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What's really in your braiding hair?

Have you heard what lab tests found in 40 popular braiding hair products?

Discover the harmful chemicals found in the biggest braiding hair brands, and your own exposure level.

So you already know that…

38of 40

contained lead.

There's no safe level of lead exposure. It's linked to kidney damage and high blood pressure.

Benzene 33 of 40 Known carcinogen, linked to leukemia
Cadmium 20 of 30* Heavy metal, known carcinogen
Arsenic 14 of 30* Heavy metal, known carcinogen

Consumer Reports lab tests, February 2025 and February 2026. *Of the 30 products tested for these metals in 2026.

And it gets worse…

See how exposed you are.

How many times a year do you get an install?

And how long do you keep them in?

On average, per install.

That's up to

0hours a year with this hair, and whatever is on it, pressed against your scalp.

And there's one more thing you should know about…

Have you noticed any of these with your usual hair?

You might not feel it yet. It's still there.

A chemical coating sprayed on at the factory so the hair looks glossy in the pack. Here's what it looks like under the lens, next to a clean fiber.

Typical braiding hairClean fiber

Typical braiding hair fiber under a microscope, coated in a thick lumpy film

Clean fiber under the same microscope, smooth with no coating

Drag to compare. Our own microscope images: beauty-supply fiber, then Gyal Braids fiber.

So what's the alternative?

Discover cleaner braiding hair

Braiding hair – without the chemical residue

Gyal Braids is made from 100% luxury Japanese kanekalon fiber. Pre-washed in apple cider vinegar and independently lab tested.

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Rated 4.8/51 million+ bundles sold

Independent lab results

SGS, finished braid, June 2026

Lead: Not detected
Cadmium: Not detected
Arsenic: Not detected
Benzene: Not detected
Formaldehyde: Not detected
Acetone: Trace

See the full results

"Not detected" means below the lab's detection limit in the sample tested. Acetone was also tested and was detected (5,945 µg/m³, sealed-bag emission test at 40°C). Acetone is not classed as a carcinogen.

Finished braid report (PDF) · All published reports

Pre-washed in apple cider vinegarStrips the chemical residue before it ever reaches your scalp.
Clean, soft and lightweightNo smell out of the pack. No scratchy feel. No first-week itch.

The 60-day itch-free promise

If you feel any itching at all, send back your unused hair for a full refund. No questions asked.

Buy 2, get 1 free

And it currently costs less than beauty supply hair

With the Buy 2 Get 1 deal, it works out to just $3.75 per bundle, cheaper than the beauty supply store brands.

Three packs of Gyal Braids with two bundles laid out

Popular colors like #51 and #1B can sell out fast

Check availability

Every 3rd pack is free, automatically at checkout

What women notice first

2,800+ verified reviews

Monica Hayes

4 Medium Brown, 26"

Verified

I was skeptical about the texture and if the hair was really free from the "itching" I just got my hair done and I am impressed. No itching, no pulling when being installed and most importantly no funky smell.

Nov 26, 2024

Gyal Braids customer wearing her braids — Real customer

Tisha C Wright

1B Dark Brown, 26"

Verified

It doesn't smell like chemicals like so many of the brands that we buy in beauty supply stores and it is VERY soft! The braids have not caused any skin irritation that I typically get from other synthetic hair.

Jan 5, 2026

LaTonya Foy

Sensitive scalp, first braids in 20 years

Verified

I have Seborrheic Dermatitis so my scalp and skin is very sensitive. This was first time getting my hair braided in over 20 years and I was scared and nervous about rather my scalp could take it. This hair I have had no itchy scalp, no redness and no breakouts. It is very silky and soft and braids very easily.

Apr 5, 2026

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