Toxic formaldehyde in hair-straightening products to be banned — but experts say it's 'not enough'

Close-up image of a Black woman receiving a hair-straightening treatment in a salon. A hairdresser (whose face cannot be seen) wearing a red dress and gloves can be seen applying the white cream to the woman's hair while another person's hand can be seen holding a plastic tub containing the cream.

Later this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to ban the use of formaldehyde in hair-straightening and hair-smoothing products in response to mounting concerns about the ingredient's harmful health effects. The same ban would also bar chemicals known to release formaldehyde upon being heated.

Formaldehyde — also called formalin or methylene glycol, in its liquid forms — is a known human carcinogen tied to various cancers, such as leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancers, which affect the upper part of the throat. It's thought to be cancer-causing when inhaled in large amounts or for prolonged periods. Formaldehyde has also been linked to breathing problems, including the onset and exacerbation of asthma in children and adults. In people who regularly work with formaldehyde, the chemical is thought to potentially increase the risk of fertility issues and miscarriage.