News from Guangdong Provincial Consumers' Commission is that five types of hair dye products, including some from Revlon, have been found to contain m-phenylenediamine: a listed carcinogen.
It is reported that a total of 29 samples from 21 companies were tested. The results showed that five of them contain m-phenylenediamine. And the five are Revlon hair dye (black) U.S. made by Revlon; Shengtai No. 1 Yingcui Nutrition and Protein Hair Dye made by Guangdong Hanbang Cosmetics Company; Xuewanmei Yancai Hair Dye (Natural Black) made by Zhongshan Jiadanting Daily Commodity Company; Ouweiya Herbal Color Hair Oil made by Zhaoqing Longhu Daily Chemical Factory; and Kangchen 3in1 Xin Xaisi Hair Dye made by Guangzhou Mengchen Cosmetics Company.
So far Revlon says it has not received any notice of problems with their products.
M-phenylenediamine is a kind of industrial dye which is mainly used to dye furs and as an accelerator for cement slurry. It is widely known as a chemical that can cause gene mutation, cancer or malformation. It is banned for use in cosmetics.