CR contacted all the brands for comment about the test results. Thirteen responded, including Dosso Beauty, New Village Braid, and Rebundle, three companies that support more regulation in this space.
In an email, New Village Braid wrote, in part, “New Village Braid takes a risk-based, quality-focused approach to product safety. We work with established suppliers, review material documentation, and use independent third-party testing to screen for heavy metals, VOCs, and other restricted substances, with reference to California Proposition 65 and EU and regulatory guidance. While no material can be guaranteed to contain zero substances at absolute levels, we focus on evaluating results against health-protective benchmarks and communicating clearly with consumers.”
A representative for Model Model and Shake-N-Go responded that it strengthened its internal controls and supplier oversight following Consumer Reports’ prior coverage and testing related to braiding hair products. Their statement read, in part, “We shared those findings with our suppliers and have consistently emphasized that hazardous or harmful substances must not be used in our products,” the brand states. “We work with established manufacturing partners and maintain quality-assurance processes designed to help ensure that our products meet applicable safety standards and retailer requirements prior to distribution. As part of these efforts, we conduct periodic internal reviews and independent third-party testing, informed by evolving industry practices and available scientific guidance.”
They continued, “Our testing approach is multi-layered. Initial random testing is conducted in the country of production, and we are also preparing to conduct secondary testing through U.S.-based laboratories to further evaluate product safety and material composition.”
Braid Miracle Founder and CEO LaTonia Oyeniran, said, in part: “Braid Miracle is a Black woman-owned brand founded by and for the braiding community, and safety and quality are central to why we exist. We understand the intent of Consumer Reports’ testing and appreciate the broader conversation it brings to product safety within this category. The trace levels identified in our product were detected using highly sensitive testing methods and precautionary exposure assumptions, and we take these findings seriously as part of our ongoing commitment to learning, transparency, and continuous improvement.
“We encourage consumers to follow general good practices when handling braiding hair, including washing hands after installation and keeping products away from young children’s mouths. As members of the same community we serve, we believe consumers deserve clear, balanced information, and we remain committed to prioritizing their well-being as we continue to develop and refine our products.”
Curlkalon’s lengthy email response said, in part:
“Curlkalon is one of the few truly 100% Black-owned, women-led hair extension small businesses in this category. The brand was founded in 2014 with scalp health as a first priority. Over a decade later, we still operate with a health-conscious, better-for-you ethos. We are also customers of our own products. We wear them, and so do our mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and friends. That lived accountability is a major reason we take safety and quality seriously.
“We are reviewing the Consumer Reports results with our laboratory partner to ensure we are interpreting the findings appropriately and in the context of intended conditions of use. We also note that the methodology and exposure assumptions underlying your results differ from the approach used by our laboratory partners.”
The brand went on to say that “as practical guidance, consumers should follow normal handling hygiene during installation and styling, including washing hands after prolonged handling, using ventilation when applying heat, and discontinuing use if they experience irritation or sensitivity.”
In response to the levels of VOCs we found, namely acetone, Slayyy Hair said, in part, “We respectfully note that your test modeling is not representative of how braiding hair is used (i.e., worn externally, not consumed). We remain confident that our finished product poses no demonstrated health risk when used as intended.”
On whether the company conducts premarket testing, the company said, “Yes. These tests screen for heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, phthalates, formaldehyde and other known toxins. We carefully vet and verify all materials before they reach consumers, using natural ingredients that avoid exposure to harmful chemicals. We also continuously enhance oversight of our supply chain to ensure every product aligns with our safety and wellness standard . . .
“As a brand, Slayyy is committed to safe, non-toxic hair and scalp care solutions.
“We welcome continued dialogue with Consumer Reports and other stakeholders seeking to uplift safer standards across the beauty and haircare industry.”
A representative from Gyal Braids said the company appreciates that Consumer Reports is bringing scientific attention to this product category. In response to the acetone levels found in the hair CR tested, they wrote, in part, “Our product is pre-washed in apple cider vinegar, a food-grade product used widely in food preparation and home care. Acetone is a documented volatile component in vinegar vapors. We note that our acetone levels are higher than other Kanekalon-based products in your study. Because our ACV pre-wash is the primary process differentiating our product from competitors, and because that process uniquely introduces vinegar contact with the fiber, vinegar contact is a plausible contributor to the elevated acetone detected under your testing conditions.”
The detailed response also went on to say the “chemical-free” description on the brand’s website “refers to the absence of harsh chemical treatments (such as alkaline lye baths or formaldehyde-based coatings) that are commonly used in the processing of conventional braiding hair.”
They also wrote, “Our product has been purchased by over 50,000 unique customers over the lifetime of our business, and we have received zero reports of respiratory irritation, adverse health reactions, or any symptoms consistent with VOC or heavy metal exposure across all customer service channels, product reviews, and direct communications.”
In response to questions about safety and testing, the company said: “As a small brand born out of the braiding community, getting this right matters deeply to us.”
Lillian Augusta Beauty asserts that product safety is its highest priority. A representative wrote in an email to CR that said, in part, “At Lillian Augusta Beauty, Co., we remain dedicated to transparency and the science-based safety of our products. We have reviewed the reported levels of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds as referenced in Consumer Reports. The levels reported are extremely low and technically unavoidable at such low levels.” The company challenged CR’s methodology and risk assessment.
