Synthetic hair is made from plastic fibers, which are designed to mimic human hair. This low-grade acrylic plastic is extremely toxic when exposed to heat. In fact, the EU banned these synthetic fibers for this reason. The fumes from synthetic fibers are not only toxic for humans, but for the environment too,If this makes you feel a little more than uncomfortable, read on to find out exactly what you are exposing yourself to, and how you can protect yourself from the dangers of synthetic fibers.
How is Synthetic Hair Made?
While synthetic hair may look similar to natural human hair, synthetic hair is made up of cheap substances, primarily plastic fibers.
Synthetic hair is mass-produced in factories throughout the world and is composed of low-grade acrylic, nylon or polyester that is heated and strung into strands to make individual hair fibers. The hair is then eventually assembled into hair extensions or wigs.
These plastic fibers are cheap to manufacture, making synthetic wigs and extensions much more affordable than genuine human hair extensions.
Synthetic hair is also much easier to maintain—the downside is that they don’t last very long. In fact, most synthetic extensions only last around 6-12 months before they are ready to be tossed.
Does Synthetic Hair Cause Cancer?
Almost all synthetic hair has been dyed by a type of synthetic dye. Synthetic dye does contain components that are carcinogenic and can penetrate the skin quite easily.
4-MMPD, 2,4-diaminoanisole is one example of a common synthetic dye used that has been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals—not a good omen.
In terms of the synthetic fiber used, there are many studies that slink acrylic materials found in synthetic hair extensions to cancer.
Not to mention polyester, another component of synthetic hair, is known to irritate the skin due to the fact that it is a low-quality material. This can result in all kinds of rashes, itchiness and general feelings of discomfort.Another study conducted by France Labreche, MD, of the Institut de Recherche Robert Sauve in Montreal, exposed the alarming facts that young women exposed to synthetic fibers such as acrylic and nylon were shown to be at greatest risk for breast cancer.
The researchers also mentioned that synthetic fibers are often treated with several chemicals, such as flame retardants, delustering agents, and dyes which all have been shown to have carcinogenic properties.
