Among other lifestyle changes, "I stopped using chemical straighteners," she says. Breast cancer risk was similar for Black and white women, but straightener use was far more common among Black women. Notably, research also has shown that rates of aggressive subtypes of the disease surged in the recent past among U.S. women, with Black women particularly affected. Yet aside from cancer, hair care may pose an additional concern for people planning to get pregnant. More than half of Black study participants reported using their first relaxer before they were 10 years old.

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Persons: Mirtha Aguilar, Fort, flaking, Aguilar, she’s, –, who’d, Jordan Geller, it’s, Geller, ”, Elena A, Dr, Monte Swarup, ” Swarup, Johanna Lukate, Lukate, Christofides Organizations: National Institutes of Health, University of North, Hill, National Cancer Institute, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, American, Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Max Planck Institute, Institute Locations: Fort Myers , Florida, University of North Carolina, straighteners, Los Angeles, Florida, Columbus , Ohio, Arizona, Germany, U.S