Hair Relaxers Linked to Several Cancers

About Hair Relaxer - Why is it used?

Hair relaxer is a chemical hair straitening product most commonly

used by black women to straighten their naturally curly hair. It comes in the form of lotions and creams over the counter, but it can also be done professionally. The product helps to straighten hair by chemically “relaxing” the natural curls. It does this by penetrating the cuticle and cortex layers of the hair shaft to loosen the natural curl pattern. The chemicals involved are potent, and can lead to burns on the scalp, hair breakage, hair loss, and permanent scalp damage. Many women use these products to achieve the more westernized look of straight hair while others just prefer their hair straight. 

Hair relaxers are readily available for purchase at most grocery

stores, drug stores, and online. They are sold by some well-known brand names like L’Oréal, Revlon, and Strength of Nature, which leads many consumers to believe that the products are safe. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

What Kind of Cancers Are Caused by Hair relaxers?

Hair relaxers have been linked to several types of cancer. The types of

cancer that hair relaxers have been linked to are uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer. Hair relaxers have also been shown to cause uterine fibroids and endometriosis. The two types that are receiving the most research attention are uterine cancer and breast cancer. 

 A study done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

(NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found almost 400 new cases of uterine cancer in the women who participated in their study of women who used hair relaxers. The study also revealed, that given these numbers, the rate of the risk of developing uterine cancer more than doubled in women who used hair relaxers. Although, this study did not find that the relationship between chemical hair straightener or relaxer use and uterine cancer incidence was influenced by race, the negative health effects will likely be greater for Black women due to higher prevalence of use.

When it comes to breast cancer, a link between the illness and all kinds of

hair relaxers has not yet been discovered. However, researchers have found evidence pointing to the fact that heavy use of hair relaxers containing lye in particular, may be linked to a higher risk of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer. While the lifetime risk of breast cancer is similar for white and Black women, Black women are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age for all types of breast cancer, and to be diagnosed with more aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. Estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer, and grows at an alarmingly fast rate. 

A study done by Black Women’s Health of over 50,000 women who used hair

relaxers had horrifying results. The study group contained women who had used hair relaxers as little as 1-2 times for only 1 year all the way up to women who used hair relaxers more than 7 times per year for 15 plus years. Only 5% of the women in the study had never used hair relaxers. Out of the 2,311 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer, 1,843 had invasive cancers. Among the 2,311 cancers diagnosed: 1,420 were estrogen-receptor-positive, the kind of breast cancer that has been positively linked to lye-containing hair relaxers. 

Which Company's Hair Relaxer Products Are Causing Cancers and Other Harms?

Many of the most commonly used manufacturers are being sued for the link

between their hair relaxers and cancer. These manufacturers include, but are not limited to:

• L’Oréal
• Revlon
• Strength of Nature
• Namaste Laboratories
• Godrej Consumer Products
• Dabur International
• SoftSheen Carson
• Action Beauty Supply
• Crème of Nature
• Dark & Lovely
• Just for Me
• Motions
• Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Relaxer
• Optimum Care
• Soft & Beautiful
• African Pride
• Action Exclusives
• TCB Naturals Relaxer

All of these products and more are currently being sued for their

positive link to uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis in the women who used them.

How Do I know If I Have a Case?

If you or someone you love has used a hair relaxer, and has since

developed any of the above types of cancer, you may have a case. If you or a loved one used a hair relaxer and developed any other type of cancer, you still may have a case. If you used another brand of hair relaxer than the ones listed above, and you or your loved one suffered as a result, you may have a case. If you were exposed to hair relaxers by nature of your profession, even if you don’t use them personally, and you developed cancer, you may have a case. If you think you may have a hair relaxer case, you should call us right away. 

Status of Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Women who have used hair relaxer products and subsequently been

diagnosed with the above types of cancer are filing product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers and seeking compensation for their illness. The first of these product liability lawsuits was filed just weeks after the release of the study linking chemical hair relaxers to cancer. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Chicago. The plaintiff, Jenny Mitchell, is a Missouri native who used chemical hair relaxers her entire life. The lawsuit claims that Mitchell started using hair relaxers when she was only 10 years old. Like many black women in America, Mitchell used hair relaxer products every 6-8 weeks for the next 18 years. In 2018, when she was just 28 years old, Mitchell was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Although the litigation surrounding hair relaxers is relatively new, it is

moving at an extraordinarily fast pace. On November 18, 2022 lawyers representing a group of plaintiffs who had recently filed lawsuits against hair relaxer manufacturers filed a motion to combine the lawsuits into a class action multi-district legislation in Chicago, Illinois. 

By April 21, 2023, politicians and female activist groups in the United

Kingdom started a movement to ban all hair relaxer products made by L’Oréal and other companies that have been linked to cancer. A letter published by the British feminist activism group, Level Up, urged cosmetic manufacturers to remove all harmful chemicals from their hair relaxer products, or pull them from the shelves altogether as most if not all of the products are still actively being sold amidst all of these pending lawsuits. 

Today there are specific instructions and proper procedures for filing a

lawsuit into the multi-district litigation panel. The best way to avoid time consuming and costly errors is to hire a lawyer familiar with these types of cases. 

While the value of a hair relaxer case is yet to be determined due to the f

fact that none of the cases have received a verdict yet, it is safe to say that this is a huge issue that has caught the attention of both the court system and the general public worldwide. This means that cosmetic manufacturers should prepare themselves to pay, and pay big. It is important to note that not all hair relaxer cases are the same, and the value of your potential case will be directly tied to the facts of your case. This means that you might get more than some cases, while less than others, or in some cases, your claims may be denied.

If you believe you may have a hair relaxer case, you should call us today so

that we can help to determine the potential value of your hair relaxer case verdicts are reached in the cases that are already pending.

How can a lawyer help me?

If you think you have a hair relaxer case, you should call us today. Our

wolf pack is ready to fight for you to get the justice you deserve. If you hire us for your hair relaxer case, we can file a claim for you against the product manufacturers in an effort to get you compensation.

You need a lawyer because when you are facing large companies and brand

names like L’Oréal, you find yourself in a David and Goliath situation. Your lawyer is your slingshot and the law is the stone. A lawyer can make a big company who has no regard for you or your case, sit down, pay attention, and pay up. 

There is no up-front cost to you, and you will only pay us if we win the case

for you. The fee for our services will come out of any settlement or verdict directed to you.

We will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable for the damage

they have done to you and your family. 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult with an attorney for professional advice tailored to your specific situation.