Hair Dye Chemicals Linked to Uterine Fibroids

The chemicals in hair dye may be contributing to uterine fibroids, one of the most common gynecological conditions.

A Prospective Study of Hair Dye and Fibroids

A 2026 study in Fertil Steril followed 868 Black women aged 26-39 in Detroit, Michigan, tracking hair dye use and monitoring fibroid development with transvaginal ultrasounds. This wasn't a survey. It was a prospective cohort with imaging confirmation.

Hair dye use in the previous 12 months was assessed against new fibroid incidence over time.

Why Hair Dye Is a Concern

Hair dyes contain a cocktail of chemicals including aromatic amines, parabens, and endocrine disruptors. These chemicals are absorbed through the scalp and enter the bloodstream. Many of them mimic or interfere with estrogen, the hormone that drives fibroid growth.

Black women use chemical hair dye products at higher rates and develop fibroids more frequently than other groups. This study directly tested whether the two are connected.

Why This Matters

Uterine fibroids cause heavy bleeding, pain, and are a leading cause of hysterectomy. Finding modifiable risk factors like chemical hair dye could help prevent them.

What You Can Do

Choose plant-based or chemical-free hair dyes. Reduce frequency of chemical treatments. Look for products free of parabens, ammonia, and aromatic amines. And explore non-toxic home essentials to reduce chemical exposure across your routine.

Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.

Source: Schildroth et al. (2026). Fertil Steril.