Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Legal Help for Women Harmed by Chemical Hair Straighteners

For decades, at-home and salon hair relaxers have been marketed as safe beauty products that deliver smooth, straight hair. But mounting medical evidence has linked long-term use of chemical hair straighteners and relaxers to serious health conditions — including uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and other hormone-related illnesses.

If you used products such as those made by L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, Strength of Nature, Just for Me, Dark & Lovely, or Motions and later developed reproductive cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. Our firm represents women and families pursuing justice against the companies that failed to warn about these risks.

The Dangers of Chemical Hair Relaxers

Most hair relaxers contain powerful endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including:

  • Phthalates

  • Formaldehyde-releasing agents

  • DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)

  • Parabens and bisphenols (BPA, BPS)

These substances can be absorbed through the scalp during repeated use — especially when burns or irritation occur — and have been shown in studies to interfere with hormone regulation.

In 2022, a landmark NIH study found that women who frequently used chemical hair straighteners were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to non-users. Subsequent research has linked the same products to ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

Reported Injuries Linked to Hair Relaxers

Lawsuits and medical findings have associated long-term relaxer use with:

  • Uterine cancer

  • Ovarian cancer

  • Endometrial cancer

  • Uterine fibroids

  • Hormonal and reproductive system damage

Many women diagnosed with these conditions were lifelong users who began relaxing their hair as teenagers, unaware of the risks.

Why Women Are Filing Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

The lawsuits allege that manufacturers:

  • Knew or should have known about the health risks linked to chemical exposure

  • Failed to warn consumers of the dangers on packaging or in marketing

  • Targeted women of color, particularly Black women, through deceptive advertising and beauty norms

  • Misrepresented the safety of products used for decades by millions of consumers

By bringing these claims, victims aim to hold cosmetic corporations accountable and prevent future harm.

Current Status of the Hair Relaxer Litigation

Hair relaxer lawsuits have been consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 3060) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This coordination streamlines pretrial discovery and expert testimony for thousands of pending cases.

The litigation is ongoing. While no global settlement has been reached yet, discovery and scientific evidence review are progressing rapidly, and new plaintiffs continue to file claims.

Hair Relaxer Lawsuit FAQs

  • Lawsuits have been filed against several major beauty product manufacturers, including:

    • L’Oréal (Dark & Lovely, Optimum, SoftSheen-Carson)

    • Strength of Nature (Motions, Just for Me, Soft & Beautiful)

    • Revlon

    • Namaste Laboratories (Organic Root Stimulator, Olive Oil Relaxer)

    • Avlon Industries (Affirm, KeraCare)

    If you used any of these or similar chemical hair straightening products regularly and later developed reproductive cancer, you may qualify for a claim.

  • As of now, no official recall has been issued for chemical hair relaxers linked to cancer. However, litigation and public pressure have forced many manufacturers to reexamine their formulas and labeling. Ongoing lawsuits continue to expose the dangers of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in these products.

  • Medical studies and legal filings have connected long-term use of chemical hair straighteners and relaxers to:

    • Uterine cancer

    • Ovarian cancer

    • Endometrial cancer

    • Fibroids and reproductive system damage

    • Hormonal imbalance and fertility issues

    The risk appears highest among women who began using relaxers at a young age and continued frequent use over many years.

  • Yes. Many lawsuits include women who had their hair chemically straightened in professional salons. The products and ingredients used in salons often contain the same harmful chemicals found in at-home kits.

  • Your attorney can help gather and organize the documentation needed for your case, which may include:

    • Medical records showing your cancer diagnosis

    • Product purchase history or salon treatment records

    • Timeline of use (when you started and stopped using relaxers)

    • Proof of medical treatment and related expenses

    Even if you don’t have packaging or receipts, your legal team can help reconstruct your product history through interviews and brand identification.

  • Compensation may include payment for:

    • Medical treatment and future healthcare needs

    • Pain and suffering

    • Lost income or reduced earning capacity

    • Emotional distress

    • Wrongful death (for surviving family members)

  • Every state has its own statute of limitations — a deadline for filing a product liability lawsuit. Because these cases involve recent medical discoveries about product safety, time may still remain to take action. A qualified attorney can determine whether your claim is still within the allowable window.

  • You can start by contacting our firm for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll review your medical history, product use, and potential eligibility — and guide you through the next steps if you qualify for a hair relaxer lawsuit.

How Our Law Firm Can Help

Our firm represents women across the country who were harmed by unsafe cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.

We provide:

  • Free, confidential case evaluations

  • Review of product history and medical records

  • Collaboration with medical and toxicology experts

  • Aggressive pursuit of justice against negligent manufacturers

We understand the cultural, physical, and emotional impact of these injuries — and we’re committed to holding corporations accountable for the harm they’ve caused.

Who May Qualify for a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

You may qualify if you:

  • Used at-home or salon hair relaxer or chemical straightening products regularly for at least five years, and

  • Were later diagnosed with uterine, ovarian, or endometrial cancer, or another related reproductive condition.

Even if your diagnosis occurred years after use, you may still have legal rights.

Potential Compensation

A lawsuit can help recover compensation for:

  • Medical costs and ongoing treatment

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional distress and trauma

  • Lost wages or diminished earning capacity

  • Wrongful death (for surviving family members)

Contact Us Today

If you developed uterine or ovarian cancer after using chemical hair relaxers or straightening products, you may have a claim. Legal action can help you secure compensation and protect others from the same danger.

Contact our office for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen, review your case, and guide you through the next steps toward justice.