A group of House Democrats has introduced new legislation aimed at eliminating formaldehyde from hair care products, citing serious health risks that disproportionately affect Black women and salon workers.
Ayanna Pressley, joined by Shontel Brown and Nydia Velázquez, unveiled the “Healthy Hair Act,” which would classify hair straightening and smoothing products containing formaldehyde as adulterated under federal law. The designation would effectively ban their sale and distribution in the United States.
The bill has garnered support from more than a dozen House members, including Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, who is an original cosponsor.
Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, has been linked to increased cancer risk, respiratory illnesses, and reproductive health issues such as fibroids. Lawmakers emphasized that these chemicals are commonly found in hair relaxers and straighteners marketed primarily to Black women, raising concerns about disproportionate exposure. Studies have also shown that Black women face higher rates of uterine cancer and are twice as likely to die from it, with some research connecting these outcomes to long-term use of certain hair products.
Pressley framed the legislation as both a public health and racial justice issue, noting that Black women have long faced discrimination over natural hair while also being exposed to harmful chemicals in beauty products. “No one should have to choose between their health and how they show up in the world,” she said.
Brown echoed the urgency, calling the widespread use of chemical hair treatments a “public health and consumer safety crisis” and criticizing delays by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in regulating formaldehyde.
Velázquez also pointed to the agency’s inaction, arguing that Congress must intervene to protect consumers from known carcinogens if regulators fail to act.
The bill is endorsed by the Clean Beauty Coalition and builds on prior efforts by lawmakers to push federal regulators to ban formaldehyde in hair products. Although the FDA proposed such a ban in 2023, implementation has been repeatedly delayed.
The Healthy Hair Act represents the latest step in a broader push by Pressley and her colleagues to address health disparities, regulate harmful products, and ensure safer beauty standards nationwide.
