What the Healthy Hair Act Means for Cosmetic Safety and Public Health
The Healthy Hair Act has been introduced in Congress, marking an important moment in the ongoing effort to modernize cosmetic safety standards in the United States.
The legislation specifically addresses formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair products, ingredients that have been associated with cancer risk, endocrine disruption, and chronic occupational exposure.
While introduction is only the first step in the legislative process, the bill reflects a growing recognition that cosmetic regulation is a public health issue.
Why Formaldehyde in Hair Products Is a Concern
Formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen. In hair treatments, it is often released during heat styling processes, creating vapor exposure for both consumers and salon professionals.
Over the past decade, research has raised concerns about:
Increased uterine cancer risk associated with frequent chemical straightener use
Endocrine-disrupting effects
Chronic inhalation exposure in salon environments
Disproportionate exposure patterns among Black women
These risks are not evenly distributed. Marketing practices, product targeting, and regulatory gaps have contributed to higher cumulative exposure in certain communities.
When cosmetic safety law does not keep pace with scientific evidence, preventable exposure continues.
What the Healthy Hair Act Proposes
The Healthy Hair Act seeks to:
Address formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair products
Reduce hazardous vapor exposure during salon application
Strengthen federal oversight in areas where regulatory gaps persist
The bill reflects a more precautionary approach to ingredient safety — shifting away from reactive enforcement and toward prevention.
If advanced, it would represent one of the most targeted federal efforts to address chemical hair treatment safety.
Legislative Leadership
The bill is led by:
Shontel Brown (OH-11)
Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Nydia Velázquez (NY-07)
Their leadership signals alignment between public health science, environmental justice, and health equity priorities.
Clean Beauty Coalition formally endorses the Healthy Hair Act.
Our work is grounded in advancing safer, more sustainable cosmetic practices through education, advocacy, and policy reform. This legislation aligns with our commitment to:
Reducing toxic chemical exposure
Closing regulatory gaps in cosmetic oversight
Advancing health equity
Protecting salon professionals and consumers
Clean Beauty Coalition formally endorses the Healthy Hair Act.
This legislation aligns with our mission to reduce toxic chemical exposure, modernize cosmetic safety standards, and advance health equity through science-backed policy reform.
We support this bill as part of our broader commitment to strengthening ingredient oversight and addressing disproportionate exposure patterns in beauty and personal care products.. We will continue engaging stakeholders as the bill progresses.
What Happens Next
Because the Healthy Hair Act has just been introduced, the next stages of movement will include:
Committee referral and potential hearings
Additional co-sponsors
Scientific testimony
Industry response
Coalition endorsements
The legislative process will determine whether the bill advances toward passage. Regardless of outcome, its introduction reflects growing national attention to cosmetic ingredient safety and disproportionate exposure patterns.
The Broader Context
Cosmetic products are part of daily life. Yet the regulatory framework governing them has historically lagged behind modern toxicology and public health research.
The Healthy Hair Act signals a shift toward more proactive oversight — particularly in product categories with documented health concerns.
At Clean Beauty Coalition, we view this legislation as part of a broader movement toward ingredient transparency, stronger regulatory standards, and beauty practices that protect both people and the planet.
We will continue to provide updates as the legislative process unfolds.
