In October 2022, the first chemical hair relaxer lawsuit was filed. Since then, thousands more plaintiffs have followed suit, alleging hair relaxers cause several types of cancers and reproductive conditions. Most cases have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL), and as of March 2025, nearly 10,000 plaintiffs are part of the hair relaxer MDL. Almost 2,000 additional lawsuits have been filed across the country.
The widespread hair relaxer lawsuits began after research findings from a large-scale study showed an increased rate of uterine cancer among participants who used the chemical straighteners. This study, along with others that found endocrine-disrupting chemicals and other ingredients in these products are linked to ovarian, breast, uterine, and endometrial cancer, uterine fibroids, and infertility, formed the basis of claims.
Hair relaxer lawsuits allege the products cause cancer and reproductive issues, and that the manufacturers knew or should have known of the risks. The lawsuits claim L’Oreal and other hair relaxer manufacturers failed to warn consumers of the risks, and that their products were marketed as safe when they’re not. They also claim relaxers contain harmful chemicals, the product wasn’t properly tested, and labels failed to warn consumers of the risks.
Given the seriousness of illnesses, if you develop cancer or a condition associated with chemical straighteners, it’s important to know your legal options and how to proceed. Here are some steps to take after suffering hair relaxer injuries.
1. See a doctor.
Unlike some types of lawsuits that involve immediate injuries while using a product, hair relaxer cancer cases involve regular or frequent exposure to dangerous chemicals. This exposure is alleged to cause several types of cancer, uterine fibroids, and reproductive issues. Since hair relaxer injuries develop over time, anyone who uses (or used) the beauty products four or more times a year should be aware of the possible injuries.
Consumers should know the signs and symptoms of uterine, ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancer, and see a doctor if they have any concerns. Regular physicals can help ensure illnesses are caught early, and you should share your use of hair relaxers with your doctor. The evidence of increased risks of cancer from hair relaxers is strong, and medical records will be a crucial part of your case if you’re injured by a product.
2. Contact a product liability attorney.
Product liability lawsuits are complex; understanding the legal nuances and medical intricacies of a hair relaxer lawsuit is necessary to get the best outcome, but the average consumer does not have this knowledge or experience. Anyone injured by hair relaxers should contact a product liability lawyer who’s handled similar cases.
Extensive evidence is needed to demonstrate liability in a dangerous or defective product case, which an attorney can help gather. With the seriousness of hair relaxer injuries and the depth to which cancer impacts victims and their families, hiring an attorney to protect your rights and fight against manufacturers allows you to focus on what’s most important.
Our firm’s dangerous and defective product attorneys have extensive experience representing clients injured by products containing cancerous and harmful chemicals. We’re still accepting new cases involving chemical hair straightener injuries and wrongful deaths.
3. Gather evidence.
The next step to take if you’re injured by hair relaxers is to gather evidence, and an attorney can be a vital resource during this process. There’s significant research linking chemical straighteners to serious injuries. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that participants who used hair relaxers four or more times a year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who never used them. This, and other research, alongside the knowledge that there are dangerous chemicals in hair relaxers, provides a strong basis for a product liability lawsuit, but other types of evidence are needed.
As previously mentioned, medical records are evidence in dangerous product claims. All medical diagnoses and injuries, treatments, including surgeries, medication, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, and related side effects or complications must be gathered to show the extent of hair relaxer injuries.
Medical bills are also evidence, and not just for the cost of treatments, but hospital stays, specialist appointments, and transportation costs. Accurate times and dates of everything related to your hair relaxer lawsuit must be gathered. In addition, the age at which a plaintiff started using hair relaxers, the frequency, and the brand should be detailed.
To get the most out of a dangerous product claim, plaintiffs need to show the full impact of what they suffered, including time off work. An attorney can guide victims to get the necessary documentation from their employer about missed work days or leaves they needed to take.
4. Calculate the value of your lawsuit.
The evidence gathered in the previous step will be used to determine the level of compensation plaintiffs are entitled to in a hair relaxer lawsuit. There are damages to consider beyond medical bills and costs associated with treating and living with cancer or another condition caused by a dangerous product. Emotional distress, decreased enjoyment of life, being unable to provide or care for your family, lost opportunities at work, and pain and suffering are damages that plaintiffs may seek to recover. An experienced dangerous product attorney will be able to calculate the value of your claim based on the evidence and the use of experts.
Many of the plaintiffs in the hair relaxer MDL required hysterectomies because of hair relaxer injuries, taking away their chance at having biological children. This loss is another factor that can, and should, be considered when determining the level of damages.
If a loved one died from an illness associated with hair relaxers, medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of a partner, parent, sibling, or child, are considered when calculating the value of a wrongful death claim.
5. File a hair relaxer lawsuit.
As you can see from the steps to take when you suffer hair relaxer injuries, these cases are complex. They require not just extensive evidence and specific skills to determine the value of a claim, but also the use of experts and a legal team that specializes in dangerous product cases.
Each state has a statute of limitations to file product liability lawsuits, yet it takes time to investigate what happened and build a solid case. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better your chance at filing your claim on time and getting the compensation you’re entitled to.
Since there’s already a hair relaxer MDL, an attorney can determine if you’re eligible to file with the thousands of other plaintiffs in the mass tort, and if so, file on your behalf. Regardless of which route is taken, proper filing of your lawsuit is crucial.
Our dangerous product attorneys are working with experts to ensure the strength of every hair relaxer case we’re handling. We have a track record of success holding product manufacturers accountable for failing to create safe products and failing to warn consumers of the dangers and risks. We believe the outcome of hair relaxer lawsuits will favor plaintiffs and that they’ll receive proper compensation.
Contact Our Product Liability Attorneys
The hair relaxer MDL has become one of the fastest-growing mass torts in recent years, and victims are still coming forward. Our firm is accepting new clients, and anyone who has used hair relaxers and suffered injuries should consult with our experienced dangerous product attorneys. If the worst happened and a loved one died, we can help surviving family members file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Whether you used hair relaxers and developed uterine, ovarian, breast, or endometrial cancer, or another associated health condition, or are a salon worker who applied the product and have been injured, we’ll protect your rights and fight for justice and compensation.
Contact our dangerous product attorneys online or at 1-800-641-0098 for a free consultation.
Other Hair Relaxer News
There is substantial evidence that hair relaxers increase the likelihood of certain cancers. In addition to uterine cancer, there are also links between hair relaxer products and ovarian cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer after regularly using hair relaxer products, you could have a claim for compensation against the manufacturer even if you have underlying health conditions.
Proving legal damages after using hair relaxers can be challenging, but an experienced dangerous and defective product attorney can evaluate your claim to determine if you meet certain criteria to prove damages and recover compensation.
