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FDA Still Hasn't Banned Formaldehyde in Hair Straighteners — Here's How to Check What's in Yours

The FDA proposed banning formaldehyde in hair-smoothing products in 2023. Three years and six missed deadlines later, the rule still isn't final — and the products remain legal.

Meridians Life Desk

Published 21 August 2026 · Updated 21 August 2026 · 4 min read

FDA Still Hasn't Banned Formaldehyde in Hair Straighteners — Here's How to Check What's in YoursBeauty
Photo: Photo by Polina Tankilevitch / Pexels (Pexels License — free to use, no attribution legally required (credited above as good practice).)

The short answer

  • The FDA announced plans in 2023 to ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair smoothing and straightening products, but as of August 2026 no formal rule has been proposed.
  • The proposal's target date has slipped six times, most recently missing a December 31, 2025 deadline, according to the federal government's own Unified Agenda tracking system.
  • Research cited by federal regulators links frequent use of these products to respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and higher rates of uterine fibroids and hormone-related cancers.
  • Black women are disproportionately exposed to these products, starting use younger and using them longer than other groups, according to health researchers cited in regulatory coverage.

In 2023, the FDA announced plans to ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals as ingredients in hair smoothing and straightening products, citing cancer and reproductive-health risks. As of this writing, that rule still hasn't been formally proposed. The products remain legal to sell nationwide.

A rule that keeps slipping

According to the federal government's Unified Agenda — the official tracker for pending regulations — the rule is listed under RIN 0910-AI83, targeting 21 CFR Part 700 under the FDA's authority in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It first appeared in the Spring 2023 agenda with a proposed-rule target of April 2024. That date has since moved to November 2024, then March 2025, then July 2025, then December 31, 2025 — and was missed again. The FDA continues to describe the rule as a priority but has taken no formal rulemaking action.

Why regulators want it banned

Formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen. Some hair smoothing products release formaldehyde gas when heated with a flat iron, and reporting on the proposed rule cites studies associating frequent use of hair relaxers and straighteners with respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and increased incidence of uterine fibroids, infertility, and hormone-related cancers including uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer. Temporary chemical relaxers show the strongest association with fibroid incidence in the cited research.

Who's most exposed

Black women are disproportionately exposed to these products — they tend to start using them at a younger age and use them for longer, according to health researchers cited in coverage of the delay. "Every delay directly puts at risk the health of salon workers and consumers, particularly Black women," said David Andrews of the Environmental Working Group, commenting on the FDA's repeated missed deadlines.

What to check on your own

  • Look for "formaldehyde" listed directly on the ingredient label
  • Watch for formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, which break down into formaldehyde over time or when heated
  • Ask your salon directly whether a smoothing or keratin treatment contains formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-releaser before it's applied
  • Ventilate the area and avoid heat styling immediately after any smoothing treatment if you're uncertain about its ingredients

Sources

Every factual claim above is traceable to these documents. Check them — that is why they are here.

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Meridians Life Desk is an editorial desk at Meridians, not an individual. A desk byline means the article was produced and fact-checked to that desk's published standards. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.

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