Could your braids be harming your health?
Braids made from synthetic hair have been found to contain toxic chemicals, including carcinogens.
Woman with braids. Pixaby/MartinKwame
CapeTalk's Sara-Jayne Makwala King is joined by dermatologist Dr Dilshaad Asmal.
Braided hairstyles are popular with black women in particular across the globe.
While the danger of traction alopecia (hair loss caused by repeated pulling on the hair) is often talked about, did you know that braids could be harming your health because of the toxic chemicals they may contain?
Braiding fan Sara-Jayne Makwala King picked up on a BBC article reporting that some of the synthetic hair used in products favoured by millions of black women has been found to contain carcinogens.
The US non-profit consumer organisation Consumer Reports tested ten synthetic braiding hair products and found toxins including carcinogens in all ten. For example, three products contained benzene, a carcinogen which has been linked with acute myeloid leukemia.
Nine out of ten products also contained unsafe levels of lead.
Makwala King interviews Dr Dilshaad Asmal, a dermatologist practising in Cape Town.
Dr Asmal notes that there doesn't seem to be regulation of these products in South Africa.
"If you go into the deep dive you find here are various types of synthetic-type braids and most of them are made from plastic fibres and acrylic fibres.There's chemical treatment of the synthetic hair for instance with dyes and flame retardants, and then there's heat-treated synthetic fibre... These can release fumes like dioxin which is highly toxic; hydrogen chloride gas affects respiratory health..."
Dr Dilshaad Asmal, Dermatologist
"And, if you look at where you can get braiding in this country, which is all over, I don't think anyone actually thinks about the possible carcinogenic features of the synthetic hair braids. I don't think the South African council has anybody even looking into this as being a potential health risk."
Dr Dilshaad Asmal, Dermatologist
Dr Asmal says more education is needed around this issue so that consumers can also put pressure on the manufacturers of synthetic hair to come up with better products.
While the health risk of occasional use of braids may be minimal, this would increase with more regular use for longer periods, she points out.
"If you constantly use braids then obviously your risk is increased for certain side effects for instance on your respiratory health or from the carcinogenic properties in many products."
Dr Dilshaad Asmal, Dermatologist
Dr Asmal also covers the problem of traction alopecia (don't braid so tight!) - take a listen in the interview audio at the top of the article