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Lead is a toxic element that has no place in your drinking water, meals, or personal care items. However, the US FDA had previously permitted the use of lead acetate in a specific category of hair dyes, relying on outdated research suggesting it didn’t enter the bloodstream. This week, they reversed their decision.
The hair dyes in question, such as Grecian Formula, are designed to gradually darken hair over several days or weeks. These products are primarily targeted at male consumers.
Lead acetate functions by binding to hair and darkening when exposed to oxygen. Each application results in a slight darkening, requiring repeated use to achieve the desired effect. The FDA categorizes these as 'progressive' hair dyes.
While these dyes are unlikely to be lethal, they pose a risk of introducing lead into your system or being mishandled by children. These products already come with warnings advising against use on damaged scalps, facial or body hair, and emphasizing the need to wash hands after application. Several advocacy groups urged the FDA to revisit the studies that initially deemed these shampoos safe for public use. The FDA stated:
This decision reflects the understanding that, as stated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no level of lead exposure is safe. It also considers flaws identified in a 1980 study that estimated lead exposure from hair dye, which initially justified its use. Additionally, blood lead levels in the U.S. have significantly decreased since 1980, making it impossible to dismiss potential exposure from lead acetate-based hair dyes as negligible.
The final point offers a glimmer of positive news: significant progress has been made in removing major lead sources from our environment, allowing us to now focus on smaller contributors like hair dye.
Manufacturers have 12 months to cease production of lead-based dyes. Many have already switched to bismuth citrate, particularly those selling in Canada or the European Union, where lead acetate was already prohibited.
