FDA's delayed action on formaldehyde ban in hair relaxers sparks industry uncertainty



Formaldehyde has been a key ingredient in hair relaxers for decades, providing the smooth and straight hair many consumers seek. However, its use has become increasingly controversial due to mounting health concerns. As Allison Stevenson, an attorney at Hill Ward Henderson, explained, formaldehyde “has been identified as a known carcinogen by the Department of Health, particularly when it comes into sustained contact with the skin and respiratory system.”

Using formaldehyde-based relaxers exposes users to a higher risk of absorbing a carcinogenic chemical, which Stevenson noted “can lead to a myriad of health problems, including respiratory and skin disorders.” Additionally, the ingredient has been linked to cancers, such as uterine cancer, though the connection remains “probable as opposed to definitive.

CosmeticsDesign interviewed Stevenson to learn about growing concerns regarding formaldehyde in hair relaxer formulations, including the FDA’s regulatory response. She recently spoke with NPR about how the FDA has again postponed its proposed deadline to ban the use of formaldehyde as an ingredient in hair relaxers and hair straighteners on the market in the U.S. and shared her insight into how the potential upcoming ban may impact manufacturers and suppliers to the beauty industry.

FDA’s response and missed deadline

The FDA has faced growing pressure to regulate formaldehyde use in hair relaxers. According to Stevenson, “over the last ten years or so, there has been an increasingly louder call to action from the science community for the FDA to take action to outright ban this ingredient in cosmetic products.”



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