Featured image c/o sammy swae on Unsplash
A new report, “Afro Hair: is State intervention needed?” has found major health concerns connected to bias against Afro hair. The report examined differences in opinion of 1,442 respondents who have Afro-textured hair and those who do not. The survey investigated the issue of studies linking some Afro hair products to higher incidences of cancer and reproductive illness. The report found a clear area of agreement: 84% of respondents agreed that it was very important “that people can find hair products they can trust, knowing that the ingredients are not harmful”.
Raising awareness of the impact of bias on those with Afro hair
On 15th September 2026, the report is released to mark the 10th World Afro Day and looked at several areas of importance and found that for Black people, bias against Afro-texture hair impacts major areas of their lives: children and education, careers, health and Afro hair products.
One of the major findings of the report was significant health impacts of Afro hair discrimination. Respondents with Afro-textured hair were more likely to agree that their hair can negatively impact their mental health (51% vs 34%). A third of respondents with Afro-textured hair felt that hair products had negatively impacted their physical health than those without Afro-textured hair (33% vs 10%). Avoiding or skipping exercise because of hair concerns was much more prevalent in respondents with Afro-textured hair (42% vs 12%).
The consequences of Afro hair discrimination were viewed very differently by the two groups. Those without Afro-textured hair were far less likely to think that the impact on children would be severe, at 4%. By comparison, 84% of women with Afro-textured hair believed that the impact on children would be quite serious or very severe.
The findings also showed major consequences for careers, particularly among Black women, 76% of whom said that negative bias at work was a consequence of Afro-textured hair discrimination and 64% indicated career limitation. The consequences on career were considered less impactful by people without Afro hair: 43% said that negative bias at work was a consequence and 30% indicated career limitation.
The findings back up previous research confirming hair discrimination is an issue in the workplace. Hair discrimination at work is yet to be acknowledged and acted upon by any UK government.
A London festival to celebrate Afro hair
To mark the milestone of a decade of World Afro Day®, September 15th–17th, organisers are launching the ‘Fro Festival, a three-day takeover of Lower Stable Street, King’s Cross, London.
The free event aims to celebrate, raise awareness and bring communities together. Highlights are the WAD Wondermarket, tackling trust in Afro hair products; the Community Catwalks, where ordinary kids and adults share their hair and stories; free hair health check-ups from trichologists; a night event of panels, poetry and mixing, featuring Beverley Knight; plus the grand finale, a global launch of “Afro-noon Tea”, a reimagined African & Caribbean twist on the British afternoon tea tradition.
This is a free taster and collaboration between World Afro Day® and The Future Plate: leading Black chefs celebrating African & Caribbean cuisine at the highest level.
Over the decade, many celebrities have supported World Afro Day®, including Mel B, Beverley Knight, Janet Jackson, Viola Davis, Iman, Kerry Washington, Ludacris, Levi Roots, Judi Love, Naomi Campbell, Nathalie Emmanuel, Lashana Lynch, Krept, Radzi Chinyanganya, Sean Fletcher and more.
Michelle De Leon, CEO World Afro Day and report author, says:
“This report adds to the evidence in understanding the significance of Afro hair, the acceptance and rejection of it and how this impacts our lives in unjust ways. The regulatory gap creates higher levels of chemical exposure for Black children, through Afro hair products and hair extensions. The findings show that Afro-textured hair is treated as an issue in key areas: negative bias at work and Afro hair can still be considered as abnormal (69% of Black women felt this). This is why touching Afro hair without permission is still an everyday occurrence in modern Britain. Overall, quantifying the health impact of Afro hair and discrimination was key: 51% reported mental health impact, 33% on physical health and 42% reported exercise avoidance. The loss of productivity or increased demand on the NHS, costs us all.”
Professor Laura Waters says:
“It is vital that all haircare products have proven safety profiles to ensure the public are not exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. In populations that are more likely to use intensive treatments, this is of particular importance and thorough toxicity testing is essential.”
