Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Recently , scientific studies have linked exposure to certain chemicals in hair relaxers to uterine cancer , ovarian cancer , uterine leiomyoma , and more . Many ingredients in chemical hair straighteners are considered endocrinedisrupting chemicals or EDCs . The endocrine system , also referred to as the hormone system , is made up of organs called glands . These glands produce and release different hormones that target specific systems of the body . Hormones act as our body ’ s chemical messengers . When the active ingredients in chemical hair straighteners or relaxers seep into the body from scalp lesions and / or burns , these chemicals disrupt the hormones within our system , hence the name endocrine disrupting chemicals .
The endocrine system is vital to the body ’ s natural hormone production , such as estrogen , testosterone , progesterone , and androgen , which regulate critical biological processes . One important system regulated by the endocrine system is the body ’ s reproductive organs . The endocrine system maintains the growth and function of the reproductive system . When chemicals or chemical mixtures , such as phthalates , DEHP ( form of phthalates ), formaldehydes , and lye , such as those found in hair relaxers , interact with our body ’ s natural hormones , significant adverse health effects can occur . This includes infertility , cancer and immunodeficiencies . Chemical hair straighteners are known to contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals , which has been reported to cause uterine cancer , endometriosis , uterine fibroids , and even breast cancer . Overall , manufacturers of hair relaxers put profit before the safety of women all over the world , and our aim should be to hold those responsible accountable for their actions .
Manufacturers Of Chemical Hair Straighteners
There are many different brands of chemical hair straighteners . Some of the prominent brands include Dark & Lovely , Just For Me , Olive Oil or Organic Root Stimulator (“ ORS ”), Motions , Mizani , Crème of Nature , Soft & Beautiful , African Pride , and many more . Manufacturers of these chemical hair straighteners are located across the United States and internationally . Dark & Lovely was an original Chicago creation of Carson Products until the late 90s when SoftSheen and Carson Products were acquired by one of the world ’ s largest cosmetic companies , L ’ Oréal , USA . L ’ Oréal is easily leading the beauty industry , especially with Revlon ’ s recent filings of bankruptcy . SoftSheen and Carson were the largest African American beauty-owned companies before being acquired by L ’ Oréal . Popular brands Just For Me , TCB , Soft & Beautiful , Motions and African Pride are all manufactured by Strength Of Nature , LLC . Strength Of Nature is an international hair care company with product lines marketed for all different hair types . Strength Of Nature was known for marketing their no-lye-based products as a safer alternative to the lye-based hair relaxers . For example , Just For Me pictured a young black girl on the front of their box with straight hair , innocently posed , but ultimately these products were no safer than any of its counterparts , just gave consumers false sense of security as to the chemicals within these hair relaxers .
This is by no means an exhaustive list of chemical hair straightener manufacturers . Other major manufacturers of chemical hair straighteners include Namaste Laboratories , Dabur International as well as Dabur , USA . Ultimately , black Americans — more specifically , black women — were coerced into subscribing to Eurocentric beauty standards due to the marketing by these manufacturers , which continued to market and sell a chemical composition that ultimately led to many black women being diagnosed with uterine cancer , ovarian cancer , endometriosis and more .
Legal Mechanism
There are laws and regulations that must be complied with when placing cosmetics into the stream of commerce . Unfortunately for consumers , these manufacturers have adhered to loopholes within the laws and regulations to continue manufacture , distribution , and sale of these harmful products . The Federal Food , Drug and Cosmetic Act (“ FD & C ”) was passed by Congress in 1938 , in an effort to regulate products put into the market , including hair care products . The U . S . Food and Drug Administration (“ FDA ”) were tasked with overseeing compliance of the FD & C Act . The FD & C Act forbids the manufacture or distribution of food , drugs , medical devices , and cosmetics that are altered or misbranded . Although there is no current law that requires manufacturers of cosmetics to submit their safety data to the FDA , it is unlawful to place an ingredient into a cosmetic ( i . e . hair product ) that causes the cosmetic product to be harmful when used as intended . The federal Food , Drug and Cosmetic Act is intended to promote and protect public health by ensuring safety , efficacy , and truthfulness of labeling of products in commerce . Ultimately , it is the responsibility of the cosmetic manufacturers to assess the safety of their products and warn of any potential hazards associated its products , which they have failed to do .
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