Rihanna's Fenty Hair announcement sparked a frenzy online, with a mix of excitement and skepticism. In the commercial, the "Needed Me" singer rocked a pixie cut, which had people debating whether she was wearing a wig. However, Riri said aht aht and showed everyone that it was her real hair and began rocking her natural curls with her most recent appearance at her Fenty Hair launch.
During her event, she spoke to Extra about embracing her natural hair. "It feels light," she described. "No braids, no extensions, no weaves, it's so easy. And so easy to do."
This may be the first time that many people have seen the mom of two wear her natural hair, but we all know that she is the queen of hairstyles. She also opened up about the role hair has played in her life and career.
"A part of self-expression, a part of self-identity. A part of my mood, my being," she said. "My hair could either give me confidence or take my confidence right away. Hair makes an outfit. Like even if you're wearing the bummiest thing, as long as your hair is done, it elevates everything."
She continued, "You look sleek, you look showered, you look pretty. It's easy. It's a freedom that you have with your hair. You could not wear makeup as long as your hair is poppin'."
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Like many women who grew up watching their mothers put on makeup and do their hair, Rihanna's mom was her first introduction to beauty and hair and cites her as her biggest inspiration. Talking to E! News, she said "My mom always did a top bun and I was obsessed. I always wanted my hair like that and she was the first woman that ever did baby hair in my life that I saw. So I didn't even know it was called baby hair back then, but she was the first."
One thing is certain: Rihanna's products have a unique allure that keeps fans coming back for more, and it seems like Fenty Hair is no exception, promising a new level of self-expression and ease that's hard to resist. Rihanna said she has been working on the line for four years and wanted to create something that was inclusive, which has been the through line for her all her brands. Fenty Hair officially launches June 13.
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Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
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A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
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