There is great momentum for clean beauty products and consumer safety advocates. There are two pieces of legislation that are currently under proposal that would seek to protect salon workers—primarily women, and women of color— from harmful chemicals in the workplace.
Did you know that unlike products sold at retail, professional salon products (hair dyes, hair straighteners, nail polishes, etc) do not have to have their ingredients listed? You can read more in depth information about how salon professionals are impacted from beauty products from Women’s Voices for the Earth HERE.
Think about all of the salon professionals who show up to work and are exposed to harmful chemicals. What if you have asthma, are pregnant, or just plain want to avoid certain chemicals in professional products? No such luck.
Thanks to leaders in the California legislature and in Congress, that’s about to change.
Here’s the skinny on the two pieces of legislation aimed to protect salon professionals:
California
For the second year in a row, Assemblymember Kalra is leading the way in California to give salon professionals more access to ingredient information. The bill, AB 2775, would require professional salon products to list ingredients online. The bill has passed two House committees with bi-partisan support and is expected to pass the Assembly floor this week.
If you live in California, you can lend your voice by texting SAFERSALONS to 52886. This will generate a link for you to email your state legislators in less than two minutes!
Federal
Senators Harris (D-CA) and Cortez Masto (D-NV) recently introduced the Environmental Justice Right to Know Act, a bill that would protect vulnerable communities and workers from toxic chemical exposures on the job. This bill is larger in scope than the California bill, as it includes protections for farmworkers, who are exposed to harmful pesticides while on the job.
The provisions for salon workers, would also require ingredients used in salon products to list ingredients online. This bill is newly introduced into Congress and has yet to pick up steam, but you are more than welcome to call your Senators to ask them to support this important legislation.
Simply call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask your Senator to co-sponsor the Environmental Justice Right to Know Act.
Simple tips to reduce your exposure while at the salon:
- Bring your own safer nail polish when you get your nails done. Don’t forget your top coat in addition to the color! My favorite recommendations HERE.
- Ask your hair stylist about less toxic hair dye options.
- Choose salons with proper ventilation systems, both for you and the people who work there. If it smells overwhelming, find another salon.
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