Cosmetologists, typically employed in retail or home-based salons, offer a range of beauty services such as hair shampooing, styling, manicures, pedicures, and facial treatments. With millions employed worldwide, hairdressers and cosmetologists (HC) face regular exposure to chemicals in various hair products, including shampoos, permanent wave solutions, hair dyes, and sprays. Some of these chemicals have been linked to reproductive toxic effects. This study, conducted in Yenagoa Local Government Area (YELGA), Bayelsa State, Nigeria, aimed to assess the health impact of these chemical exposures on cosmetologists.

Yenagoa is located in the southern part of Nigeria, between Latitude 4°15' North and 5°23' South, and Longitude 5°22' West and 6°45' East. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, and adhered to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (revised in 2008). Informed consent was obtained from all participants, who understood the reasons for providing blood and urine samples. A total of 25 urine and blood samples were randomly collected from cosmetologists working in Yenagoa.

The study focused on common chemicals such as nitrosamines in hair dyes, toluene in nail polish, and formaldehyde in both hair dye and nail polish. Despite the exposure to these chemicals, the study found that the health status of the cosmetologists in YELGA did not show significant abnormalities. The biomarkers examined were not sensitive enough to detect health issues that may result from long-term chemical exposure. The abnormalities observed may be attributed to individual factors such as overall health status, genetic predisposition, lifestyle choices, and personal hygiene, rather than direct chemical exposure.