STUDY: Hair Products Linked To Early Puberty In Black Girls (2858 hits)
I knew it was something in the water, but maybe it’s something in the relaxer, too. Ever wonder why our girls are growing up so fast? Black Women for Wellness offers some valuable insight into this issue. The grassroots non-profit committed to the empowerment, health and well-being of Black women and girls recently released a 60-page report, Natural Evolutions: One Hair Story, documenting the dangers of the cosmetology industry.
READ: 10 Things Professional Hairstylists Want You To Stop Doing To Your Hair
Their report from research conducted between 2009 to 2013 focused on the ingredients used in your favorite products. Products that will leave you looking fly for weekends on the town, but also cause early puberty onset, respiratory damage and fertility issues to name a few.
The beauty industry benefits from the Black dollar in a major way. We spend over 9 billion dollars a year, nearly twice as much as any other ethnic group. In an industry where we’re the buyers, we also need to become the consumers of information. You’ll probably want to read the labels of your favorite products after reading these telling statistics. Keeping your baby girl a baby might be a problem if she gets a relaxer. Pre-pubescent girls reported earlier signs of puberty when using the product that’s supposed to get everything straight.
READ: Am I Allergic To My Hair Products?
According to the report: “Girls who reported using chemical hair oils and hair perms were 1.4 times more likely to experience early puberty after adjusting for race, ethnicity, and year of birth. In addition, other studies have linked early puberty to hair detangler use by Black girls. In one of the studies African American girls as young as two years old started showing signs of puberty after using products containing animal placenta found in many detanglers and conditioners.”
