Hair Care Products May Release Harmful Chemicals When Heated

Hair care products often contain ingredients that can evaporate easily, leading to the inhalation of these chemicals by users. This could pose potential health risks. Researchers have studied the emissions of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including siloxanes, which are used to shine and smooth hair. They found that using these hair care products can quickly change the indoor air composition, and common heat styling techniques, such as straightening and curling, can increase VOC levels even further.

Key Findings

Hair care products can release harmful chemicals when heated.

These chemicals can be inhaled by users, potentially posing health risks.

Common heat styling techniques, such as straightening and curling, can increase VOC levels.

Recommendations

Use hair products in well-ventilated areas.

Avoid using heat styling tools too frequently.

Consider using natural products.

Additional Information

The researchers found that siloxanes accounted for most of the VOCs that were detected. Emissions were influenced by product type, hair length, and the type and temperature of the styling tool. Longer hair and higher temperatures released higher amounts of VOCs. As a result of their findings, the researchers estimated that a person’s potential daily inhalation of one cVMS, known as D5, could reach as much as 20 mg per day.

In the experiments, turning on an exhaust fan removed most of the air pollutant from the room within 20 minutes after a hair care routine was completed. However, the scientists note that this practice could affect outdoor air quality in densely populated cities. They say studies of the long-term human health impacts of siloxane exposure are urgently needed, because most findings are from animal studies.