Home / Health / Heated Hair Styling Releases Billions of Nanoparticles into the Air
Heated Hair Styling Releases Billions of Nanoparticles into the Air
21 Aug
Summary
- 10-20 minutes of heat-based hair styling releases over 10 billion nanoparticles
- Nanoparticles can cause breathing difficulties, lung inflammation, and cognitive decline
- Chemicals like D5 siloxane in hair products form harmful nanoparticles when heated
According to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology in 2025, a typical 10-to-15-minute hair styling routine involving heated tools and hair products can release over 10 billion nanoparticles into the air. This is comparable to the pollution levels one might encounter while standing on a busy highway.
The research team, led by Professor Nusrat Jung and Ph.D. student Jianghui Liu of Purdue University, found that the volatile and semi-volatile ingredients in hair products, such as the common ingredient D5 siloxane, evaporate and form these ultrafine nanoparticles when exposed to the high temperatures of styling tools, which can exceed 300°F.
These nanoparticles can then be inhaled, potentially leading to serious health issues like breathing difficulties, lung inflammation, and even cognitive decline. The researchers note that the deepest parts of the lungs receive the highest dose of these particles.
"This is really quite concerning," Jung said. "The number of nanoparticles inhaled from using typical, store-bought hair-care products was far greater than we ever anticipated." The team recommends avoiding the use of hair products with heated styling tools altogether, or at the very least, ensuring proper ventilation to reduce exposure.
