Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database
The Skin Deep Database is a resource you can consult to learn more about the chemical ingredients in the cosmetics you use, like shampoo, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hair conditioner, lip balm, sunscreen, body lotion, shaving products, and makeup. The database also maintains a separate list focusing specifically on hair products for Black women.
Environmental Working Group Report on Products for Black Women
The report indicates that one in 12 products for Black women is rated as highly hazardous, and fewer than one in four products marketed to Black women had a low hazard rating.
Black Women for Wellness's Report on Black Women's Hair and Health
Black Women for Wellness conducted a 5 year study of the Black beauty industry, and produced this report, titled Natural Evolutions: One Hair Story, to discuss their findings.
Hair Products Containing Formaldehyde
Women's Voices for the Earth, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) all report that people should avoid using products like Brazilian Blowout and keratin hair treatments. Click here and here for Women's Voices for the Earth's reports, here for the EPA's, and here for OSHA's.
Women's Voices for the Earth's Report on Salon Health and Safety
Women's Voices for the Earth's report, titled Beauty and its Beast, discusses the hazards found in nail and beauty salons.
Brandeis University's Black Hair Salon Study
Click here to learn more about Brandeis University's Black Hair Salon Study. Brandeis University students conducted this study to explore workplace chemical exposures in salons serving Black women. Along with other partners, BPHC helped Brandeis students to understand their findings and identify recommendations to salon workers.
BPHC Blog Post on Brandeis University's Black Hair Salon Study
Curious about what Brandeis University students learned in their Black Hair Salon Study? Click here to find out.
Silent Spring Institute Research on Hair Products Used by Black Women
Click
here to learn about Silent Spring Institute's research findings relating Black women's use of hair products to endocrine disruption and asthma. They also produced a fact sheet, which you can access
here.
For more information, please contact the Safe Shops Program at 617-534-5965.