- AIR POLLUTION IN HAIR SALONS
Stylists and their clientele are at risk
In the world of hairdressing, respiratory and skin allergies are the second leading cause of illness.
These are directly caused by the many toxic products contained in the various products used for hairdressing and dyeing. There are chemical and allergic risks, both of which are inherent to hairdressing activities and products.
The harmful molecules that pollute the air in hair salons come from a wide variety of sources:
shampoos, sprays and aerosols, lacquers, dye products, bleach, perms, Brazilian hair straightening, etc.
Exposure to these harmful products can lead to many ailments through various means: it can affect your eyes (conjunctivitis), your skin (eczema, dermatitis, irritation, or skin cancer), or your lungs (asthma, rhinitis, lung cancer). 1 in 3 cases of asthma and 1 in 10 cases of allergies are among hairdressers. The effects of these ailments can be hard to detect as they usually start with vague but very common symptoms: allergic reactions, headaches, discomfort, or even just fatigue.
It is therefore vital to filter out these pollutants from the air in order to protect the lungs and the health of everyone in the hair salon, whether they are customers, hairdressers, or managers.
However, employees remain the most at risk as they are exposed to this air pollution on a daily basis. Another group that is particularly at risk is pregnant women.
The list of toxic products and allergens to which hairdressers and their customers are exposed is long and barbaric-sounding. A short list of the main culprits are as follows :
MAIN TOXIC PRODUCTS
- Ammonia
- Ethyl acetate
- Benzene
- Dichloromethane
- Ethanol
- Formalin
- Isobutane
- Isopropanol
- N-Hexane
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Persulfates
- Polyvinylpyrrolidone
- Toluene
MAIN ALLERGENS
- Amines and ammonium thioglycolates
- Hair dyes
- Vegetable gums
- Henna
- Latex
- Alkaline persulfates
- Lycopod powder
- Synthetic resins used in hair sprays
