🔥 Flame Retardant in Braiding Hair: What It Is & What You Need to Know

You walk into the salon, excited to get your braids done. You've picked the perfect shade, the right length, and maybe even a trendy curl at the tip.

But there’s something you didn’t ask:
What exactly is in the hair being used on your scalp?

Stylists and clients alike focus on beauty, but very few pause to consider what the braiding extension is made of and what it’s doing to their bodies.

Let’s talk about it.

For Stylists & Braiders: What You're Breathing In, Touching, and Working With.

As a stylist, you’re not just installing hair. You're constantly handling, stretching, combing, and sealing it. That means:

You’re inhaling the chemical fumes from synthetic fibers daily.

Your skin is in contact with flame retardant coatings for hours at a time.

You're sealing ends with hot water or fire, releasing vapors/fumes straight into your lungs.

Even if your clients don’t feel it, you do repeatedly. Over time, exposure like this has been linked to skin irritation, respiratory problems, headaches, and hormonal disruptions. And no, washing your hands won’t make it go away.

 

 For Clients: That Itchy Scalp Might Be Something Else

If you’ve ever had braids installed and felt itchiness, burning, or even bumps along your scalp or edges, it might not be the stylist’s fault, it might be the flame retardant in the hair.

Many flame retardants are made with chemicals like brominated compounds or formaldehyde derivatives. These can:

Trigger allergic reactions

Cause inflammation

Disrupt sensitive skin or scalp pH balance

If you’ve got eczema, psoriasis, or even just sensitive skin regular braiding hair could be making it worse.

 

What Is Flame Retardant, Really?

Flame retardants are chemicals designed to slow down the ignition of synthetic materials when exposed to heat or fire. In braiding hair, this is important because:

Many people seal braids with fire or hot water

Synthetic fibers can melt or catch fire easily

But there are two types used in the hair industry:

 

1. Top-Coated Flame Retardant

This is sprayed or dipped onto the finished hair after production.
◾Cheap and quick
◾Can rub off, feel sticky, and irritate the scalp or hands
◾Releases fumes when heated

2. Infused Flame Retardant

This is blended into the fibers during manufacturing, before the strands are even formed.
◾Doesn’t rub off easily
◾More consistent protection
◾Less likely to trigger reactions—especially if the brand is hypoallergenic

This is why some hypoallergenic hair can still be flame retardant because it’s not coated on the outside, it’s built in from the inside.

Safer Alternatives: Hypoallergenic Braiding Hair Brands to Consider

If you’re ready to prioritize comfort, health, and long-term hair wellness, here are some trusted brands offering hypoallergenic braiding extensions:

1. Tres Belle Hair ( but ofcourse😁)

2. Dosso Beauty

3. Gyal Braids

4. Rebundle

 

While each of these brands offers a safer option, but Tres Belle Hair, we are a made-to-order brand meaning every bundle is freshly produced for you, not pulled from a shelf. We also offer one of the widest selections of hypoallergenic styles, textures, and rich color blends. Whether you're a minimalist or a color lover, we have something designed just for your crown.

Tres Belle Hair was created to serve both stylists and clients who want safety, comfort, and beauty all in one. When you choose us, you're not just choosing better hair, you're choosing peace of mind.

Your scalp deserves better. Your hands deserve better. Choose Tres Belle Hair

 

Get 10% off your first purchase use ( NEWLOVE10)