As more evidence of the link between hair relaxers and cancer emerges, manufacturers of these products are facing lawsuits. Were you or a loved one diagnosed with cancer caused by hair straightening products? If so, you may be entitled to a settlement.
Contact us today to find out if you have a case, obligation-free. Keep reading for more information about uterine cancer caused by hair relaxer, plus updates on current lawsuits.
How Is Uterine Cancer Caused By Hair Relaxer?
Many hair straightening products contain chemicals that do more than relax hair. They also disrupt endocrine function. This means they prevent the body from producing certain hormones. These hormones are essential for reproduction, immunity, and neurological functions. Routine exposure can even cause cancer.
Many women start using relaxers when they’re kids or teens. This makes chemical hair relaxers all the more dangerous. Researchers have shown that frequent use over time increases a woman’s risk for developing endocrine problems and cancer.
For the most part, these products target black and Latina women. The number of black women diagnosed with uterine cancer has increased at alarming rates in recent years. This owes to the fact that many of them began using the products on a daily basis when they were young.
Now in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, they’re reaping the consequences of applying toxic chemicals to their hair. But they had no way of knowing they were harmful. Manufacturers tout these beauty products as “safe”. You won’t find a warning about cancer on the label.
Hair relaxer may contain toxic chemicals like:
- Formaldehyde
- Phthalates
- Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP)
- Cyclosiloxanes
- Bisphenol A
- Parabens
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
In recent years, there has been a barrage of studies proving that constant use of these chemicals (and others) increases the risk of uterine cancer.
So you might wonder, “why are they still on the market?” Well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bars manufacturers from selling products with harmful toxins. But makers of hair relaxers often omit them from their ingredient lists, or label them as “fragrance”.
Besides uterine cancer, the toxic chemicals in hair relaxers may also cause:
- Breast cancer
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
Have you used hair relaxant on a routine basis? Do you suffer from any of the conditions above? If so, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Call us at 713.489.0993 to discuss your options.
Hair Relaxer Cancer Research
Research examining the links between toxic relaxer chemicals and cancer has been going on for years. But many studies are just now publishing their results. Why? This type of research takes time. It’s no small allegation to say a common beauty product is the culprit of a deadly disease.
For example, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) gathered information for 11 years before unveiling results. They finally published them in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in October 2022. Here’s a summary of their research:
- The researchers followed 33,497 women ages 35-74 over a period of 11 years.
- About 60% identified as black women.
- The women filled out forms that asked them what hair products they used and how often they used them. These included dyes, straighteners, relaxers, and pressing products.
- After 10 years, the study found that women who used relaxers on a routine basis were 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer than those who didn’t use relaxers.
Additional Studies on Cancer Caused by Hair Straightening Products:
- International Journal of Cancer (IJC), 2019: A study of 50,884 women found that those who used hair relaxers often had a 30% higher risk of breast cancer.
- Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study: A 25-year long study of 59,000 self-identified black women. Their research showed that women who used relaxers at least 7 times per year were 30% more likely to have breast cancer.
Did you know? 9 hair relaxer lawsuits were filed in federal courts just months after new hair relaxer cancer research came to light. The best time to take action is now.
Allegations In Hair Relaxer Cancer Cases
They say that beauty is pain, because some people go to great lengths to maintain their looks. Sure, figuring out how to apply fake eyelashes perfectly is a pain in the neck. But beauty products shouldn’t cause real pain and disease.
Companies that fail to protect consumers must be held accountable.
Lawsuits seek to do this by identifying areas where companies break the law. For example:
- Failure to disclose the presence of toxic chemicals in a product
- Failing to warn consumers about harmful side effects
- Not recalling a product after it has harmed consumers
- Misleading consumers about the safety of the product
- Failure to research the negative effects that chemicals in their product may have on a person’s health.
- Adding known carcinogens to a product and mislabeling them.
Products Involved In Hair Relaxer Cancer Cases
An avalanche of lawsuits are coming for hair relaxer manufacturers. The catalyst? Research was published proving that relaxers can cause cancer and other health issues.
