Should My Child Get Braids Part 2

🌍 Series: Kids, Curls & Chemicals

Part 2: What’s Really Inside That Braiding Hair?

Synthetic hair: most packs are made from plastics like Kanekalon or Toyokalon. To make them more “wearable,” manufacturers coat them with flame-retardants, softeners, and finishes that stop the fibres from melting under heat. None of these coatings were safety-tested on children’s skin.

Human hair: it sounds natural, but before it reaches a beauty store it’s usually acid-bathed, stripped, bleached, dyed, and coated with silicones or conditioning agents. This helps it look glossy and smooth, but again—no one really knows what happens when these chemicals sit against a child’s warm scalp, mixed with sweat and sebum, for weeks.

Parents, you’re not wrong for considering extensions. They’re marketed as solutions for “neatness” and “manageability.” But it’s fair to say: no one has studied the real impact on children. If your child has unexplained headaches, itchy skin, or discomfort, extensions might not be the first thing you’d think of—but they could be a factor.

Which is why, before we add more unknowns, let’s consider gentler, safer options. 🌱

And that leads us to Part 3.