vital protein that gives your hair, skin, and nails structure. You can think of it as the backbone of your hair strands to keep them strong, resilient, and frizz-free. Yet, all the heat styling, coloring, and environmental stressors our hair endures can deplete your hair of the protein—and that's where keratin treatments may come to the rescue.

Everything You Need to Know About Keratin Treatments for Smooth, Shiny Hair

The most classic (and controversial) keratin treatments require chemicals like formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and can damage hair health, permanently change curl patterns, and dry out hair strands from intense processing. But innovations in the hair space have come a long way, and more natural keratin treatment alternatives—also referred to as keratin smoothing treatments—are now available in salons for anyone looking to banish frizz.

F.D.A. Plans to Ban Hair Straighteners With Formaldehyde

The products, often marketed to Black women, have been linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer.

I Broke Down and Got a Keratin Treatment. Was It Worth It? Come See For Yourself...

After Petra raved about her keratin treatment experience, I decided to finally bite the bullet and book an appointment for a one-hour express Keratin Complex blowout at Warren Tricomi. You know, for research. And, taking my co-blogger's lead, I'm about to do something I thought I'd never ever do: Post pictures of my hair in its totally natural, 100 percent product-free, no-blow-dryer state. Every one of you better appreciate this sacrifice. Seriously.

If Looks Could Kill: Carcinogens in Hairdressers’ Blood from Dyes and Perms

Looking fabulous can come at a price—and sometimes that price is unwittingly outsourced to the people who provide these services for a living. A new study of 295 female hairdressers, 32 regular users of hair dyes, and 60 people who get regular hair treatments found that permanent hair dyes and the chemicals used to straighter or curl hair can be carcinogenic to humans. Those with the highest exposure are hairdressers. The researchers found that among hair dressers, carcinogen levels in their blood tended to rise alongside the number of weekly permanent light hair coloring treatments they did.

Keratin Hair Treatments and Formaldehyde Exposure

Keratin hair treatments, also known as Brazilian keratin treatments, are intended to straighten and smooth wavy hair, enhance color and shine, and decrease frizz in curly hair. This method of hair straightening can last between 6 weeks and 5 months, depending on the strength of the treatment. Keratin treatments have become controversial due to formaldehyde exposure as part of the process.

Popular Synthetic Hair Extensions Contain Carcinogens—So Why Are There Still No Regulations?

No matter where we are in the diaspora, braids have always kept the Black community connected. That said, it’s no surprise that kanekalon hair—the most common and inexpensive type of braiding extensions—has become a mainstay at beauty supply stores and salons, helping to craft some of the most exquisite styles, from Fulani braids to the butt-length knotless variety. But what’s less known about this type of hair is that according to a 2025 study published by Consumer Reports, many of these products, made with materials like PVC, contain carcinogens.

Pull Off a Keratin Treatment at Home with These Products and Tips

If you're thinking of using keratin products at home, here's what to expect, according to cosmetic chemists

Relaxers Aren’t the Only Hair Products With Questionable Chemicals Marketed to Black Women

In 2015, as BWW drafted its report on the health impacts of hair products marketed to black women, Provost learned about how these products often contain what are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which mimic or interfere with the normal signaling of hormones like estrogen. Studies have linked these chemicals to breast and other cancers.

Shampoo, Cosmetics May Form Cancer-Causing Substance in Water Supplies

Your shampoo may seem harmless, but it could be contributing to the formation of a mysterious cancer-causing substance, a new study says.

The Disturbing Truth About Hair Relaxers

They’ve been linked to reproductive disorders and cancers. Why are they still being marketed so aggressively to Black women?

The Science Behind Keratin Treatment: How Does It Work?

Keratin treatments are popular hair-smoothing solutions that transform frizzy and unmanageable hair into sleek and shiny locks. The primary active ingredient in these treatments is keratin, a fibrous structural protein found naturally in human hair, skin, and nails. Keratin itself is not a smoothing agent but works in tandem with other chemicals to achieve the desired effects. Formaldehyde, or more commonly, formaldehyde-releasing compounds such as methylene glycol and formalin, have traditionally been used in keratin treatments to bond the keratin to the hair’s natural protein structure. These chemicals create cross-links in the hair fibers, helping the keratin adhere efficiently and form a smooth, protective layer. Formaldehyde’s ability to alter hair structure is integral to making it lie flat and appear glossy, although it has raised health concerns leading to the development of formaldehyde-free alternatives. These alternatives often employ aldehyde derivatives or other chemical compounds that mimic the effects of formaldehyde without the associated toxicity risks.

These Are the Chemicals That Should Not Be in Your Hair Products

Perusing the shampoo aisle at Target, you might notice that every other hair product is labeled “free” of some supposedly harmful ingredient—“paraben-free,” “silicone-free,” “sulfate-free.” That’s especially true for gentle products designed for the curly, textured hair that many people of color have, which tends to be drier and more prone to breakage than straight hair. In a recent Environmental Research study of 18 hair products, 84 percent of the chemicals detected in the products weren’t listed on the label.

Using Keratin Treatments or Hair-Straightening Creams? Research Suggests Potential Cancer Risk.

Studies have linked chemicals in some hair products to an increased risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer

What Is A Keratin Hair Treatment—And Is It Safe?

The salon service delivers smooth, shiny strands but there are major health concerns to consider.