Syracuse, New York: Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as  a Super Lawyer, is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Representation and Peerless Personal Injury Service. If You or a Loved One Has Been Diagnosed with Ovarian or Uterine Cancer After Using a Hair Relaxer or Chemical Hair Straightening Product, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Investigate Your Diagnosis and Begin Asserting Your Right to a Fair Recovery.

Hair relaxers can help straighten naturally curly or coily hair.

According to some estimates, nearly 95% of all African-American women have used a chemical straightener at some point in their lives. These products are often highly effective, but they can have serious and significant downsides. In the past, the most common risk of a perm-gone-wrong was purely cosmetic; harsh chemicals can damage the hair, making it more brittle and giving it an unwanted appearance or texture.

However, more recent research suggests that relaxers could be associated with a wider range of medical problems, some of which could be life-threatening. A growing body of evidence now suggests that hair straighteners could double a woman’s long-term risk of developing conditions like uterine and ovarian cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after using chemical hair relaxers, 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 helping women throughout the Syracuse region assert their rights to a fair recovery. Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys knows what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based case for damages, and we have the results to prove it.

Call 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.

Hair relaxers have been linked to a wide range of serious medical conditions, up to and including several different kinds of cancer. In 2022, for instance, a study published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health found that women who use chemical hair straighteners several times per year are significantly more likely to develop uterine cancer than people who do not use these products. Researchers believe that this heightened risk could relate to the presence of multiple potential carcinogens in common chemical relaxers, such as:

1. Cyclosiloxane;
2. Di-(2-ethylhexyl);
3. Lye;
4. Parabens;
5. Phthalates.

Aside from these chemicals, many hair relaxers marketed to women with naturally curly or coily hair contain a compound called formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen with strong preservative properties; in controlled quantities, it can be used to cause controlled damage to the hair, breaking down curls and assisting in the straightening process. This compound can be found in lye-containing and lye-free relaxers.

In a recent press release, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration highlighted formaldehyde as one of the most dangerous components in common relaxers. During a typical perm treatment, a relaxer will be combed or brushed through the hair before it is heated with a hot iron. However, the FDA notes that “when such products are heated, formaldehyde gas is released into the air.” Furthermore, “Breathing in formaldehyde gas can be harmful and cause immediate reactions … or long-term problems.”

The short-term effects of exposure to common chemical hair relaxers are well-documented and usually instantly recognizable. They could include:

1. Acute formaldehyde poisoning;
2. Hair loss;
3. Burning and itching on the scalp or other affected parts of the body;
4. Temporary neurological issues;
5. Breathing problems;
6. Strong allergic reactions;
7. Unexplained headaches;
8. Nose bleeds;
9. Eye damage;
10. General feelings of pain or unwellness.

Hair relaxers can also hurt the body in other ways. Some people have, for instance, reported developing problems like an unusual metallic taste in the mouth. Short-term use is also associated with liver issues and alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that can lead to chronic and persistent hair loss.

Exposure to chemicals like formaldehyde and parabens can cause an immediate physical reaction, but they can also inflict much more serious damage on the molecular and cellular levels. Formaldehyde, for instance, is categorized as a human carcinogen; in other words, any exposure to it, no matter how brief, could increase your lifetime odds of developing cancer.

Scientists currently believe that hair relaxers could be associated with a higher-than-average risk for conditions, including, but not limited to, the following:

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

Most studies indicate that women who use hair relaxers twice or more per year over a period of at least five years face the highest risk for conditions like uterine cancer.

Beauty companies have a legal duty to ensure that the products they sell are not unreasonably dangerous for their intended use. If and when a company has reason to believe that one of its products could cause or exacerbate a condition like cancer, it must warn the public of the potential risk. Companies that fail to do their due diligence could be held liable for the cost of any resulting injury.

However, proving liability can be difficult, especially when you are going toe-to-toe with a multibillion-dollar company like L’Oreal or Revlon.

In order to win your claim, you may need to establish any one or more of the following:

A failure to warn defect occurs when a manufacturer sells a product but fails to provide adequate warning of non-obvious risks associated with routine use. In several lawsuits against chemical hair relaxer manufacturers, women have argued that they never had any reason to believe that a routine perm could cause cancer or otherwise impact parts of their body beyond the head and hair.

A manufacturer could breach a product warranty by selling a hair straightener that either:

1. Fails to meet industry-standard safety criteria;
2. Fails to perform as advertised.

In the context of a product liability lawsuit, a defective product could mean any product that is inherently:

1. Unsafe;
2. Defective;
3. Unreasonably dangerous.

If a product is defective, it means that it could be dangerous right out of the box, even when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

A company could be found negligent if it failed to prioritize and protect its customers’ best interests. Negligence could occur if:

1. A company knows that a product is dangerous but never issues a recall or sounds the alarm;
2. A company failed to reasonably test its products before selling them on the open market;
3. A company relied on carcinogenic chemicals or compounds despite safer alternatives being available.

Proving negligence can be difficult and may require input and testimony from an expert witness.

If you think that you could have a claim, do not take chances with your rights: call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a hair relaxer injury lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

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 Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!