Toxic Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

Bell Legal Group is holding manufacturers responsible for the harm caused by their products

Hair relaxer products from well-known cosmetics brands were discovered to contain harmful, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and now women are filing lawsuits. Exposure to these hazardous compounds can potentially lead to severe health problems, including:

  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Uterine Cancer
  • Endometrial Cancer

Woman using hair relaxer

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Study Confirms Hair Relaxers Increase the Risk of Certain Cancers

On October 17, 2022, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) published a groundbreaking study that linked women who used chemical products for hair straightening, or relaxing, to higher risks of uterine cancer. The study found that an estimated 1.64% of women who never used chemical hair straighteners or relaxers would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70; but for frequent users, that risk more than doubles to 4.05%.

The endocrine-disrupting substances in chemical hair relaxers include:

  • Parabens
  • Phthalates
  • Metals
  • Formaldehyde

When the body absorbs these chemicals, they interfere with hormone function. Che-Jung Chang, et al., Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Oct. 17, 2022

Uterine Cancer and Hair Relaxers

The NIEHS study linked exposure to hair relaxer ingredients to uterine cancer, and researchers believe the connection exists because of how the products are applied. Cream-like hair relaxers are spread over a person’s hair near the roots to straighten new growth. The chemicals must remain on the person’s head for an activation period. 

Leaving a potent, toxic relaxer on a person’s head may cause chemical burns on the scalp. These lesions and injuries provide opportunities for the body to absorb the compounds. Maintaining straight hair using chemical relaxers requires frequent touch-ups and reapplications which increase users’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

Filing Lawsuits Against Hair Relaxer Brands

Women with a history of exposure to chemical hair relaxers and who have been diagnosed with uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer may be eligible to sue hair relaxer companies. The hair relaxer lawsuit gives these women an opportunity to hold negligent cosmetic companies responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, advertising, and promoting toxic products without informing the public that these applications could cause cancer.

The kits were marketed as solutions to make popular, sleek hairstyles easy and accessible for everyone. Straightener packaging and advertising used misleading product names and descriptors that highlighted the benefits of the products, without mentioning the risks.

Toxic Hair Relaxer Brands

Various hair relaxer brands have been named in the lawsuit, and others are added as investigations continue. Some of the most recognizable hair relaxer brands in the lawsuit include:

  • Motions
  • Dark & Lovely
  • Soft & Beautiful
  • Optimum
  • Creme of Nature
  • Just for Me
  • Olive Oil (including Organic Root Stimulator)
Hair Relaxer brands

Litigation Timeline

August 2024
Additional Cases Added to MDL

More than 200 cases were added at the close of August, bringing the total pending cases to nearly 8,500.

June 13, 2024
ESI Special Master Appointed

Maura Grossman was named the Electronically Stored Information (ESI) Master to help parties handle discovery disputes.

January 15, 2024
Cases Exceed 8,000

The total number of pending cases topped 8,000.

January 8, 2024
Bellwether Trials Scheduled

Two bellwether trails were scheduled for November 2025 and February 2026.

November 2024
Revlon Added to Lawsuit

Despite filing bankruptcy, the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee filed a claim to name Revlon as a defendant.

October 2023
Cases Climb Significantly

October 2023 marked a large growth in the MDL, with nearly 4,000 new cases filed, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to almost 6,000.

August 4, 2023
Short-Form Complaint Approved

An Order was issued approving the Short-Form Complaint, a document in which all plaintiffs will outline the type of hair relaxer(s) used and the injuries that resulted from them.

August 3, 2023

236 Cases Total in the MDL

July 1, 2023
Motion filed by the Defendants

Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health have demonstrated a link between the usage of chemical hair straighteners and declines in fertility, and they highlight racial discrepancy indicating Black, Hispanic, and mixed-race people are more likely to use these products and thus potentially to be exposed to their harmful chemicals. The findings were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

June 1, 2023
New Study

Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health have demonstrated a link between the usage of chemical hair straighteners and declines in fertility and highlights racial discrepancy indicating Black, Hispanic, and mixed-race people are more likely to use these products and potentially be exposed to their harmful chemicals. The findings were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

May 23, 2023
Master Complaint

A Master Complaint was submitted to the Court. A Master Complaint is a consolidated document that outlines the common allegations raised in multiple individual lawsuits. Its primary purpose is to streamline the litigation.

April 21, 2023
Across the Pond Push To Ban Hair Relaxers

Politicians and activist groups in the UK are calling for cosmetic companies to take all hair relaxer products off the shelves.

