Committees

The science and regulation of hair and beauty products and treatments

Inquiry

Hair and beauty products (chemicals applied to the hair or body for cosmetic purposes) and treatments (cosmetic procedures typically performed by specialists) can cause harm to consumers if they contain unregulated ingredients or if they are improperly administered.  The inquiry will respond to recent research which has led to concerns about the current scientific evidence base and regulation for these products, as well as the required training and qualifications of specialists performing treatments.  The inquiry will also investigate the growing concern that certain products that are commonly used by marginalised groups, such as creams to ‘relax’ afro-type hair and synthetic hair, can contain harmful chemicals.

  • How do UK regulators assess scientific evidence to ensure the safety of beauty products and treatments? Are existing processes effective, including for individuals with diverse hair and skin types? 
  • Is there sufficient transparency in how scientific evidence is used in regulatory decisions for hair and beauty products to ensure public trust? 
  • How well are consumers informed about the potential harms of beauty products and treatments? How can this be improved? 
  • For beauty products and treatments where the evidence suggests there may be risks, what studies need to take place to better understand potential harms for users, including in the longer term? 
  • How effective are existing training and qualifications requirements for individuals who administer beauty treatments in minimising harm to their recipients? How could this be improved?
  • What changes (regulatory, legal or otherwise) could ensure that consumers are better protected from and aware of the risks of potentially harmful beauty products and treatments?

Our survey on harms caused by hair and beauty products and treatments is now closed.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 3 June 2026
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
The science and regulation of hair and beauty products and treatments - Oral evidence 3 June 2026
9:30am
  • Richard Knight (Lead Officer for Cosmetics and Beauty at Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI))
  • Andrew Rankin (Acting Co-Chair and Registrar at Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP))
  • Victor Ktorakis (Senior Environmental Health Officer at Environment and Communities Directorate, Enfield Council, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH))
10:15am
  • Karin Smyth MP (Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) at Department of Health and Social Care)
  • Phil Harper (Deputy Director, Professional Regulation at Department of Health and Social Care)
  • Kate Dearden MP (Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection at Department for Business and Trade)
  • Sarah Smith OBE (Head of Regulatory Operations at Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), Department for Business and Trade)
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 14 January 2026
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
Oral evidence session 14 January 2026
Innovation showcase - Oral evidence
9:30am
  • Daniel Carlotta-Jones (Chief Engineer at Wastewater Fuels)
The science and regulation of hair and beauty products and treatments - Oral evidence
9:45am
  • Victoria Lee
10:00am
  • Ashton Collins (Director at Save Face)
  • Seyi Falodun-Liburd (Co-Director at Level Up and Lead of Level Up’s No More Lyes Campaign)
10:45am
  • Dr Emma Meredith (Director General at The Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association)
  • Diane Hey (Founder and Chief Executive Officer at The Hair and Beauty Industry Authority)
  • Victoria Brownlie (Chief Policy and Sustainability Officer at The British Beauty Council)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.