Even though Black consumers spent more than $9 billion on beauty supplies in 2023, there are signs that the industry isn’t doing enough to protect their health.
An analysis of more than 4,000 beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women revealed that nearly 80% of them contain toxic chemicals, according to a report released by the Environmental Working Group in February.
That analysis was followed this week by a Consumers Report study that found ingredients that can cause cancer in 10 synthetic hair products used in braids, extensions and other hairstyles popular with Black women, including artificial hair from popular brands.
The latest findings build on a 2016 report by EWG that examined cosmetics marketed to Black women.
“Almost a decade after our first report, what we found was that Black women are still being exposed to higher hazards in personal care products,” said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist at EWG and co-author of their report, during a webinar.
Instead of the situation improving, these customers are being exposed to even more toxins than before.