Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

Chemical hair straighteners and relaxer products are common cosmetics in the United States. African American women were the primary demographic frequently using hair relaxers and were subsequently the targeted audience in marketing campaigns. This continued use of hair relaxers comes from a long history of societal beauty standards favoring long, straight hair. Certain studies performed in the preceding years claim up to 75% of African American women regularly use hair relaxers to meet these societal standards.

These women and popular products are now involved in a mass tort litigation alleging that the chemicals used in the straightening process are responsible for severe injuries such as uterine and several ovarian cancers. Victims are taking on the manufacturers who failed to warn consumers about these risks and the toxic chemicals in their products.

Known Injuries

The injuries connected to hair relaxers and straighteners are:

Uterine Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Endometrial Cancer

These injuries mainly occur in women of color, who are more likely to start using straightening or relaxing products at an earlier age and more frequently throughout their lifetime.

Why Does This Happen?

The various chemicals found in hair straighteners and relaxers have been cited as the root cause of these cancer risks, some classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Other non-classified chemicals used in hair relaxers are found in bleach, aluminum, and public water treatment plants. Even more chemicals like Bisphenol-A are found in hair relaxers and are used to manufacture the plastic used in beverage containers, disks, and vehicle parts.

What makes these chemicals so dangerous is their ability to disrupt the body’s endocrine system, a collection of organs and glands central to producing hormones needed for the body’s developmental, reproductive, and neurological centers, among other functions. These chemicals take time to fully break down, both in the environment and the body, and can quickly build up over time, further putting frequent users at severe risk. Even small doses can lead to unforeseen injuries and lead to further complications.

Research Through The Years

Despite their decades of popularity, studies on hair relaxers and their effects on humans have only recently been conducted and results released into the world. The longest-running with the largest sample size is one performed by Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study. 59,000 African American women were studied for 25 years, and those who used lye-based relaxers at least seven times a year were around 30% more likely to develop cancer than other users.

The second-largest study comes from the International Journal of Cancer, with their research published in December 2019, which enrolled 50,884 participants from 2003 to 2009. Their results reflected those of Boston University’s, concluding women who use hair relaxers were at a 30% greater risk of developing cancer.

One of the latest studies comes from the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, which released its findings in October 2022. Of the 33,497 women ages 35-74 who participated in the 11-year study, 60% identified as black women. Among the 378 reported uterine cancer cases, researchers concluded that hair relaxer users were twice as likely to develop cancer than others in the study.

All of these studies cited a correlation between increased cancer cases and those who frequently used hair relaxers, with the litigation beginning shortly after the NIEHS published its results.

Primary Defendants

Three manufacturers are the primary defendants in this lawsuit. They are:

L’Oreal
Revlon
Strength of Nature

Women who use products developed by any of these manufacturers may be at a serious health risk and wish to see a medical professional. Anyone diagnosed with the listed injuries and use or who has used hair relaxers or straighteners from these manufacturers may qualify for legal counsel and potential compensation.

Lawsuit Status

Though this litigation is still in its infancy, the case has seen certain developments taking place. This past May saw several more victims pursue legal action, while April had activist groups and politicians in the United Kingdom call for a ban on L’Oreal and other products. A similar situation could happen in the US sometime in the near future.

Settlements have yet to be proposed and are still far away. However, as the litigation continues and more victims come forward, bellwether trials can begin and shape the foundations of the lawsuit moving forward. A successful ruling means more cases ending with favorable rulings and victims getting the justice they deserve.

The Legal Aid You Need

The dangerous chemicals found in hair relaxers and straighteners were knowingly used for decades. Women across the United States have contracted cancer while trying to attain societal beauty standards. Manufacturers have disregarded their consumers’ health and safety, and it is time to hold them accountable. With years of research from several organizations, victims now have the power to pursue justice more than ever.

The Guardian Legal Network connects qualified claimants to attorneys experienced with these types of cases who are ready to fight for your day in court. Call now to see if you qualify for legal aid and reclaim your life today.

References

ACS Medical Content and News Staff. “Study Finds Possible Link Between Hair Straightening Chemicals and Uterine Cancer.” American Cancer Society, October 26, 2022. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/study-finds-possible-link-between-hair-straightening-chemicals-and-uterine-cancer.html#:~:text=Women%20who%20use%20chemical%20hair,of%20the%20National%20Cancer%20Institute.
Bertrand, Kimberly. “25-Year-Long Study of Black Women Links Frequent Use of Lye-Based Hair Relaxers to a Higher Risk of Breast Cancer.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, July 14, 2021. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/25-year-long-study-of-black-women-links-frequent-use-of-lye-based-hair-relaxers-to-a-higher-risk-of-breast-cancer.
“Bisphenol A (BPA) Factsheet.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, April 7, 2017. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/BisphenolA_FactSheet.html.
Eberle, Carolyn E., Dale P. Sandler, Kyla W. Taylor, and Alexandra J. White. “Hair Dye and Chemical Straightener Use and Breast Cancer Risk in a Large US Population of Black and White Women.” Wiley Online Library. International Journal of Cancer , December 3, 2019. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.32738.
“Endocrine Disruptors.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, August 18, 2022. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm.
“Formaldehyde in Hair Smoothing Products: What You Should Know.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, February 3, 2021. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/formaldehyde-hair-smoothing-products-what-you-should-know.
Llanos, Adana AM, Anna Rabkin, Elisa V Bandera, Gary Zirpoli, Brian D Gonzalez, Cathleen Y Xing, Bo Qin, et al. “Hair Product Use and Breast Cancer Risk among African American and White Women.” Oxford Academic. Carcinogenesis, June 9, 2017. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://academic.oup.com/carcin/article/38/9/883/3866007?login=false.
Mackar, Robin. “Hair Straightening Chemicals Associated with Higher Uterine Cancer Risk.” National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, October 17, 2022. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/hair-straightening-chemicals-associated-higher-uterine-cancer-risk.
“Sodium Hydroxide.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 6, 2022. Accessed November 16, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/sodium-hydroxide/.