It also said it conducts dermatologist-supervised RIPT studies, [patch tests used to identify allergic reactions to ingredients] on all products to ensure there is no allergic reaction. “We carefully review material chemistry for potential contaminants and use our due diligence in collecting as much information as possible from suppliers on chemicals of concern. We use this information to ensure these are below any regulatory limit, if applicable, and conduct a thorough risk assessment based on foreseeable use conditions.”
Hyun Han, CEO of I&I Hair Corporation, which produces EZbraid, was detailed in their response. “We do not intentionally add lead, arsenic, cadmium, or other heavy metals in production,” it wrote in part. “Our raw materials are sourced from established petrochemical suppliers and manufactured under controlled extrusion conditions. Historically, given that heavy metals are not intended ingredients for PP/PET-based [food-grade plastics] yarn systems, not every lot has been subjected to the same broad heavy-metal panel. However, due to heightened public attention and the importance of independent verification, we are actively reviewing expanded third-party testing in the United States as part of strengthening our QC program.”
It also wrote, “We respectfully request that any future discussion clearly distinguish between trace background-level findings and materially elevated concentrations. The mere fact of analytical detection should not be interpreted as indicating equivalent risk profiles across products with substantially different quantitative magnitudes.”
Amour was brief, stating, “We require our vendors to use the safest materials possible when manufacturing our items.” It finished, “Please rest assured that our products are and will continue to be safe and hygienic, in addition to being fashionable and of high quality.”
Similarly, a representative from Chade Fashions (producer of Alitress hair) kept it short: “We are happy it is confirmed that the Alitress item is overall safe and hygienic, as it shows our manufacturing vendors can be trusted,” they wrote via email. “It has caught our attention that there were low/trace amounts of certain metals found in this item. Thank you for alerting us. We will work with our vendors to eliminate this and will continue our efforts to make our products safe for all our consumers.”
Dosso Beauty founder and CEO Kadidja Dosso’s response to any testing procedures said, in part: “Yes, we’ve conducted 2 clinical trials on our braiding hair. The first clinical trial tested our non-toxicity and the other tested our hair to be hypoallergenic. Our test results are listed on our website (www.dossobeauty.com) for all consumers to have access to. It was critical to ensure that our braiding hair contained no detectable heavy metals. It was equally important to ensure our hair was hypoallergenic for consumers who suffer from skin sensitivities, including myself. We are preparing for a second test for our non-toxicity of our braiding hair through Princeton Consumer Reviews which is where we conducted our initial hypoallergenic test. This will be to ensure that the quality of our hair and its components have not changed over the past 2 years and to hold our manufacturers accountable to our high safety standards.”
Dosso continued: “We require all of our manufacturers to provide a comprehensive safety data sheet and to test hair products for heavy metals, VOCs and other carcinogens to ensure their safety. We receive those test results, and they are also listed publicly on our website.”
When asked about their participation in the Beauty Justice Act, Dosso said: “Being involved in the Beauty Justice Act was a no-brainer for me. Our brand exists because I myself had an allergic reaction to braiding hair that claimed to be pre-cleansed but was not safe. Prior to my involvement with the Beauty Justice Act we’ve already planned to conduct bi-annual clinical trials to stay up to date. Most consumers have no idea how expensive and demanding clinical trials are. Regardless of the sacrifices required to afford our bi-annual clinical trials amidst other expenses, it’s imperative that we know we are selling safe products to our consumers.”
In response to questions about the hair products’ VOC levels, Dosso responded: “I am grateful that Consumer Reports shared its results with us; this has motivated us to speed up our plan for our bi-annual clinical trials. We will conduct our second non-toxic clinical trial and ensure that all forms of Benzene is on that list of compounds to verify that our braiding hair is free of it and any other VOCs that may have appeared on Consumer Reports’ first test. I’m equally grateful that Consumer Reports’ test showed that our product did not reach a high level of concern and does not include heavy metals similar to our initial test.”
Rebundle founder and CEO Ciara Imani May’s response stated: “We’re glad this level of scrutiny has reached the hair extensions industry, an area that has long lacked rigorous, independent testing.
She also said: “Consumer Reports used a conservative oral exposure model based on assumed hand-to-mouth transfer. This differs from the dermal exposure models typically used in cosmetic safety assessments, which evaluate skin contact rather than ingestion. Even under CR’s conservative ingestion-based assumptions, Rebundle did not exceed their Level of Concern thresholds.
“Beyond this testing, Rebundle conducts microbiological safety testing, which our products have passed, and we have completed clinical testing on sensitive and eczema-prone skin to evaluate irritation and tolerability. Skin compatibility and microbiome safety remain central to our product development standards.
“Comprehensive chemical testing across all ingredients and finished goods can be complex and resource-intensive, particularly in a category that has historically lacked standardized oversight. Independent investigations like Consumer Reports help establish benchmarks and raise expectations across the industry, especially for smaller brands working to build safer alternatives.
“We remain committed to transparency, continuous improvement, and raising the standard for plant-based hair extensions.”
