Did you know that hair products contain many chemicals that evaporate very easily with heat? Among these chemicals, we find siloxanes which make hair shine and straighten and which are volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
In the magazine Environmental Science & Technology of the American Chemical Society, scientists reported that the use of these hair care products can rapidly change the composition of indoor air, but also that common heat styling techniques like straightening and curling increase levels of volatile organic compounds.
Styling products and appliances: why do they change the composition of the air?
The scientists conducted this study with the primary intention of shedding light on volatile organic compounds released by hair products, especially in real-world scenarios such as small bathrooms where they are typically applied. To do this, they installed the volunteers in an architectural engineering laboratory reproducing a 60 m3 house, located on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana (United States). They then invited participants to use their usual hair products, including creams, sprays and oils as well as electronic styling devices. The team then measured before, during and after hair styling emissions of volatile organic compounds, including volatile cyclic methyl siloxanes, which are used in many hair care products.
Following this analysis, the data showed rapid changes in the chemical composition of the home air and revealed that volatile cyclic methyl-siloxanes accounted for most of the volatile organic compounds detected. Following this observation, the researchers noticed that emissions were influenced by the type of product used, the length of the hair, as well as the type and temperature of the styling appliance. They also observed that longer hair and higher temperatures release greater amounts of volatile organic compounds.
Researchers call for studying health effects of siloxane exposure
Based on the study results, researchers estimated that the potential daily inhalation of volatile cyclic methyl siloxanes could be as high as 20 mg per day. In the experiment, turning on an exhaust fan removed most pollutants from the room within 20 minutes of finishing the hair care session. A practice that scientists say could affect outdoor air quality in densely populated cities. Indeed, high concentrations of volatile cyclic methyl-siloxanes indoors can lead to significant transport from indoors to outdoors through ventilation.
As the researchers say in the press release presenting the results of the study, “There is an urgent need to study the long-term effects of siloxane exposure on human health.”
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