Interview, Statement
The hidden cost of black hair
- The black hair care market is valued between $4 billion and $9 billion.
- Black women face a 30% higher likelihood of developing breast cancer if they regularly use chemical hair straighteners compared to white women.
- Hormone-disrupting chemicals are present in approximately 50% of products marketed to Black women, posing risks to reproductive and cardiovascular health.
- Regulatory efforts may improve as the US currently bans only 11 chemicals in personal care products, compared to 1,300 banned by the European Union.
- Sales of at-home relaxers declined by nearly 25% between 2016 and 2018 as natural hair adoption increased.
- The Crown Act, aimed at banning hair discrimination, is expected to become federal law in the United States.
- In Britain, cutting textured hair has been a mandatory requirement for trainee stylists since 2021.
- A new hair care brand, supported by $1.2 million in seed funding raised in 2021, plans to maintain sales operations in 27 countries.
- Braiding processes performed by individuals can require 8 to 24 hours of preparation and treatment.
- Perceptions of beauty continue to favor smooth hair, leading Black women to be 80% more likely to alter their natural hairstyles to fit workplace norms.
- The natural hair movement is projected to continue as a significant shift in beauty standards.