New Braiding Hair Testing Reveals Ongoing Regulatory Gaps in the U.S. Cosmetics Market
Recent follow-up testing conducted by Consumer Reports has identified heavy metals and other contaminants in synthetic braiding hair products sold in the United States — reinforcing longstanding concerns about regulatory oversight in the broader beauty and personal care marketplace.
The investigation examined multiple products commonly used in protective styling and found measurable levels of substances that raise questions about manufacturing controls, supply chain transparency, and consumer safety safeguards.
While synthetic braiding hair does not fall neatly within the federal definition of cosmetics under current law, these products are used in close proximity to the scalp for extended periods — creating sustained exposure potential.
This moment underscores a larger issue:
The U.S. beauty industry remains regulated under a fragmented system that does not adequately address cumulative chemical exposure, imported product oversight, or contamination risks in hair-related materials.
What the Testing Highlights
The findings are not simply about one product category. They illuminate systemic vulnerabilities:
Limited pre-market safety review requirements
Insufficient contaminant screening standards
Gaps in import inspection and enforcement
Lack of mandatory full transparency for non-cosmetic hair materials
No unified national contaminant thresholds for many product categories
For communities that disproportionately use synthetic braiding hair — including Black women and children — these regulatory gaps translate into disproportionate exposure risk.
Clean Beauty Coalition approaches this issue through a public health and environmental justice lens.
Chemical safety is not a trend. It is a structural accountability issue.
The Regulatory Context
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022 expanded FDA authority over cosmetics, but significant gaps remain — particularly regarding:
Non-cosmetic hair accessories and extensions
Imported product oversight
Contaminant thresholds
Post-market enforcement capacity
This is precisely why the Clean Beauty Coalition supports stronger federal cosmetic reform and state-level legislation, including the Safer Beauty for Georgians Act.
Policy modernization must address the full ecosystem of beauty exposure — not just finished cosmetic formulations.
Why This Matters
Heavy metals and other contaminants are not cosmetic ingredients — they are often byproducts of manufacturing processes, environmental contamination, or insufficient quality control.
Without clear regulatory thresholds, standardized testing protocols, and transparent supply chains, consumers are left to navigate risk without meaningful protections.
Communities should not have to rely on independent testing to determine whether products are safe.
Regulatory systems should prevent unsafe products from reaching shelves in the first place.
Where We Go From Here
Clean Beauty Coalition calls for:
Strengthened federal cosmetic safety standards
Clear contaminant limits across product categories
Expanded oversight of imported hair products
Increased funding for FDA enforcement
Transparent ingredient and materials disclosure
Alignment of beauty regulation with environmental health science
This issue is larger than braiding hair.
It is about building a regulatory framework that reflects contemporary science, protects public health, and ensures accountability across the beauty supply chain.
Beauty should never come with hidden exposure risks.
And regulatory protection should not depend on product category loopholes.
