The Hidden Dangers in Your Beauty Routine
For decades, women—particularly Black women and women of color—have used chemical hair relaxers and straighteners as part of their regular beauty regimen. These products promised smooth, manageable hair but came with risks that manufacturers never fully disclosed.
Recent medical research has uncovered a disturbing connection between frequent hair relaxer use and several types of cancer. The chemicals in these products don’t just sit on your hair—they absorb through your scalp and into your bloodstream, where they can disrupt your hormones and trigger cellular changes that lead to cancer.
The most concerning aspect? Many women used these products for years or even decades without any warning about potential health risks. Manufacturers marketed these straighteners as safe and effective while internal documents may have revealed concerns about their chemical ingredients.
What the Science Tells Us
In October 2022, the National Institutes of Health published a groundbreaking study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that changed everything. Researchers followed more than 33,000 women for over a decade and found that those who used chemical hair straighteners regularly had a significantly higher risk of developing uterine cancer.
The numbers are striking. Women who used hair relaxers more than four times per year faced over double the risk of uterine cancer compared to women who never used these products. For frequent users, the risk climbed even higher.
But uterine cancer isn’t the only concern. Additional research has linked hair relaxer use to:
- Ovarian cancer
- Breast cancer
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Early onset puberty in children
- Fertility problems
These products contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals known as endocrine-disrupting compounds. Substances like formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and cyclosiloxanes interfere with your body’s natural hormone production. Since many cancers are hormone-sensitive, this disruption can trigger abnormal cell growth that eventually becomes cancer.
The Legal Battle Against Hair Relaxer Manufacturers
The legal claims against these manufacturers include:
Companies knew or should have known about the cancer risks associated with their products but failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers.
The products were unreasonably dangerous due to their chemical formulations.
Manufacturers failed to properly test their products for safety and ignored warning signs about health risks.
Companies may have hidden information about the dangers of their products from consumers and regulators.
Products were marketed as safe when they were not.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys have begun the discovery process, which involves obtaining internal company documents, research data, and communications that may show what manufacturers knew about the risks and when they knew it. This evidence will be critical in proving that companies prioritized profits over consumer safety.
Who Qualifies for a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
You may be eligible to file a claim if you meet the following criteria:
Diagnosis Requirement: You were diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, or another qualifying health condition.
Product Use: You regularly used chemical hair relaxers or straightening products for an extended period (typically several years).
Timing: Your diagnosis came after a significant period of product use.
Age: You are over 18 years old (guardians can file on behalf of minors).
The strongest cases typically involve:
- Women who used hair relaxers at least four to six times per year
- Those who began using these products at a young age
- Individuals with extended use over many years or decades
- People diagnosed with hormone-related cancers
- Those without other obvious cancer risk factors
Even if you’re not certain whether your case qualifies, it’s worth investigating. Every situation is unique, and William Matter Law Offices can evaluate your specific circumstances.
What to Expect in Your Hair Relaxer Case
Understanding the legal process can help reduce anxiety about moving forward with a claim.
Your case evaluation is completely free and confidential. We’ll discuss your diagnosis, your hair relaxer use history, and whether you have a viable claim.
If we take your case, we’ll gather medical records, employment history, product purchase information, and other documentation needed to build a strong claim.
Your attorney will prepare and file legal documents that formally begin your case. Since these cases are part of an MDL, your lawsuit will be coordinated with other similar claims.
Both sides exchange information and evidence. This phase includes reviewing company documents, taking depositions, and consulting with medical experts.
Many mass tort cases resolve through negotiated settlements. If manufacturers offer fair compensation, we can resolve your case without trial.
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we’re fully prepared to take your case to trial and present your story to a jury.
The timeline varies for each case. MDL proceedings can take time as courts handle common legal issues affecting all plaintiffs. However, severe cases or those involving particularly sympathetic circumstances may be selected for early trial dates as “bellwether” cases that help establish value for other claims.
Start Your Instant Case Evaluation Today
You’ve already been through enough. You shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone while you’re fighting cancer or recovering from treatment.
William Matter Law Offices is here to help women get the justice and compensation they deserve after being harmed by dangerous hair relaxer products.
Our instant case evaluation takes just minutes to complete. You’ll provide basic information about your diagnosis and product use, and we’ll quickly assess whether you have a viable claim. There’s no obligation, no cost, and no pressure.
The manufacturers of hair relaxer products had a responsibility to warn you about the risks. They failed. Now it’s time to hold them accountable.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Statutes of limitations are ticking, and the sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.
