Are Chemical Hair Straighteners Safe?

Chemical hair straighteners are lotions or creams that break down the protein structure of curly hair to permanently straighten it. Unlike heat straightening or serum straightening, chemically straightened hair stays straight until the hair grows out. 

Professional stylists administer most chemical hair straighteners at a salon because of the potentially harmful chemicals involved. There are a few kits that allow people to chemically straighten their hair at home, but they are typically weaker formulas that might be less effective. Chemical hair straighteners contain harsh chemicals that can damage hair over time and irritate the scalp. 

Chemicals in hair straighteners include cyclosiloxanes, formaldehyde, parabens, diethanolamine, sodium hydroxide, phthalates, triclosan and benzophenone-3, according to California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control. Studies have linked these chemicals to a higher risk of health problems such as cancer, fibroids and endometriosis.

Types of chemical hair straighteners, sometimes called relaxers, include traditional chemical straightening, Japanese straightening and Brazilian Keratin treatments.

Each type of straightening works for different levels of curly hair from very curly to slightly wavy or frizzy hair. Stronger chemical treatments work for very curly hair and last longer but are more damaging to the hair and scalp.

Chemical hair straighteners are further classified as lye-relaxers, no-lye relaxers and thio relaxers depending on the product’s ingredients. Permanent lye-relaxers have the harshest chemicals and potentially do the most long-term damage to hair. 

Chemical hair straighteners use a chemical cream to break protein bonds in the hair called disulfides. Hair that is curlier has more disulfide bonds. Stronger chemicals are needed to break these bonds in curlier hair. 

After the bonds are broken, the stylist will apply a neutralizer to reform the disulfide bonds. While reforming the bonds, the stylist will configure the hair into its new shape to straighten it. 

Gentler chemical hair straighteners use weaker chemicals to straighten hair, but they don’t last as long and won’t work on very curly hair. Some types of straighteners, such as Japanese straightening or Keratin straightening, don’t allow you to wet your hair or wash it for a few days after. 

The safest way to use chemical straighteners is to have a professional stylist apply the chemicals for you. Stylists are trained to properly apply chemicals that can cause damage to your scalp and skin. 

If you are using a home kit to straighten your hair, make sure to follow all instructions and precautions. Set timers to avoid over-processing your hair. To prevent skin irritation, you can use petroleum jelly or base oils on your scalp and hair line. 

Chemically straightening your hair can cause long-term hair damage and scalp irritation. Over time, reapplying chemicals over previously straightened hair causes it to get weaker and break. 

Chemical hair straightener side effects include short-term problems including scalp irritation and hair damage as well as long-term side effects such as an increased risk of endometriosis. Studies have also linked hair straightening products and cancer. 

A recent 2022 National Institute of Health study found women who used chemical hair straighteners had more than double the risk of uterine cancer compared to women who didn’t use them. Another NIH study In 2019 found women who used chemical hair straighteners had a 30% increase in incidence of breast cancer. Black women are particularly at risk because they use hair straighteners at higher rates than other consumers. 

Women who used straighteners and later developed uterine, endometrial and ovarian cancer filed chemical hair straightener lawsuits naming manufacturers including L’Oreal, Dark & Lovely and Namaste as defendants. Plaintiffs said defendants sold these harmful products even if they knew they could cause cancer and failed to warn the public. 

The most reliable alternatives to chemical hair straightening is heat styling with hair serums made without harsh chemicals. These methods will only last a day or two, but they are safer than chemical straightening.

Heat styling can also damage hair but doesn’t carry a risk of cancer or other reproductive system issues. To reduce damage from heat styling, use a heat protectant on your hair, use the right temperature for your hair type and make sure the hair is properly conditioned after.

Several online recipes for natural hair straighteners made with coconut milk, fruits or oil promise effective straightening. But these methods might not be reliable.