A decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could ban some hair-straightening products that some say are doing consumers more harm than good.

Melissa Caceres says 20 years ago, hair products used to work a bit better.

“You didn't have to work so hard at making it work," the owner of Nolita Hair Salon said.

But those products came with dangerous side effects. They contained formaldehyde, which studies have shown can put people who come into contact with it at greater risk of cancer.

Caceres said she switched over to products with less formaldehyde about 10 years ago, when experts in the cosmetic industry declared the products unsafe.

“Supply stores, they would tell you, usually, they give you updates on what's going on with certain products, or distributors would say, ‘OK, we're taking this off the market,’” Caceres said.

Now, the FDA is looking at officially banning hair-straightening products that contain or emit any formaldehyde.

Caceres said health is a top concern, but a ban would mean they would have to use something less effective.

“At the end of the day, during the summertime, that's probably like our bread and butter, to be honest with you," she said. "When it comes to the humidity, and everybody wants a keratin treatment in the summer.”

If the FDA does propose the rule, it will hold a public comment period. A ban could potentially be in place by April 2024.