Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

The use of chemical hair relaxers has recently been linked to serious illnesses, including various cancers, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.

If you or a loved one suffered from any of these health issues after using a chemical hair relaxer, you may be eligible for compensation from a hair relaxer lawsuit.

Call (800) 995-1212 or fill out our contact form to receive a free case review and learn more about the options available to you.

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Hair Relaxers and Cancer, Endometriosis, & Uterine Fibroids

Hair relaxers contain chemicals that are meant to temporarily straighten curly hair by breaking down protein bonds. However, some of these chemicals may be endocrine disruptors.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) impact the endocrine system, which is in charge of producing, storing, and secreting hormones throughout the body. EDCs found in hair relaxers can be absorbed through cuts, burns, lesions, or sores on the scalp.

Exposure to these chemicals may result in painful or potentially life-threatening diseases, including:

  • Multiple types of cancer
  • Endometriosis
  • Uterine fibroids

Black women may be disproportionately at risk of illnesses caused by hair relaxers and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 60% of the participants who used chemical straighteners in the previous year identified as Black women.

To pursue justice, families across the country have turned to filing hair relaxer lawsuits against the manufacturers of these dangerous products.

See If You Can Take Action

If you used chemical hair relaxers and developed cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids, you can learn about your legal options — for free. Take the first steps toward justice now.

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Cancers Linked to Hair Relaxers

Frequent use of hair relaxers may increase the likelihood of developing an estrogen-dependent cancer.

Cancers linked to hair relaxers include: 

  • Endometrial cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Uterine cancer

Women who use chemical straighteners more than 4 times in a year are approximately 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer.

Hair Relaxers and Endometriosis

Many hair relaxers contain phthalates, an EDC that has been linked to the development of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disorder that causes tissue normally found within the uterus to grow outside of it instead.

In serious cases, endometriosis may require multiple surgeries in order to address pain, excessive bleeding, and other symptoms.

Hair Relaxers and Uterine Fibroids

Studies have found a significant link between the chemicals in hair relaxers and fibroids. Uterine fibroids — also known as uterine leiomyomata — are benign tumors found within the uterus.

According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, by the age of 50 approximately 80% of Black women and 70% of white women will develop uterine fibroids.

While some people with these growths don’t have any symptoms, others may experience pain, heavy bleeding, and frequent urination.

Who Can File a Lawsuit for Hair Relaxer Products?

You may be eligible to file a hair relaxer lawsuit if you: 

  • Used hair relaxers or chemical hair straightening products
  • Later developed endometriosis, uterine fibroids, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or endometrial cancer

Call (800) 995-1212 or fill out our online case review form to learn more about your eligibility and the legal options available to you.

How to File a Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit

At Sokolove Law, we strive to make the legal process as easy as possible for our clients. If you have a case, our hair relaxer attorneys can handle every step of the legal process for you, so you can focus on your health.

The steps of the legal process generally include:

  • Contacting Sokolove Law: We’ll provide you with a free legal consultation to determine if you have a case.
  • Collecting Evidence: Evidence may include medical records and identifying the brands of hair relaxers used.
  • Filing Your Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit: Our attorneys will work to file your claim within any necessary deadlines or statutes of limitations.
  • Negotiating a Hair Relaxer Settlement: We will work to negotiate a hair relaxer settlement amount with the defendant on your behalf.
  • Pursuing a Verdict in a Trial: If no hair relaxer cash settlement is reached, we are prepared to present your case in court.

By filing a hair relaxer lawsuit, you can take a stand against the companies that made these products and seek compensation to help pay for your medical treatment.

The Value of Hair Relaxer Settlements & Verdicts

Hair relaxer compensation can be received through a settlement or a trial verdict. A hair relaxer settlement is an amount of financial compensation that your legal team and the defendant(s) agree to for the damages in your case, while a verdict is awarded in court.

A variety of factors in each case are taken into account when determining how much someone can get from a hair relaxer lawsuit.

Hair relaxer settlement amounts may factor in the:

  • Severity of injuries sustained from hair relaxers
  • Total estimated cost of medical bills
  • Cost of funeral expenses, if applicable
  • Other economic or punitive damages

At Sokolove Law, our chemical hair relaxer lawyers will fight hard to get you everything you’re entitled to. Contact us now to get started.

Billions Recovered Nationwide

At Sokolove Law, we’ve recovered over $8.8 Billion for thousands of injured clients nationwide. Let us get you the results you deserve.

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Get Help from Our Hair Relaxer Lawyers

At Sokolove Law, we believe that all people deserve equal access to the justice system. That’s why we provide all of our clients with legal help at no upfront or out-of-pocket cost.

For more than 40 years, we’ve helped people across the country who have suffered preventable injuries or illnesses, securing over $8.8 Billion for our clients.

See what our hair relaxer attorneys may be able to do for you: Call (800) 995-1212 or fill out our contact form today. You may be eligible to pursue justice and compensation from the company that caused you harm.

