Who Is Eligible for a Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit?

Hundreds of women have filed lawsuits against some of the biggest hair brands. Studies like those reported by NBC News have linked major chemical hair straighteners to cancer and other health conditions.

Chemical hair straightener lawsuits exist and focus on a central issue. The central question is whether long-term or frequent use of relaxers may be associated with hormone-related cancers.

These cases often rely on scientific studies suggesting potential links between product use and certain health conditions. People suing also argue that product risks were not adequately disclosed.

Many hair relaxer lawsuits are part of a broader federal court process. These lawsuits are against manufacturers of chemical hair straighteners or relaxer products.

There are so many individual lawsuits, a federal court decided to bring many of them together. This process is known as Multidistrict Litigation or MDL for short. According to these cases, long-term users of chemical hair relaxers may have been more likely to get hormone-related cancers and other injuries.

There has been some research into the relationship between hair straighteners and cancer. One of the major findings is a reported association between chemical hair straighteners and uterine cancer. This is often observed when there is frequent use of these products.

Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the uterus. Malignant cells grow and begin to damage more healthy cells. The uterus is also known as the womb. There are two types of this cancer:

• Endometrial cancer, which is more common.
• Uterine sarcoma, which is rare but more aggressive.

A Journal of the National Cancer Institute study linked chemical hair straightener use to uterine cancer. This study was from 2022, and it followed women who used hair straighteners for at least 12 months before the study started. It found these women had about double the risk of getting uterine cancer than women who had never used them.

The study further showed that “frequent” users faced more than double the risk. It’s worth noting that a higher usage rate of these products was observed among Black women.

Researchers noted that these findings did not conclusively prove causation. They highlighted that their conclusions reflected association rather than causation.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the ovaries and spreads. The cells grow very quickly and can get into healthy body tissue and kill it.

The study, “Use of hair products in relation to ovarian cancer risk” by White, Alexandra J et al., explores the connection between hair straighteners and ovarian cancer. The study found ovarian cancer rates were higher among users, but emphasized that this was an association, not proof of causation.

Lawsuits against major brands often reference this and similar findings. Note that this does not prove that any specific product caused cancer.

Endometrial Cancer

Hair relaxers may be a risk factor for endometrial cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, endometrial cancer starts in the lining of the uterus and is linked to hormone balance. Higher lifetime exposure to estrogen is associated with increased endometrial cancer risk, while progesterone may help regulate this risk.

Plaintiffs often argue that these findings substantiate hormone-acting chemical concerns in these instances. Some have undergone hysterectomies, which are included in their claimed damages.

What Do These Studies Prove?

These studies show associations between frequent hair straightener use and certain cancers. They do not prove causation. Courts have not issued final rulings on medical causation, and research is ongoing.

Black women appear disproportionately affected among hair straightener lawsuits. Many view this as evidence of a broader systemic problem. Research suggests deeper social and economic forces behind these patterns.

These studies show that Black women use these products more frequently. Beyond that, they often start using these products at a much younger age. As a result, Black women may face greater exposure and higher associated health risks.

NYU Article on Cultural Pressures and Hair

In the article “Hair Alteration Practices Amongst Black Women and the Assumption of Self-Hatred,” Chanel Donaldson addresses complex hair-related issues among Black women. The article highlights how layered these issues are, and discusses hair alteration as sometimes driven by economic necessity.

The article describes that the historical impact traces back to the era of slavery, when straighter hair was often associated with higher status in the racial hierarchy.

Donaldson argues that in this historical context, Blackness was positioned as the “antithesis of beauty.” Black women had a hard time navigating the devaluation of their features. The article indicates those racial dynamics still influence why some Black women straighten their hair.

Donaldson goes on to explain how in our post-slavery era, the media has contributed to reinforcing this narrative. Usually, the media shows famous Black women without their natural hair. Instead, they are usually shown with straightened hair.

The article claims that for many Black women, hair straightening is typically a societal and economic necessity rather than a choice. Black women have been told that their natural hair is unkempt and unfit. This is especially true in professional settings, where their natural hair is sometimes deemed “unprofessional.”

Research on Discrimination and Hair Bias

Dove’s CROWN Research Study found that discrimination against Black women based on their hair is likely a systemic issue. The study surveyed 2,000 women (1,000 Black and 1,000 non-Black). It found that hair prejudice likely hurts Black women’s economic mobility most.

The study shows a huge racial gap in hair perception. A major finding is that Black women’s hair is reportedly 3.4 times more likely to be seen as unprofessional than non-Black hair. This perception is possibly not merely a social preference; it likely has “real, measurable social and economic impact.”

Three things stood out to researchers when evaluating this situation:

• Natural hair on Black women reportedly attracted a lower rating for job readiness.
• Their appearances were reportedly more frequently policed because of their hair.
• Black women reported expressing themselves less because of scrutiny on their hair.

Additional findings from another CROWN study include:

• Black women’s hair was reported as 2.5x more likely to be perceived as unprofessional.
• Black women were reported to be 54% more likely to straighten their hair for a job interview to improve their chances.
• Approximately 2/3 of Black women (66%) reported changing their hair for a job interview.
• Black women with curly hair reported facing twice as many microaggressions as Black women with straight hair in the workplace.
• Over 20% of Black women aged 25-34 reported being sent home from work because of their hair.

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Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with a qualifying condition after years of using chemical hair relaxers? You can request a free case review. There is no cost or obligation to move forward.