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The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has advised salon owners/operators and the public to use hair relaxers that are certified and bear the UNBS Quality Mark to ensure the consumption of safe products.

According to UNBS, seven (7) standards specify requirements for good-quality hair relaxers and hair-waving products.

“All hair relaxers locally manufactured in Uganda are certified in line with the above standards, and all imported hair relaxers are inspected through the Pre-export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Program in their respective exporting countries before shipment to Uganda in line with the standards, which means that they are safe for consumption,” A statement signed by spokesperson Slyvia Kirabo said.

Kirabo said the standards are also harmonised within the East African Community member states, which means that all goods locally manufactured in Uganda and certified by UNBS can be sold beyond the Ugandan borders without quality disruptions.

As of March 14, 2024, Kirabo said twenty-two (22) brands of locally manufactured hair relaxers were certified by UNBS.

"UNBS encourages all manufacturers of hair relaxers to ensure their products meet the relevant standards and to seek UNBS certification of their products. Importation, manufacture, sale, distribution or holding for selling of products that do not comply with the applicable compulsory Uganda standards is prohibited by the UNBS Act 327 as amended 2013, and is punishable by law,” Kirabo said.

She encouraged consumers who use hair relaxers to look out for the UNBS Quality mark when purchasing hair relaxers saying it is the only way to guarantee the safety of products.

“Buy from certified companies or established outlets and demand a receipt. This makes it easier to trace the seller in case of a complaint. Ensure the packaging of hair relaxers is intact and well-sealed. Do not buy/use a product whose original packaging is damaged, because you cannot guarantee the safety of such a product. Look out for the list of ingredients used when purchasing hair relaxers to avoid buying products whose content you are allergic to or have been prohibited. The ingredients should be visibly displayed on the product packaging,” Kirabo cautioned.

She said users and consumers should read and understand user information given on the product label as a quality requirement on how the product must be used.

“Look out for the expiry date or best before date when purchasing hair relaxers. Avoid buying or using expired products. Look out for the physical address and contacts of the manufacturer on the product packaging. Contacts should be visibly displayed on the product packaging for traceability in case of product complaints. Avoid buying products that are not well labelled. Look out for the instructions of use, storage instructions, and precautions/warnings on the hair relaxers and ensure they are adhered to,” she said.

Recent studies have shown that women who reported using hair relaxers more than twice a year or who used them for more than five years had a greater than 50% risk of developing uterine cancer compared to those who rarely or never used relaxers.