March 31, 2023
Direct Filing Order

A new order from the MDL in Chicago in the chemical hair straightener class action lawsuit allows plaintiffs to file directly in the MDL instead of filing in their home state and waiting for the court to transfer the claim.

March 27, 2023
Revlon Bankruptcy

Revlon has not been pulled into the hair relaxer class action lawsuit as a defendant because Revlon, Inc. filed bankruptcy shortly before the hair relaxer litigation got started. As a result, the automatic bankruptcy stay has protected Revlon from being sued.

March 11, 2023
First Status Conference

Judge Mary Rowland held the first status conference with all parties in the new hair relaxer class action MDL.

February 6, 2023
MDL Location Confirmed!

All federal hair relaxer lawsuits will be housed in Illinois after the class action lawsuit was approved by the JPML (Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation).

February 5, 2023
EPA Announcement

The EPA announced it will add certain chemicals found in hair relaxer products to its list of harmful toxic chemicals.

January 27, 2023
Class Action Hearing Today

The MDL (Multidistrict Litigation) hearing took place in Miami.

December 14, 2022
Defendants Oppose any Lawsuit

The Defendants oppose any consolidated MDL, arguing that a class action would “breed inefficiency” because the hair straightener lawsuits share little in common.

November 26, 2022
A Medical Monitoring Class

A second type of class action was filed requesting the Defendants pay for a medical monitoring program for women who may be at risk from the harms of chemical hair relaxers. It seeks regular medical exams or tests for potential health problems due to exposure to harmful substances.

November 18, 2022
Class Action Requested

A motion requesting consolidation of all the hair relaxer lawsuits into a new class action MDL was filed. The motion requests that the MDL be assigned to Judge Mary Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bell Legal team will answer questions and help in any way we can. Here are answers to questions our clients frequently ask regarding the hair relaxer cancer lawsuit, from qualifications to legal terms and compensation:

Who Qualifies?

If you used chemical hair relaxer products and developed ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, or endometrial cancer, you may qualify to join the lawsuit.

Who am I suing?

  • AFAM Concept, Inc. D/b/a JF Labs, Inc. 
  • Avlon Industries 
  • Beauty Bell Enterprises LLC f/k/a House of Cheatem, Inc. 
  • Dabur International Ltd. 
  • Dabur International USA Ltd. 
  • Dermoviva Skin Essentials, Inc. 
  • Godrej SON Holdings, Inc. 
  • House of Cheatham LLC 
  • L’Oreal USA, Inc. 
  • L’Oreal USA Products, Inc. 
  • Luster Products, Inc. 
  • McBride Research Laboratories, Inc. 
  • Namaste Laboratories LLC 
  • Revlon Consumer Products Corporation 
  • Revlon Group Holdings LLC 
  • Revlon, Inc. 
  • SoftSheen-Carson LLC 
  • Strength of Nature, LLC 

Where is my case being filed?

MDL vs. Class Action

The hair relaxer lawsuit is an MDL, which is often confused with a class action lawsuit. Both legal filings are used to group plaintiffs with similar claims against the same Defendants for efficiency. But an MDL and a class action do have differences:

  • MDL cases exist only in federal court while class action lawsuits can be filed in either state or federal court.
  • MDLs are often used for people who suffer from similar injuries, like uterine cancer, but the extent of those injuries (hysterectomy, arduous treatment, suffering, or death) differs from case to case. Class actions are generally used when the plaintiffs have experienced the same losses.
  • In a class action, a representative group goes through the judicial processes together. An MDL consists of individually filed cases that are consolidated in one court.

How much compensation could I receive?

The compensation you’re entitled to depends on the circumstances surrounding your case, such as:

  • The level of exposure to hair relaxers
  • Long-term prognosis and seriousness of your illness
  • The extent of pain and suffering
  • If you experienced lost earning capacity caused by any disability that you suffered as a result of exposure 
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Woman combs unruly natural hair style

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A woman seated while having hair relaxer applied by a salon professional

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Woman using hair relaxer

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J. Edward Bell III

Founder and Senior Partner

South Carolina attorney Ed Bell founded Bell Legal Group more than 40 years ago. With offices in Georgetown, SC, and Raleigh, NC, he focuses his practice on a variety of cases that range from medical malpractice, personal injury, automobile safety and defects, product liability, environmental law, police misconduct, and prison abuse.

J.Edward Bell III

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