Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

About Hair Relaxers & Chemical Straighteners

Chemical hair relaxers and straightening products are used to permanently break down the protein structure of curly and coily hair, making it straighter and more manageable. These products have been widely marketed and used for decades, particularly among African American women, as a method to achieve different hair textures and styling options.

Common chemical hair relaxer brands include Soft Sheen-Carson (Just For Me, Bantu Knot Out), Creme of Nature, SheaMoisture, L'Oreal (Dark & Lovely), and Revlon (TCB, Elasta QP). These products contain powerful chemical compounds such as sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, guanidine hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide, which work by breaking the disulfide bonds in hair protein. The process is irreversible and can only be repeated as new hair grows in.

In addition to the primary active ingredients, many chemical relaxers and straighteners contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals including phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, bisphenol A (BPA), and other compounds that have raised health concerns among scientists and regulatory agencies. The long-term and repeated use of these products, particularly among women who began using them in childhood or adolescence, has exposed millions of women to these chemicals over decades.

The disproportionate use of these products among Black women — driven by decades of marketing, cultural factors, and workplace hair discrimination — has resulted in an unequal health burden for this population. Research suggests that Black women are more likely to use chemical hair relaxers more frequently and for longer durations than other populations, potentially increasing their exposure to harmful chemicals.

Health Risks & Cancer Link

In October 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) published significant findings from the Sister Study, a landmark epidemiological study examining the relationship between chemical hair product use and cancer risk in women. The study followed over 33,000 women for more than a decade and found compelling evidence linking frequent use of chemical hair relaxers to increased cancer risk.

Key findings from the NIH Sister Study include:

The cancer risk appears to be associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals contained in these products. Endocrine disruptors are substances that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in the body, potentially disrupting reproductive and metabolic systems. The chemicals phthalates, formaldehyde, and parabens found in many hair relaxers are known endocrine disruptors that can mimic, block, or alter natural hormone signaling.

Exposure to these chemicals occurs through multiple pathways: absorption through the scalp during product application (which can cause microscopic burns and increase absorption), inhalation of fumes during application, and systemic circulation through damaged or porous scalp tissue. For individuals who have been using these products since childhood or adolescence — a common practice among Black girls — lifetime exposure to endocrine disruptors may significantly increase cancer risk, particularly for hormone-dependent cancers such as uterine and ovarian cancer.

Settlements & Verdicts

The hair relaxer litigation is still in the early stages compared to other mass tort cases. While no major global settlements have been reached yet, the litigation has gained significant momentum following the October 2022 NIH Sister Study findings that linked frequent chemical hair relaxer use to doubled uterine cancer risk and increased ovarian cancer risk.

As the litigation progresses and bellwether trials conclude, settlements are expected to follow. Individual settlement amounts will vary based on factors such as the severity of the diagnosis, frequency and duration of product use, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and geographic location. Early indicators suggest potentially significant compensation values given the strength of the scientific evidence and the number of affected individuals.

Scientific Evidence

The scientific foundation for the hair relaxer lawsuit is substantial and continues to grow. The most significant evidence comes from large-scale epidemiological studies and chemical analysis of product ingredients.

The October 2022 study published by the NIH and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences was conducted as part of the Sister Study, a prospective cohort study of 33,947 women ages 35 to 74 with a family history of breast cancer. The study found that women who used chemical hair relaxers 4 or more times per year had more than double the risk of uterine cancer compared to women who had never used them. Additionally, the research found increased risks of ovarian cancer and endometriosis associated with regular relaxer use.

Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and other peer-reviewed scientific journals has identified specific endocrine-disrupting chemicals in hair relaxers, including phthalates, which are known to interfere with reproductive hormones. Studies have demonstrated that these chemicals can penetrate the scalp barrier, particularly when the scalp is irritated or damaged by the caustic nature of relaxer chemicals, leading to systemic absorption and hormone disruption.

Additional research has examined the disproportionate impact on Black women, whose higher rate of hair relaxer use since childhood (often beginning in early childhood) creates a significantly longer exposure window to endocrine disruptors. This prolonged exposure during critical developmental and reproductive years may compound the risk of developing hormone-related cancers.

How to File a Hair Relaxer Claim

Filing a hair relaxer lawsuit through LegalCove is straightforward and costs nothing upfront. Attorneys in our network work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if your case results in compensation.