New York City, New York: Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Is a Recognized Super Lawyer, with Decades of Experience Standing Up to the Cosmetic and Beauty Industries. If You or a Loved One Has Been Diagnosed with Uterine Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, or Another Serious Illness Caused by Chemical Hair Relaxers, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Secure the Compensation You Need and the Justice You Deserve.

Hair relaxers are used to straighten hair that is naturally curly or coily.

Most of these products are explicitly marketed to African-American women. According to some reports, around 95% of all Black women have used a hair relaxer at some point in their lives.

However, the cosmetic industry is not well-regulated, and many of these common beauty products have been found to contain high concentrations of potentially dangerous substances.

As part of a recent study, researchers at Boston University discovered that many hair relaxers contain compounds such as parabens, phthalates, and even formaldehyde. Taken together, these chemical additions can take a steep toll on the body. Parabens and phthalates, for instance, can interfere with your body’s endocrine system and block its ability to regulate naturally occurring hormones. Formaldehyde, similarly, is a strong preservative that is also categorized as a carcinogen. This means that any exposure to formaldehyde could increase your lifetime risk for developing certain types of cancer. 

Scientists have yet to establish a concrete link between hair relaxers and cancer, but a growing body of evidence suggests that hair relaxers can cause or contribute to a wide range of other serious medical problems. Black women, in particular, appear to face a significantly increased risk for uterine cancer. Researchers also believe that the regular use of hair relaxers could contribute to ovarian cancer and the formation of uterine sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer with a relatively low survival rate.

Beauty companies like L’Oreal, SoftSheen, and Luster are not held to the same rigorous testing standards as the pharmaceutical industry, but they still have certain responsibilities. If and when a company sells a product that is inherently dangerous, it could be held liable for the cost of any resulting injuries.

You do not have to accept hardship and loss in place of a fair recovery. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a hair relaxer-related cancer, you could be entitled to significant compensation. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades filing, fighting, and winning high-stakes litigation against some of the biggest and most powerful companies in the country. We know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based claim for recovery, and we have the results to prove it.

Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a hair relaxer injury lawyer near New York City and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible. 

Hair relaxers use chemical treatments to break the bonds that give your hair its natural shape and texture. Different brands use different chemical formulations, but even products that are marketed as safe could contain dangerous and potentially carcinogenic compounds. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Phthalates. Phthalates like diethyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) can be considered “endocrine disrupting” compounds. This means that they can interfere with your body’s endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating your hormones, metabolism, and other bodily functions.
2. Parabens. Parabens are a type of synthetic preservative. They are typically used to prevent mold and bacterial growth in liquid-based beauty products. Like phthalates, parabens can also disrupt your endocrine system. Some studies show that they can “mimic” estrogen, potentially causing severe reproductive problems.
3. No-lye agents. No-lye relaxers are sometimes marketed as a safe alternative to lye-based relaxers. However, no-lye relaxers are not necessarily safe. Many lye-free hair straighteners also contain parabens and phthalates. Some brands also employ formalin and methylene glycol, which can release formaldehyde when heated.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has identified formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals as a major cause for concern.

“Some hair smoothing or straightening products contain or release formaldehyde,” the agency wrote in a 2023 media release. “When such products are heated, formaldehyde gas is released into the air. Breathing in formaldehyde gas can cause immediate reactions ranging from irritation of the eyes and throat to coughing, wheezing, or chest pain to chronic or long-term problems such as more frequent headaches, asthma, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and possibly cancer.”

Nobody understands the exact science of how cancer forms and spreads, but exposure to chemicals like formaldehyde or compounds such as parabens and phthalates can damage certain cellular processes. Sometimes these changes can lead to inflammation, a potential precursor for cancerous growths. In some cases, chemical-induced changes can trigger genetic mutations. Not all mutations are bad, but they can prompt cells to reproduce at an abnormal speed. Left unchecked, these mutated, rapidly-reproducing cells can become cancerous and begin coalescing into tumors. 

Hair relaxers have been linked to several serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Uterine cancer;
2. Ovarian cancer;
3. Endometrial cancer;
4. Uterine sarcoma;
5. Uterine fibroids

The potential discovery that hair relaxers could cause cancer has triggered a nationwide wave of litigation. Most of these lawsuits have not been filed against individual salons. Instead, they have been brought against some of the biggest and most profitable beauty companies in the country. 

Some of the products named in hair relaxer cancer lawsuits include:

1. Affirm by Avlon;
2. African Pride by Strength of Nature and Godrej SON Holdings;
3. Crème of Nature by Revlon;
4. Dark & Lovely by L’Oreal and SoftSheen;
5. Dr. Miracles by Strength of Nature;
6. Dream Kids by Strength of Nature;
7. Mizani by L’Oreal;
8. Pink Conditioning No-Lye Relaxer by Luster;
9. Revlon Realistic by Revlon;
10. Smooth Touch No-Lye Relaxer by Luster.

Companies like L’Oreal and Strength of Nature have responsibilities that go beyond turning a profit and delivering ever-greater value to shareholders. Under state and federal law, most beauty companies have a legal duty to ensure that their products work as advertised and are generally safe for their intended use. If and when a corporation fails to uphold this duty, it could be held liable for the cost of any resulting injury or injuries.

If you think that you may have a claim, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate the exact cause of your cancer diagnosis and assess your damages. In the legal field, the term damages simply describes compensation for different kinds of loss, hardship, and suffering.

Depending on your diagnosis and long-term outlook, you could be entitled to damages for:

1. Your existing medical expenses;
2. The costs of future or anticipated care;
3. Money to obtain experimental treatment or enroll in a new clinical trial;
4. Physical rehabilitation;
5. Elective or reconstructive surgery;
6. Lost income from work;
7. Diminished earning potential;
8. Pain and suffering;
9. Loss of enjoyment;
10. Wrongful death.

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients in New York secure more than $300 million in damages. We could help you, too. Call recognized Super Lawyer Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to schedule your free consultation and find out how much your hair relaxer lawsuit could be worth.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in New York City, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!