Healthy Hair Act
Sponsored By: Representative Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
Introduced
Summary
Declares hair straightening and smoothing products that contain formaldehyde adulterated. This bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to classify any hair straightening or smoothing product with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-releasing substance as adulterated and to add a definition that explicitly covers keratin treatments.
Show full summary
- Consumers and salon customers: Products introduced into interstate commerce that contain any amount of formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances would be designated adulterated, affecting which hair-smoothing products can be sold across state lines.
- Salon workers and public health: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in consultation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), would study short- and long-term health impacts, including links to cancer, respiratory problems, and endocrine disruption.
- Manufacturers and importers: The bill adds a statutory definition of "hair straightening or hair smoothing product" that covers products intended to alter hair texture, including keratin treatments, and applies the new adulteration standard to those products if they contain formaldehyde or releasing substances.
- Reporting and timing: The FDA, consulting NIOSH, must deliver an initial report to Congress within 1 year and a final report within 2 years and 2 months that includes findings, regulatory recommendations, enforcement considerations, and research needs. The adulteration standard would apply to cosmetics introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce 180 days after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Ban on formaldehyde hair products
If enacted, the bill would treat any hair straightening or smoothing product that contains any amount of formaldehyde or a formaldehyde‑releasing substance as adulterated. That would bar those products from being introduced into interstate commerce starting 180 days after enactment. The definition covers products meant to straighten, relax, smooth, or change hair texture and explicitly includes keratin treatments. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and salons would have to stop selling covered products. Consumers and salon workers would have less exposure to formaldehyde.
Study on formaldehyde hair product harms
If enacted, the bill would require the FDA, working with NIOSH, to study short‑ and long‑term health harms from hair straightening or smoothing products that contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde‑releasing substances, or similar chemicals the Secretary deems comparably risky. The study must examine salon workers and links to cancer, breathing problems, and hormone (endocrine) disruption. FDA must send an initial report to Congress within 1 year after enactment and a final report within 2 years and 2 months after enactment. Both reports must include findings and the agency's recommendations for regulatory action, enforcement, and additional research. The study and reports would inform regulators, employers, and workers but would not by themselves change product legal status.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov