A Wayne County resolution titled "Our Hair, Our Health" is turning up the heat on toxic chemicals in hair products marketed to Black women, casting the issue as both a public health problem and a racial equity test. Led by Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick, the measure has rallied health advocates and stirred cautious questions from salon professionals, who say any shift in products will have to be practical behind the chair. Supporters argue that local pressure could push regulators and manufacturers toward clearer safety rules and less hazardous formulations.
The resolution debuted during a Wayne County Commission session that launched Black History Month on Feb. 5 inside the Guardian Building, where commissioners paired cultural programming with the policy rollout, according to the Michigan Chronicle. The outlet reports that the measure reaffirms the commission's commitment to racial equity and calls for tighter oversight of ingredients that advocates say fall hardest on Black women.
What supporters want
Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick told CBS Detroit that the issue is "very personal" and that the resolution seeks to ban certain carcinogenic ingredients while pressing for clearer labeling and standards. The measure also highlights the need for culturally informed education for stylists and consumers, so people know what they are putting on their hair and scalp. Some in the industry say that shift will not happen overnight. "Will it be a bad thing? Absolutely not," licensed cosmetologist Shaynae' Clark told CBS. "Will it be a good thing? Yes and no, because we're going to need something to substitute everything we use to do our hair."
The research pushing reform
Backers of the resolution lean on recent research that shows a heavier chemical load in products marketed to Black women. An Environmental Working Group review of 4,011 personal care items found that only about 21% scored as low hazard in the EWG Skin Deep database. The analysis flagged formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, phthalates and other concerning ingredients in hair and braiding products, illustrating why advocates argue for stronger oversight. According to the Environmental Working Group, those patterns have persisted even as some formulations have improved.
Scientific studies have also tied certain straightening and relaxer products to higher risks of hormone-related cancers and other illnesses. A 2025 analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found associations between the use of chemical straighteners and higher incidence of several cancers, including thyroid and pancreatic cancers, and earlier cohort research has linked frequent straightener use to increased uterine and ovarian cancer risks, according to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
What happens next
The commission has not yet outlined enforcement tools or a timeline for turning the resolution into binding rules, and local leaders say the measure is meant to start a policy conversation rather than instantly pull products off store shelves. As the Michigan Chronicle notes, the move could lead to county advocacy with state and federal regulators and spark community education partnerships.
Detroit, often called the hair capital of the world, sits at the center of the debate. Salons, Black-owned brands and beauty entrepreneurs emphasize that safety efforts must also respect cultural practices and business realities. Supporters say Wayne County could become a model for other jurisdictions, while stylists warn about pressure on supply chains and the need for training on safer alternatives, as CBS Detroit reports.
Whether the resolution evolves into enforceable rules or serves mainly as a roadmap for advocacy and education will shape how much it changes daily salon life. For now, it keeps a bright spotlight on how product safety, marketing and racial equity collide in Detroit's beauty economy.
