Hair Relaxer Cancer Litigation
General educational information — not legal advice.
What Are Chemical Hair Relaxers?
Chemical hair relaxers are products used to permanently straighten or loosen the natural curl pattern of hair. They typically contain strong chemicals including lye (sodium hydroxide) or no-lye formulas (calcium hydroxide or guanidine carbonate), as well as other chemical compounds. These products have been widely used for decades, particularly by Black women in the United States.
The Alleged Health Risks
Research has raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with long-term use of chemical hair relaxers. A significant study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2022 found that women who frequently used chemical hair straightening products had a higher risk of developing uterine cancer compared to those who did not use these products. Other studies have examined potential links to ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and endometriosis.
Chemicals of Concern
Hair relaxers may contain or release chemicals that are known or suspected endocrine disruptors, including formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with the body hormonal systems and have been associated with reproductive health issues and hormone-sensitive cancers. Scalp application may increase absorption of these chemicals into the body.
Who Has Been Named in Lawsuits
Lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of popular hair relaxer brands, including LOreal, Revlon, Soft Sheen-Carson, and others. Plaintiffs allege that these companies knew or should have known about the potential health risks of their products and failed to adequately warn consumers.
Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)
Due to the large number of cases filed across the country, hair relaxer litigation has been consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceeding in the Northern District of Illinois. MDL consolidation allows for coordinated pretrial proceedings while individual cases retain their separate identities for trial purposes.
Conditions Alleged in Lawsuits
The primary conditions alleged in hair relaxer lawsuits include uterine cancer (endometrial cancer), uterine fibroids, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis. Plaintiffs typically allege that their long-term use of chemical hair relaxers contributed to the development of these conditions.
Disproportionate Impact on Black Women
Chemical hair relaxers have been used at significantly higher rates by Black women in the United States. The litigation has drawn attention to longstanding concerns about the safety of hair care products marketed to Black consumers and the adequacy of regulatory oversight of these products.
Current Status of Litigation
Hair relaxer litigation is ongoing and evolving. The MDL is in active pretrial proceedings, and the outcomes of bellwether trials — test cases intended to gauge how juries respond to the evidence — will significantly influence the trajectory of the broader litigation. This is a developing area of law, and outcomes remain uncertain.
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