Introduction
Every woman would dream of frizz-free, straight hair at some point. Thanks to technological advancements, visiting a nearby beauty salon is now possible. Though a time-consuming process, the final results can make a woman patient enough to go through any number of hours to make their dreams come true! However, it is important to be aware of some of the long-term impacts these treatments can cause. Recent studies show that one of these undesirable effects can be so serious that it can cost lives!
What Is Chemical Hair Straightening?
Hair straightening chemicals break the proteins in the hair, helping it to remain straight permanently. It is a chemical process that is done on the hair. After the procedure, the hair that is naturally curled or textured is made to lay flat, losing its natural curls. These treatments usually last some months, or to be more precise, until new hair grows, replacing the treated hair. Hence, these chemical hair straightening methods are also called ‘permanent’ hair straightening methods.
What Are the Different Types of Chemical Hair Straightening?
Permanent or chemical hair straightening methods are available in various forms. They can include "perm" straightening procedures, Japanese thermal straightening, and keratin treatments. These procedures can vary in the methods and chemicals used. Nowadays, hair straightening chemicals are available in kits so that people can do various hair straightening treatments in the comfort of their homes. However, it should be taken care of in a well-ventilated area after doing a patch test to avoid complications or emergencies in the midway.
The different types of chemical hair straightening treatments include:
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Professional Permanent Straightening: A' perm' is a procedure that permanently alters the hair follicle. Perms are also used to curl naturally straight hair. A professional hair expert performs the procedure in a salon, and it might take a few hours to complete. The cost of the procedure might depend on the quality of the products used and the length of the hair.
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At-Home Perms: Chemicals that help to straighten hair are available in small kits with instructions. This enables women to do this at ease in the comfort of their homes. These hair straightening treatments also claim to have similar results to those done in salons. Proper care must be taken to follow instructions properly to avoid any mishaps.
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Keratin Straightening: These hair straightening treatments enable straight hair for three to five months. The procedure might take multiple visits to the salon.
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Japanese Thermal Straightening: This procedure, also called an acid perm, can require the longest salon visits but usually guarantees results for about six months.
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Hair Rebonding: This process is also called chemical hair straightening and converts wavy hair into straight strands.
How Do Chemical Hair Straighteners Work?
Human hair remains curly due to the natural chemical bonds within it. Chemical hair straightening products for curly hair break these natural bonds and make the hair straight. This is usually permanent and remains straight until new hair grows. Hair strands are made up of a protein called keratin. Keratin is a natural structural protein and contains molecules called sulfides. The sulfide molecules pair together to form disulfides. In hair, sulfide molecules reach out to each other to form disulfide bonds, forming curls. As the number of disulfide bonds increases, the hair becomes more curly. Different hair straighteners work in various ways to make hair straight. Some chemical hair straighteners can cause the hair to dry and frizzy, increasing the tendency to break. This increases hair damage.
Which Hair Straightening Products Cause Cancer?
Studies show that chemicals like parabens, metals, bisphenol A, phthalates (commonly found as DEHP, Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), cyclosiloxanes, and formaldehyde present in many hair straightening products can disrupt the endocrine system. This increases the risk of developing cancer. A study by the National Institutes of Health in 2022 shows that the risk of showing symptoms of uterine cancer is doubled in women who use hair straighteners more than four times a year.
Research shows that chemicals used in hair straightening, smoothing, and relaxing that release fumes or gases like formaldehyde when heated can be associated with signs of uterine cancer. Inhaling these gases is possible in places that are not adequately ventilated, increasing the risk of cancer.
Studies show that while one percent of women who do not use any type of hair straightening device or chemicals can have a risk of uterine cancer, the risk increases to about five percent among women who use hair straightening products. The use of heated hair straightening tools, in addition to chemical hair straightening products, increases the risk of cancer due to the chances of burns and other lesions on the scalp.
It increases the risk of myeloid leukemia, cancers of the paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and nasal cavity, as well as cancers of the uterus. It can also increase the risk of asthma, breathing issues, and allergic reactions due to irritation of the skin and airway membrane. Health risks increase with the frequency of use, concentration, and treatment duration.
It is also found that black women have an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. This can be associated with their frequent use of products for straightening hair. Black women also tend to use it at earlier ages when compared to other races, increasing the risk even more.
What Are the Other Factors That Can Increase the Risk of Uterine Cancer?
While there is an association with the use of hair straightening products, there can be other factors that could also cause cancer of the uterus.
They include:
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Hormone replacement therapy using estrogen.
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Family history of uterus, ovary, or colon cancer.
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Presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.
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Presence of any gene mutations.
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Less than five periods in a year before the age of menopause.
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Difficulty conceiving or staying pregnant.
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Women older than 50 years.
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Obese women.
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Women taking Tamoxifen for prevention of breast cancer.
Conclusion
The FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) banned hair straightening products containing or releasing formaldehyde in the spring of 2023. It was supposed to be effective in April 2024 but has yet to be delayed. This is considering the short-term effects like allergies, asthma, and other breathing difficulties and the long-term effects like certain types of cancer linked to the chemicals used in hair straightening. More research is ongoing to discover safer and more effective tools for hair straightening with fewer adverse effects.
