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A prominent consumer advocacy group has conducted a study of over 20 popular hair dyes and uncovered a cocktail of toxic substances. Most alarmingly, the exact same ingredient—recognized as a probable carcinogen—was present in every single bottle tested, The New York Post reports.

"Harmful chemicals have no place in products we use every day," Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports (CR)—the organization behind the large-scale study—said in a press release. "Not in the hair dye adults use to cover grays, nor in the hair chalk children use for school spirit days. Nowhere."

The cumulative effect: What is the risk of your beauty routine?

Typically, consumers complain about hair dye due to basic skin irritation, such as redness, itching, or burning. However, researchers warn that the hidden threat accumulating in the body over years is far more terrifying.

"Some chemicals in permanent hair dyes are designed to penetrate deep into the hair shaft. Once inside the body, these chemical ingredients or their breakdown products can damage DNA, cause inflammation, or disrupt the endocrine system," said Dr. Adana Llanos, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University.

For the testing, CR sent 21 boxes of hair dye and two types of temporary colored hair chalk, purchased from major US retailers, to an independent laboratory. Experts screened the samples for phthalates, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

VOCs easily evaporate into the air and penetrate the lungs. Short-term exposure causes headaches and nausea, but regular inhalation can damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Many of them are directly linked to an increased risk of cancer.

The main culprit in every bottle

The chemical that shocked researchers was dichloromethane (also known as methylene chloride). It was detected in absolutely every tested sample. In US manufacturing, this substance is used in paint strippers, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. In animal studies, dichloromethane has been proven to cause cancer.

The brand anti-ranking based on dichloromethane levels:

1. L’Oréal Paris Féria (shade Downtown Brown) — the absolute leader in toxin concentration.

2. Revlon ColorSilk (dark brown shades) — took second and third places.

While regulations typically restrict the use of dichloromethane in cosmetics, CR notes that loopholes exist for certain dye formulas—manufacturers simply need to place a warning label on the box.

In an official statement to The New York Post, a Revlon spokesperson rushed to assure that the company "stands behind the safety of its products."

"Our quality standards are long-established and remain high. We are fully confident in the products on the market today," Revlon stated.

Representatives for L’Oréal Paris did not respond to press inquiries by the time of publication.

Arsenic, lead, and benzene in children’s chalk

The list of findings was not limited to dichloromethane alone. The lab identified several other hazardous components:

• Toluene (found in 6 products) — a solvent that causes respiratory irritation and is toxic to the nervous system.

• DEHP (found in 4 products) — a phthalate that scientists link to heart disease, infertility, and early menopause.

• Benzene — discovered in hair chalks marketed for children. This is a highly dangerous carcinogen known to cause bone marrow cancer.

As for heavy metals, 15 out of 23 products came back "clean." However, the situation is grim for the remaining samples: traces of arsenic were found in four dyes, lead (which causes brain damage and hypertension) in two, and chromium, which triggers severe blistering allergies, in six.

Industry response and the bitter truth about labels

The Personal Care Products Council (an industry trade group) predictably pushed back against the study's findings, claiming that all dyes are "extensively tested and deemed safe."

However, experts point out a massive flaw in current legislation: manufacturers are not legally required to list every single ingredient on the label. For instance, complex chemical scents are often hidden under the umbrella term "fragrance," protected as trade secrets.

"Claims like 'clean,' 'non-toxic,' or 'plant-based' are largely unregulated by law. You shouldn’t take them at face value," Dr. Llanos concluded.

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