Chemical Hair Straighteners & Relaxers Linked to Increased Cancer Risk

If you or a loved one used chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers – including L’Oreal, Luster’s, Namaste, SoftSheen Carson, and Strength of Nature – and were diagnosed with uterine, ovarian, or endometrial cancer, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation.

Contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend to learn more about whether you may qualify to file a lawsuit by filling out the form on the right side of this page, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 to speak with an attorney about your case.

➢ Study Links Hair Straighteners & Relaxers to Uterine Cancer

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, frequent users of chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers (more than four times in the last year) were nearly 250% more likely to develop uterine cancer than non-users.

More than 4% of women involved in the study who used chemical hair straighteners or relaxers were diagnosed with uterine cancer, compared to only 1.6% of women who never used these products.

➢ Black Women At Risk of Uterine Cancer

African-American women represented about 60% of the NIH study participants who claimed to have used hair straighteners or hair relaxers.

Black women are not only more likely to use hair straighteners and hair relaxers, they typically begin using these products at a younger age than women of other races or ethnicities, according to the authors of the NIH study.

As a result, the number of Black women who are diagnosed with uterine cancer or other cancers after using chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers may be much higher than women of other ethnic groups.

While uterine cancer may only account for 3% of cancer diagnoses each year, studies have shown that the rates for this cancer are rising, particularly among Black women, with 65,950 or more new total cases estimated in 2023.

➢ Products Linked to Uterine Cancer

Women who used any of the following chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers may face an increased risk of developing uterine cancer:

• Luster’s Pink
• Luster’s Short Looks
• Luster’s Smooth Touch
• Namaste Curls Unleashed
• Namaste HAIRepair
• Namaste ORS Olive Oil
• SoftSheen Carson Bantu
• SoftSheen Carson Dark & Lovely
• SoftSheen Carson Optimum
• SoftSheen Carson Ultra Precise
• Strength of Nature African Pride
• Strength of Nature Just For Me
• Strength of Nature Motions
• Strength of Nature Soft & Beautiful
• Strength of Nature TCB
• Strength of Nature TCB Naturals

➢ Chemical Hair Straighteners & Hair Relaxers Cancer Lawsuits

The first lawsuit on behalf of women who were diagnosed with cancer after using chemical hair straightening and hair relaxing products was filed against L’Oréal in October 2022.

This lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jenny Mitchell, an African-American woman from Missouri who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent a full hysterectomy after years of using chemical hair straighteners manufactured by L’Oréal.

Several more lawsuits have also been filed against L’Oréal or other hair straightener manufacturers on behalf of women who were diagnosed with cancer of the uterus or other types of cancer.

There are currently at least nine hair relaxer lawsuits involving 13 plaintiffs pending in four district federal courts. Subsidiaries of L’Oreal and India-based companies Godrej Consumer Products Ltd and Dabur India Ltd are also defendants in this litigation.

➢ Signs & Symptoms of Uterine Cancer

It’s important to speak to your health care provider as soon as possible if you notice any of the following symptoms, which may be a sign of uterine cancer:

• Cramping or pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area below your belly
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods before menopause
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting postmenopause to any degree
• Very frequent, heavy, or prolonged vaginal bleeding over the age of 40
• White or clear vaginal discharge in postmenopausal women

In addition to the increased risk of uterine cancer linked to the use of chemical hair straighteners and hair relaxers, women who used these products may also face an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer.

➢ Free Legal Consultation for Women With Cancer

Women who used chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers and were diagnosed with endometrial, ovarian, or uterine cancer may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation.

For a free legal consultation to find out if you qualify to file a case, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out our free case evaluation form located on the right side of this page.