February 25, 2026
Ms. Brown (for herself, Ms. Velázquez, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Norton, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Crockett, Mrs. McIver, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mrs. Beatty, and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to specify that hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing substances will be considered adulterated, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Healthy Hair Act
.
Sec. 2. Hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde considered adulterated
(a) In general
Section 601 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 361) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(h)
If it is a hair straightening or hair smoothing product (including a keratin treatment) and it contains any amount of formaldehyde or any formaldehyde releasing substance.
(b) Hair straightening or hair smoothing product defined
Section 604 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 364) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(6) Hair straightening or hair smoothing product
The term hair straightening or hair smoothing product means a product intended to straighten, relax, smooth, or otherwise alter the texture of hair.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to cosmetics introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 3. Study on health impacts of exposure to hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde and other substances
(a) In general
The Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall conduct a study on the short-term and long-term health impacts of exposure to hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing substances (or similar chemical agents that the Secretary determines pose comparable health risks), including—
(1)
the impacts of such exposure on salon workers; and
(2)
the association of such exposure with cancer, respiratory issues, and endocrine disruption.
(b) Reports to Congress
The Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall submit to Congress an initial report and a final report that contain—
(1)
the findings of the study under subsection (a); and
(2)
the Commissioner’s recommendations for regulatory action with respect to limiting the health impacts of exposure to hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing substances (or similar chemical agents that the Secretary determines pose comparable health risks), enforcement of such actions, and additional research needed to assess such health impacts.
(c) Timing of reports
The Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall submit—
(1)
the initial report referred to in subsection (b) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2)
the final report referred to in such subsection not later than 2 years and 2 months after such date of enactment.