It's no secret that hair and hair care products have a long controversial history that intersects with politics, gender, and race. And while the study didn't find that race inherently impacted whether or not a participant developed cancer, the authors noted that 60% of those who used chemical hair straighteners self-identified as Black women. 1
Other studies have confirmed that although uterine cancer is on the rise among all American women despite race, Black women are at more risk of developing uterine cancer than other races.
Historically, Black women and girls have felt immense pressure to conform to a eurocentric beauty standard.
According to Adela Suliman, reporting for the Washington Post, "[M]any Black people in the United States and elsewhere have faced discrimination at school and work for wearing their [natural] hair ... with some saying they receive better treatment when they straighten." 2
Because of the pressure to fit into a eurocentric beauty standard, Black women are the largest consumer demographic purchasing chemical straighteners. In fact, consumer data shows that not only are they the biggest demographic, but Black women also apply chemical straighteners more frequently and report using them earlier in their lives than women of other races.
So, although the study found no inherent difference between women of all races who develop cancer after using chemical straighteners, the author does note that because Black women are the largest consumer demographic, "these findings may be even more relevant for them." 1