These products are the target of current lawsuits:
- Bantu
- Just For Me
- Revlon Brand
- Crème of Nature
- Soft & Beautiful
- Optimum Care
- Precise
- Dark & Lovely
- Motions
- Fabulaxer
- TCB Naturals
- Just For Me
- Olive Oil Girls
**Note: This isn’t a complete list of relaxers that may contain toxic chemicals. If one of the products above or a different product has harmed your health, please contact us to discuss possible legal action.
Uterine Cancer And Hair Relaxer: Latest News
Hair relaxing products have been around for a while. But they’ve been linked to cancer only recently. Now that word is out, dozens of women are lining up to sue various manufacturers over uterine cancer caused by hair relaxer. Here’s the latest news:
- Plaintiffs have filed at least 9 lawsuits in federal courts as of 2022.
- A group of plaintiffs filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) in November 2022. They asked that all hair relaxer cancer cases be centralized with an Illinois U.S. District Judge. This allows plaintiffs’ lawyers to work together during pretrial and discovery.
- In December 2022, several hair relaxer manufacturers wrote to the JPML to oppose centralization. These included House of Cheatham and Strength of Nature, L’Oréal, and Dabur.
- In January 2023, the JPMIL will hear arguments from both sides before approving or denying the motion for centralization.
Should I File A Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit?
If you were diagnosed with cancer caused by hair straightening products, you have every right to take legal action. The number of hair relaxer cancer cases is piling up now that there’s proof of a link between these products and cancer.
We understand that going through a legal process might be the last thing you feel like doing when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. You need to save your strength for fighting the disease and getting better.
But the harsh reality is that you’ll need money to get better. You’ll need to pay for cancer treatments, hospital stays, medicine, and more. These funds shouldn’t come from your pocket. They should come from the manufacturer who’s responsible for your suffering.
So here’s what we suggest:
- Hire a lawyer. You don’t need to fight this legal battle yourself. Look for an attorney with experience in medical malpractice.
- Don’t wait. State laws give you a limited amount of time to sue after you discover a product has harmed you. (This is called the statute of limitations. It varies by state. Some states allow just 2-3 years).
- Save your medical records. Keep any and all evidence you have of the products you used and the harm they caused you. Save your hospital bills, test results, correspondence and anything else that might prove your case.
QUALIFIED, CARING LAWYERS ARE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. SPEAK WITH US NOW.
How Much Will It Cost To File A Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
We handle all cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means there are NO upfront costs for you. If you win your case or receive a settlement from the manufacturer, we’ll receive our attorney fees from that.
In other words: we get paid only if YOU get paid. In addition, your initial consultation with us won’t cost a dime either.
So what have you got to lose? Nothing. But if you’re due a payout from the makers of a dangerous product, you have everything to gain.
Don’t get us wrong–hair relaxer cancer cases do cost a lot to win. They may require:
- Expert testimony from medical professionals
- A team of experienced, seasoned attorneys
- Ample time, funds, and effort
Our contingency-fee policy ensures that anyone who’s eligible to file a claim has the resources to do it. It also means that more consumers will be willing to take manufacturing companies to court. Unfortunately, taking legal action is often the only way to get dishonest companies to recall their products or make them safer.
NO OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. GET A FREE EVALUATION OF YOUR CASE TODAY.
FAQ’s
Hair relaxers have been the center of recent studies and the results are unanimous: they present a high risk for their users. Hair relaxers are dangerous due to the toxic chemicals present. These include, but are not limited to formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates. These chemicals can suppress and disrupt natural hormone levels. While it may not seem like a big deal, frequent and long-term use is linked to uterine cancer.
Hair relaxers are known to straighten natural, curly locks. But they may come with a heavy price.
Some minor health problems caused by hair relaxers include skin burns, nose or throat irritation, scalp damage, and hair loss. Unfortunately, hair relaxers are associated with many major issues as well, such as reproductive issues, neurological dysfunction, endometriosis, breast cancer, fibroids, and uterine cancer
When people talk about carcinogens, it’s not rare to mention formaldehyde. The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. This colorless gas has been found in hair relaxers, making them carcinogenic.
Unfortunately, hair relaxers aren’t the only hair products that contain carcinogens. Unilever, a consumer goods company, recently recalled 19 different dry shampoos because they contain Benzene, a known carcinogen. Other hair products that may contain hidden carcinogens include hair dyes, shampoos, leave in conditioners, and hair oils.
