Hair Relaxer Lawsuit – June 2023 Update

The Hair Relaxer Lawsuit is an active lawsuit

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Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

Hair relaxers are hair treatments (usually in the form of cream or lotion) that are used by people with natural curls to straighten their hair. Millions of Americans use hair relaxer products on a regular basis.

However, a recent study found a link between the use of hair relaxers and the likeliness of developing uterine cancer. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only study that pointed to the potential risks of using hair relaxers. A 2021 study found a correlation between the use of hair relaxers and breast cancer in Black women.

As customers were becoming aware of the risk associated with hair relaxers, chemical relaxer sales to hair professionals and salons dropped from $71m in 2011 to $30m in 2021, according to market research from the Kline Group.

People who have used hair relaxer treatments for extended periods of time and later been diagnosed with cancer are filing product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers. If you used hair relaxer products and developed cancer, you may be able to file a hair relaxer lawsuit and seek compensation. Get in touch with our team at King Law to get your case evaluated.

Latest News on Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

June 1, 2023: Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Seminar with Lovely Warren and Robert King

King law has teamed up with Lovely Warren for an educational session for our local community. Studies show that use of hair relaxer causes increased risk of cancer in women. Our local community is still uneducated on the risks of hair relaxer use. This live session will discuss the dangers of the products known to contain chemicals that cause cancer and next steps for those concerned about hair relaxer use. Individuals experiencing serious health issues such as Uterine Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, and Endometrial Cancer from the use of hair relaxer may wish to join the multi-district class action lawsuit currently pending in federal court.

The event will be held on June 20, 2023, at 5:30pm at Urban Euphoria located at 35 S Washington St, Rochester, NY 14608. Listen to the radio ad featuring Lovely Warren below.

>>> Read Past Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Updates Here

Table of Contents:

What Is a Hair Relaxer and What Does It Do?

As mentioned previously, hair relaxers are treatments and at-home products used to straighten naturally curly or textured hair. These products are commonly used by Black and Latina women.

Hair relaxers work by penetrating the cuticle and the cortex layers of the hair shaft to loosen and eventually straighten the natural curl pattern. They break the disulfide bonds in the cortex layer and reform them while hair is fixed in a straight pattern. This permanently straightens the hair. A hair relaxer treatment is basically a reverse perm.

The active agent in modern products is usually a strong alkali, though some brands use formaldehyde or ammonium thioglycolate.

The use of hair relaxers is associated with mild to serious side effects. Some of them are scalp-level: burns, scabbing, dandruff, scalp irritation, rashes, hair loss, hair thinning, and premature appearance of grey hair. Some affect the hair: split ends, breakage, frizz, knots, and trouble detangling.

Serious side effects include cancers and other serious diseases.

Hair Relaxers and Their Link to Cancer

International studies have found links between hair relaxers and several types of cancer, specifically hormone-sensitive cancers (such as ovarian cancer and breast cancer) and uterine cancer.

A 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that frequent use of chemical hair relaxers may double the risk of uterine cancer. The study which was published in October, was performed in the US and spanned 11 years and followed 33,947 racially diverse women, aged 35 to 74. During that time, 378 women developed uterine cancer. The study established that the rate of uterine cancer went up to 4.05 per cent in women who used hair relaxers four or more times a year, compared to 1.64 per cent in those who never used the products.

Tamara James-Todd of Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health has shown that hair straightening products that some Black women use on a daily basis, contain parabens, phthalates, and other chemicals that are known to be endocrine disruptors. Phthalates, for example, have been linked to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Endocrine disruptors increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers.

2021 Oxford University Carcinogenesis Journal study found that continuous use of hair-relaxing products could lead to breast cancer due to the fact that they contain estrogens.

In 2019, a study was published in the International Journal of Cancer that suggested that the use of permanent hair straighteners, as well as permanent hair dyes, increases the risk of breast cancer. Studies highlight that extended use of these products is particularly dangerous.

It is important to note that cosmetic products, apart from color additives, do not require FDA approval before they enter the market, which means it’s up to the consumers to do their own research and figure out if products or ingredients can be harmful to their health.

If you continuously used hair straightening products and were later diagnosed with cancer or another serious medical condition, you should consult a hair relaxer lawyer. Our team at King Law can help you evaluate your evidence and file a hair relaxer lawsuit. Give us a call and see if you are eligible for a chemical hair relaxer lawsuit.

Types of Chemical Hair Treatments: Hair Relaxers and Hair Straighteners

There are types of hair relaxers available on the market. There are variations with different strengths for different curl types.

Ammonium thioglycolate relaxers, sometimes referred to as “Thio” have a thick and creamy consistency and are said to be easy to apply. They have a pH value of at least 10 to ensure that the disulfide bonds can be broken (and that, consequently, the hair can be straightened). The relaxer is applied to the hair, and then in about 10 minutes it is rinsed out with water and a neutraliser is applied to bring the hair back to its original pH of 4.5 – 5.5.

