Just when us Black women thought we had a break.

what the hell happened now?

In a new investigation, Consumer Reports tested 10 popular synthetic braiding hair products, including our favorite brands like Sensationnel, Shake-N-Go, and Magic Fingers, and found dangerous chemicals. All of the samples contained carcinogens, and 90% tested positive for lead.

The whole damn periodic table pulled up for the test results: carcinogens, including benzene and methylene chloride, were detected in all products. Lead was found in nine out of 10 samples, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as acetone, were present.

What’s worse is these beauty products are “largely unregulated and some ingredients are not required to be listed on the package,” states James Rogers, Consumer Reports’ Director of Product Safety, in a Tiktok video.

@consumerreports Could “protective hairstyles” like synthetic braids do more harm than good? Our latest investigation revealed surprising findings in some hair available today. Learn more through the link in our bio. #hairtok #braidinghair #blackhairtiktok #protectivestyles ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports

What Does It Mean For Us?

The video recommends taking breaks in between braids to limit exposure to harmful chemicals, but if you’re a Black woman you understand the need to get your hair braided regularly (it’s called protective styling for a reason).

It’s pretty depressing to keep getting failed by industries that could care less about the safety and hair-care needs of Black women and men. Luckily, there are alternative braiding hair companies that offer safe, non-toxic hair. Here are 4 Black-Owned, non-toxic braiding hair companies you can switch to: