[NFBOH-Cleveland] Brown, Pressley, and Velázquez Introduce the Healthy Hair Act

Fri Feb 27 23:03:37 UTC 2026

Brown, Pressley, and Velázquez Introduce the Healthy Hair Act

Image

February 25, 2026

 <https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases> Press Release

Legislation bans chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive harm in hair
products

Washington, DC  Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Congresswoman Nydia
Velázquez (NY-07) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) today introduced
the Health Hair Act, legislation to effectively ban formaldehyde from hair
products. 

The Health Hair Act would designate hair straightening or hair smoothing
products containing formaldehyde as adulterated under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act, prohibiting their sale or distribution in the United
States. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (NY-09) is an
original cosponsor of the bill, which is cosponsored by 13 members of the
House of Representatives. 

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, has been linked to
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12487841/#:~:text=Use%20of%20hair%
20straighteners%20and%20chemical%20relaxers%20has%20been%20associated,these%
20products%20may%20be%20genotoxic.> increased cancer incidence,
<https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/hair-smoothing-products-rel
ease-formaldehyde-when-heated> respiratory illness, and
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11730732/#:~:text=Background%3A,ma
y%20contribute%20to%20fibroid%20development.> reproductive harm, including
fibroids. Formaldehyde is a common element in hair relaxers and
straighteners that are largely marketed to Black women. Black women are also
more likely to develop uterine cancer,
<https://www.mskcc.org/news/why-black-women-are-twice-likely-die-endometrial
-cancer-and-msk-new-program-change-it> and twice as likely to die from it,
which has also been
<https://www.bumc.bu.edu/camed/2023/10/11/first-large-study-of-hair-relaxers
-among-black-women-finds-increased-risk-of-uterine-cancer/> linked to
<https://www.cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/study-finds-possible-link-between
-hair-straightening-chemicals-and-uterine-cancer.html#:~:text=Women%20who%20
use%20chemical%20hair,of%20the%20National%20Cancer%20Institute.> exposure to
hair products. 

It is time to get hair products that are making us sick off the shelves,
out of stores, and out of salons. The evidence builds every day that
chemical hair relaxers and straighteners are killing Black women, and this
is a public health and consumer safety crisis that must be addressed. Since
the FDA continues to delay, Congress must move first. I am proud to
introduce the Health Hair Act with Congresswoman Velazquez and Congresswoman
Pressley because women, hairdressers, and their families deserve better,
said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

"The FDA had every opportunity to ban formaldehyde in hair products, and
their failure to act has put the health of millions of women at risk. No one
should have to choose between straightening their hair and their health,
especially Black women and salon workers who face the greatest risks. This
bill will finally ban these dangerous chemicals and make clear that Congress
will not stand by while consumers are exposed to a known carcinogen. If the
FDA won't act, we will," said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. 

Whether in schools, in the workplace, or in our everyday lives, Black women
have been overlooked, punished, and criminalized for our hair. Not only does
that come at an emotional cost, but a physical one too, said Congresswoman
Pressley. The beauty products marketed to Black women and girls and found
in our salons contain toxic, unregulated chemicalsleaving us to
disproportionately suffer from adverse health impacts like cancer. Black
women, girls, and salon workers should be able to show up without putting
our health at risk. Thats why Im proud to introduce the Healthy Hair Act
with Reps. Brown and Velazquez to regulate these hazardous products and
affirm our right to safer alternatives. 

The link between chemical hair straighteners and extreme harms like cancer
is not a matter of debate, nor has it been for years. This is the reality
for countless Black women across America who, whether due to their
workplaces demands, societys pressures, or simply their personal
preferences, turned to these carcinogenic products to alter their hair
texture. Products we know to be dangerous have no place on the shelves of
our stores and salons, and no business being anywhere close to our bodies. I
am proud to fight alongside my colleagues to protect consumers and salon
workers from the proven unsafe side effects of hair straightening products
and bridge the health inequities that too often leave Black women and girls
behind," said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

The Healthy Hair Act is cosponsored by: Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Yvette
Clarke, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Jahanna Hayes, Rep. Summer Lee, Del.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep.
LaMonica McIver, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Terri Sewell, Rep. Nydia
Velázquez, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. 

In 2023,
<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-brown-rep-pressley-
urge-fda-investigate-chemical-hair-straighteners-health> following a push
from Brown and Pressley, the Food and Drug Administration announced a
<https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202304&RIN=0910-AI8
3#:~:text=This%20proposed%20rule%20would%20ban,marketed%20in%20the%20United%
20States.> proposed rule to ban formaldehyde. Last year, Brown, Velazquez,
and Pressley
<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/brown-velazquez-and-pre
ssley-call-trump-admin-finalize-formaldehyde-ban-hair> called on the Trump
Administration to cease delay and implement the rule, but the FDA has
continued to delay action. 

Brown is the author of the
<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-int
roduces-u-fight-act-fund-research-uterine-fibroids-part> U-FIGHT Act,
separate legislation to create a new federal grant program for the detection
and treatment of uterine fibroids. Brown is also a co-lead of Congresswoman
Clarkes
<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-joi
ns-congresswoman-clarke-introduce-uterine-cancer-study> Uterine Cancer Study
Act, which requires additional federal research into the relationship
between chemical hair straighteners and uterine cancers. 

###

Issues: <https://shontelbrown.house.gov/issues/congress> Congress
<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/issues/health> Health

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<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-int
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Introduces U-FIGHT Act to Fund Research on Uterine Fibroids, as Part of
Uterine Health Initiative

<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-joi
ns-congresswoman-clarke-introduce-uterine-cancer-study> Congresswoman Brown
Joins Congresswoman Clarke to Introduce the Uterine Cancer Study Act

<https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/brown-joins-velazquez-a
nd-pressley-seeking-information-fda-delay-ban> Brown Joins Velázquez and
Pressley Seeking Information from FDA on Delay of Ban of Formaldehyde in
Hair Products

Media Contact

Communications Director: Will McDonald
Email:   <mailto:Will.McDonald at mail.house.gov> Will.McDonald at mail.house.gov

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