F.D.A. to Prohibit Formaldehyde in Hair Straighteners

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to ban hair-straightening products that contain or emit formaldehyde, a chemical linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer. Studies have also linked these products to breast and ovarian cancer. The proposed ban would target hair-straightening and hair-smoothing products marketed in the United States and is expected to take effect in April 2024. The products are often marketed to Black women, and the increase in uterine cancer rates has been steepest among women of color. The FDA's expanded oversight authority now requires manufacturers to register their sites and disclose ingredients, but new products will not typically undergo agency review before being marketed. The agency encourages consumers to read labels, avoid products with formaldehyde, and report adverse reactions.