The second type is lye relaxers. Lye is an alkali. It’s conventional name is sodium hydroxide or caustic soda. However, often lye is actually a mixture of sodium hydroxide, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, emulsifiers, and water. Lye is absorbed by hair proteins. It works by weakening the bonds rather than breaking them. The amount of lye in hair relaxers varies between brands, weaker products can minimise damage to the scalp. Lye relaxers usually have a pH of 12-14 and don’t require neutralizing. If lye relaxers are left on for too long they can cause chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring. It is recommended to use protective gloves when applying lye-containing products.

Increasing awareness of the side effects of lye resulted in the development of no-lye relaxers. Their mode of action is similar to that of the lye-based relaxer, but the sodium hydroxide is replaced with potassium, lithium or guanidine hydroxides. No-lye relaxers tend to be gentler on the scalp. However, chemical straightening still damages the hair.

Once the hair is relaxed using one of the relaxer types, it is permanently straightened. But as the hair continues to grow, the roots will grow in their natural texture. This means the relaxing process will need to be repeated. However, as we mentioned above, continuous use of relaxers can cause serious health problems.

List of Chemicals in Hair Relaxers

Hair relaxers contain various chemicals. Some of them are potentially dangerous to humans.

Almost all hair relaxers contain chemicals known as phthalates. They are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs.

EDCs are types of chemicals that affect the endocrine (hormonal) system. Hair relaxers often contain a phthalate chemical called Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate or DEHP. DEHP is known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Lye relaxers contain sodium hydroxide. Exposure to very high concentrations of sodium hydroxide can cause burns to the eyes and skin. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may result in dermatitis. Repeated inhalation of sodium hydroxide vapor can lead to permanent lung damage. However, it would be fair to point out that the amount of lye in hair relaxers is most likely to result in scalp damage, specifically, irritation or burns.

Ammonium thioglycolate side effects include sensitivity dermatitis of scalp or hands, with edema, erythema, subcutaneous lesions, burning of skin, papular rash and itching.

Formaldehyde may cause sensitive individuals to experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Long-term side effects of formaldehyde are less known.

Other common ingredients in hair relaxers are hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl compounds, and phosphoric acid. Natural relaxer products usually contain cocoa butter, coconut oil or olive oil, but they are not as strong as their chemical counterparts.

Chemical Hair Relaxer Side Effects

Continuous use of chemical hair relaxers can cause adverse side effects. The longer you’ve been exposed to the chemicals, the more likely they are to have caused damage.

The severity of side effects varies from person to person, and some don’t experience any side effects.

The most common chemical hair relaxer side effects include damage to the hair and skin (primarily the scalp and forehead). Ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide can damage the hair cuticle and cause breakage. It can also be very irritating to the scalp and lead to dandruff, hair loss and scalp dermatitis.

Many hair relaxers contain parabens, most often butylparaben, methylparaben, isobutylparaben, and ethylparaben. These parabens disrupt the endocrine system and can cause endometriosis.

Sodium hydroxide, or lye, is a potential carcinogen. Regular exposure has been known to cause severe burns.

If you can’t refrain from using a hair relaxer, make sure to read the label carefully and learn about the ingredients. Ideally, visit a specialist at a reputable salon, it will help you avoid burns and irritation associated with incorrect handling and application.

Hair Relaxing Products and Manufacturers

Many commonly used hair relaxers were found to contain dangerous chemicals. Amongs them – products of such well-known brands as L’Oreal, Revlon, The following products have been named in hair relaxer lawsuits to date:

Hair Relaxer Settlement and Payout Amounts

Chemical relaxer compensation can either be received through a settlement or a trial verdict. A hair relaxer settlement amount will depend on a variety of factors, and it’s impossible to predict exactly how much it will be, if granted. The factors that will be taken into consideration include:

• The severity of injuries developed following the use of hair relaxers/Diagnosis
• Whether the disease/injuries prevent you from working
• Cost of medical bills
• Other damages, like loss of employment due to illness, loss of quality of life,  transportation costs, legal costs, and more

Some speculate that a hair relaxer case may lead to a settlement between $400,000 and $1.5 million, depending on the severity of the disease and accompanying factors. People who developed cancer are likely to receive higher settlements than people who suffered from local burns, but it is important to state that each individual case is different.

It is important to have good legal representation to ensure you are compensated fairly in a hair relaxer lawsuit. At King Law we will evaluate your case and walk you through the next steps.

How to File a Hair Relaxer Claim

Before filing a hair relaxer claim, gather the following information:

• Brand and product name of the chemical hair relaxer that you used
• How long/how many times you used it
• Your diagnosis, date of diagnosis and any supporting evidence, such as medical records and bills

Once you’ve gathered the information, contact an experienced lawyer and they will guide you through the process. At King Law our hair relaxer attorneys will carefully evaluate your claim and tell you if you meet the eligibility criteria to file a chemical relaxer lawsuit.

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