Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuits

Women have routinely used chemical hair straighteners for the past several decades. Unfortunately, recent data suggests several of these products can cause severe health issues, like uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis. 

How Do Chemical Hair Straightening Products Work?

The process of chemical-assisted hair straightening relies on using heat and chemicals to diminish natural bonds in the hair. Some of these bonds include disulfide bonds, hydrogen bonds, and salt bonds. As the chemicals are introduced to hair, these bonds are broken, and the hair becomes straighter. This effect typically remains until the hair grows. 

Common Chemicals Found in Hair Straighteners

Hair straighteners function using a combination of chemicals. Some examples of chemicals commonly found in these products include:

 

  • Sodium thioglycolate 
  • Formaldehyde
  • Cyclosiloxanes
  • Parabens
  • Diethanolamine phthalates 
  • Benzophenone-3
  • Triclosan 
  • Sodium hydroxide 
  • Ammonium thioglycolate

 

Unfortunately, many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer and other health risks. 

Hair Straightener Health Risks

The primary risks of using hair straighteners involve endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which are known to increase cancer risks. Someone who uses hair straightening products as few as four times a year may be at significant risk of developing uterine cancer or breast cancer. Routine exposure to hair straightening chemicals may also cause other health conditions, like fibroids and endometriosis. 

Uterine Cancer 

According to the National Institutes of Health, hair straightening chemicals can produce twice the risk of developing uterine cancer in individuals who use them at least four times per year. The study reviewed data from 33,947 women between ages 35 and 74 and found that those who regularly used hair straighteners were at much higher risk of uterine cancer diagnosis. 

Breast Cancer

The National Institutes of Health discovered that women who used chemical straighteners once every five to eight weeks were exposed to 30% higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Studies also determined that Black women were at greater risk because they are far more likely to use such products. 

Hair Straightener Lawsuits

Hair straightener lawsuits seek to recover compensation from companies that manufacture and distribute harmful hair straightening products. Through a lawsuit, victims can claim compensation for any losses they incurred due to hair straightener-related cancer diagnoses and other health conditions. 

 

Current litigation has seen more than a dozen individual claims filed, with even more plaintiffs filing to participate in multidistrict litigation in Illinois. At the moment, none of these lawsuits have resulted in a trial or settlement, but the odds are in favor of the plaintiffs. 

Hair Straightener Lawsuit Eligibility

To file a hair straightener lawsuit, you must have evidence showing that you used hair straightener products and later received a diagnosis of uterine cancer, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis. To determine if you meet the criteria, a conversation with a licensed attorney is in order. 

Which Hair Straightener Products Cause Cancer?

A range of cosmetic brands has been named in recent lawsuits. 

 

  • Dark and Lovely
  • Just for Me
  • L’Oreal
  • Motions
  • Namaste
  • Olive Oil Girls
  • Optimum
  • Soft & Beautiful
  • Strength of Nature Global LLC
  • TCB Naturals

 

If you have used these or other hair straighteners routinely in the past, then developed cancer or another health issue, contact a hair straightener attorney immediately to start the investigation process. 

Hair Straightener Lawsuit Compensation

The average compensation awarded to plaintiffs who successfully file for damages related to a uterine cancer diagnosis is $2 million. Therefore, women who file hair straightener lawsuits can win settlements or judgments ranging between $300,000 and $3 million. Though, the multidistrict litigation filed in December 2022 may group lawsuits together, resulting in somewhat smaller settlements for each individual. 

File a Hair Straightener Lawsuit

The path to filing a hair straightener lawsuit is relatively straightforward. Although there are no cases settled so far, the evidence that hair straightener manufacturers will be found liable for damages in some cases is compelling. The first thing you need to do to file a claim is assemble evidence to qualify your claim. A lawyer is essential in this part of the process, so reach out to Lawsuit Legit to get put in touch with an attorney in your area. 

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