Formaldehyde in Hair Straightening Products: An Ongoing Health Concern 

 Formaldehyde exposure in hair straightening products continues to pose a serious health concern— despite strong international action to restrict or ban its use. As part of our ongoing effort to keep consumers informed and empowered, we’ve updated our list of products that still contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients. Before you shop, here’s what you need to know about how other countries regulate these chemicals, how the U.S. compares, and why products containing formaldehyde remain widely available. 

Global Regulations Offer Stronger Protections 

The EU prohibits the use of formaldehyde in all cosmetics and severely restricts the use of formaldehyde-releasing chemicals (such as preservatives) to very low concentrations, requiring clear labeling (e.g., “contains formaldehyde”) above certain thresholds. 

Canada includes formaldehyde on its Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, restricting its use to specific product types and concentrations. It does not permit the use of formaldehyde in aerosol products and restricts formaldehyde in other cosmetic products, including those that may release formaldehyde under normal use, such as hair straighteners. 

Australia restricts formaldehyde in cosmetics and actively enforces bans on products that exceed safe limits, including the removal of non-compliant imports from the market. 

Numerous hair straightening products containing formaldehyde were taken off the market in these countries beginning in 2010, protecting consumers from harm. 

Lack of U.S. Federal Regulation Leads to State Bans 

Despite growing global regulatory action and mounting pressure to enforce stricter policies, the U.S. federal government has not yet proposed regulations to ban formaldehyde in hair straightening products. In response, several states have taken proactive measures to protect public health by banning formaldehyde in cosmetics, including hair treatments. 

The political landscape of formaldehyde bans:  

• California’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (AB 2762) prohibits the use of formaldehyde in cosmetic and personal care products 

• Maryland’s House Bill 643 (HB0643) bans the manufacture and sale of cosmetic products containing formaldehyde and several other harmful ingredients. 

• Washington’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (HB 1047), enacted in 2023, restricts the use of multiple toxic chemicals in cosmetics, including formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, PFAS, and phthalates. The ban on intentionally added formaldehyde took effect January 1, 2025. The state extended the compliance deadline for formaldehyde-releasers to January 1, 2027. 

• Oregon’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (SB 546) was passed in 2023 and will go into effect on January 1, 2027, further extending protections against hazardous cosmetic ingredients like formaldehyde. 

Despite State Bans, Hair Straighteners Containing Formaldehyde Are Still for Sale 

Over the past year, we surveyed a range of hair straightening products currently available on the U.S. market and requested Safety Data Sheets (SDS) directly from manufacturers. In most cases, manufacturers either refused to share SDSs or did not respond; however, one company did provide documentation upon request. 

Because of lack of regulation from the FDA and transparency from manufacturers, Weave has put together a consumer safety database of hair straightening products that contain formaldehyde and/or formaldehyde-releasing agents—originally compiled in 2014 and expanded in 2018—with new data from 2025.  

Please note: Products not included on this list should not be assumed to be formaldehyde-free. Many products do not list formaldehyde outright but instead list chemicals that release formaldehyde when heated. Common ingredients to look out for include Methylene Glycol, Formalin, Paraformaldehyde, Dimethylol Glycol, and Glyoxal. 

Even products labeled “formaldehyde-free” may contain these ingredients, making it crucial to read labels carefully and stay informed about what to look out for when shopping for hair care products. 

This work wouldn’t have been possible without contributions from our 2024-2025 Weavers cohort fellow, Yami Lopez.  

Stay Informed & Take Action 

Contact the FDA today and let them know that protecting public health and consumer safety must be a priority. We can’t afford any more delays. 

Discover how Weave is pushing the FDA to ban formaldehyde—and how you can join the movement—through our “Beautiful Hair Without the Scare” campaign.