Note: All brands are trademarks of their respective companies.

Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer Lawsuit FAQs

Is there a uterine cancer class action lawsuit for hair relaxer products?

Yes. Nearly 60 hair relaxer lawsuits against L'Oreal USA Inc and other companies will be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) or class action lawsuit. These lawsuits claim that the chemicals found in hair relaxer products cause cancer.

Those who developed endometriosis and uterine fibroids after using hair relaxers may also be eligible to file a lawsuit.

There's still time for you to join the hair relaxer class action lawsuit — but you have to act fast. Call (800) 995-1212 now to get started.

Who qualifies for a hair relaxer lawsuit?

You may qualify for a hair relaxer lawsuit if you:

  • Used chemical hair straightening products or relaxers
  • Were later diagnosed with endometriosis, uterine fibroids, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, or uterine cancer

How much money do you get from hair relaxer lawsuits?

Because this class action lawsuit is still so new, it is too early to tell exactly how much a hair relaxer lawsuit may be worth.

However, hair relaxer settlement amounts vary based on the individual details of each case, including what health problems were suffered as a result of using a hair relaxer.

At Sokolove Law, we’ll fight hard to get you everything you’re entitled to. Call (800) 995-1212 today for a free consultation.

What factors affect hair relaxer cash settlements?

Numerous factors may impact a hair relaxer cash settlement, including:

  • The type of illness you developed after using a chemical hair relaxer
  • The severity of this illness
  • Pain and suffering
  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages

How much do lawyers for a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit cost?

At Sokolove Law, our hair relaxer attorneys charge no upfront or out-of-pocket costs. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if your case results in compensation.  

What is the hair relaxer lawsuit statute of limitations?

Every state has its own unique set of laws known as statutes of limitations, which prevent people from filing lawsuits after a certain amount of time.

Once this deadline passes, you will not be able to take legal action for injuries caused by hair relaxers. 

It is important to contact Sokolove Law as soon as possible — we can help determine if you may still be eligible to file a hair relaxer lawsuit.

Is there a link between uterine fibroids and hair relaxers?

Yes. The American Journal of Epidemiology identified an increased risk of uterine fibroids in those that used hair relaxers.

By the age of 50, approximately 80% of Black women and 70% of white women will develop uterine fibroids.

Contact us today to learn if you may be eligible to file a hair relaxer lawsuit for fibroids.

Do hair relaxers cause cancer?

Potentially, yes. Researchers have found that women who reported using chemical hair straighteners were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who did not. 

Hair relaxers have also been linked to additional health concerns such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

Which hair relaxers cause cancer?

Many different brands of hair relaxers may increase the risk of cancer. At this time, lawsuits have been filed against L’Oreal, which manufactures Dark & Lovely and other brands.

Additionally, SoftSheen, Strength of Nature, and Namaste are other hair relaxer manufacturers that have also been named as defendants.

Can hair relaxers by L’Oreal cause cancer?

Potentially. As of February 2023, nearly 60 lawsuits have been filed against L’Oreal claiming that the brand’s hair relaxers have caused cancer. The L’Oreal lawsuit has since been consolidated into a class action lawsuit.

Author:
Sokolove Law Team

Contributing Authors

The Sokolove Law Content Team is made up of writers, editors, and journalists. We work with case managers and attorneys to keep site information up to date and accurate. Our site has a wealth of resources available for victims of wrongdoing and their families.

Last modified: March 21, 2023

  1. American Cancer Society. “Study Finds Possible Link Between Hair Straightening Chemicals and Uterine Cancer.” Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/study-finds-possible-link-between-hair-straightening-chemicals-and-uterine-cancer.html. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  2. American Journal of Epidemiology. “Hair Relaxer Use and Risk of Uterine Leiomyomata in African-American Women.” Retrieved from: https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/175/5/432/175919. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  3. Endocrine Society. “Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs).” Retrieved from: https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/edcs. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  4. National Institute of Environmental Health Science. “Endocrine Disruptors.” Retrieved from: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  5. National Library of Medicine. “Phthalates and risk of endometriosis.” Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905445. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  6. Reuters. “Nearly 60 hair relaxer lawsuits against L’Oreal, others consolidated in Illinois federal court. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/legal/nearly-60-hair-relaxer-lawsuits-against-loreal-others-consolidated-illinois-2023-02-06. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  7. The Sister Study. “What Is the Sister Study?” Retrieved from: https://sisterstudy.niehs.nih.gov/English/about.htm. Accessed on February 21, 2023.
  8. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Hair dye, hair relaxers and breast cancer: What’s the risk?” Retrieved from: https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/hair-dye--hair-relaxers-and-breast-cancer--what-s-the-risk-.h12-1593780.html#:~:text=Some%20hair%20dye%20and%20hair,breast%2C%20prostate%20and%20ovarian%20cancers. Accessed on February 21, 2023.