L’Oréal Hair Straightener Lawsuit

A potential link between L’Oréal hair-straightener products and uterine cancer has been discovered thanks to the findings of a study from the National Institutes of Health published in October 2022; it could lead to a number of lawsuits against the well-known and extremely popular cosmetics company.

The findings were released the same month that an individual who was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2018 claimed in a lawsuit that she has used L’Oreal’s products since 2000.

The plaintiff claimed in her complaint that her uterine cancer diagnosis was “directly and proximately caused” by her “regular and prolonged exposure to phthalates and other endocrine disrupting chemicals” allegedly found in L’Oréal’s hair straightening products.

Indeed, in the NIH study, researchers found that women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products – noted as more than four times in the previous year – were more than twice as likely to later develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with uterine cancer after using hair straighteners or relaxers, particularly products from L’Oréal, please don’t hesitate to contact our office to determine your possible legal options.

If the diagnosis was made after a prolonged period of using a different brand of hair straightener products, we urge you to still consider contacting the team at Phillips Law Group for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees and don’t pay unless we take on your case and win.

Phillips Law Group is passionate about seeking justice for those who’ve been harmed. Please contact us today if you suspect you or a loved one developed uterine cancer as a result of the use of hair straightener products over an extended period of time. We would be honored to help you get the justice you deserve!

What Does the Study Say?

The National Institutes of Health study noted that 33,497 U.S. women ages 35-74 participated in the Sister Study, which was led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH, and sought to identify risk factors for breast cancer and other health conditions. 

The women were followed for almost 11 years and during that time 378 uterine cancer cases were diagnosed. Sadly, researchers found that women who reported regular use of hair straightening products – defined for the study as more than four times in the previous year – were more than twice as likely to go on to develop uterine cancer when compared to those who didn’t use the products.

Additionally, approximately 60 percent of the participants who reported using straighteners in the past year self-identified as Black women, according to the study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Who Can Pursue Legal Action?

Lawsuits against L’Oréal are in the very early stages. But if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with uterine cancer after using hair straighteners or relaxers, particularly products from L’Oréal, please contact our office to determine your possible legal options.

What Health Problems Do L’Oréal Hair-Straightening Products Cause?

The lawsuit and recent studies found a potential link between the use of L’Oréal hair-straightening products and uterine cancer. There is also some evidence that the use of hair-straightening products could allegedly lead to other health problems such as ovarian or cervical cancers, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or breast cancer. 

If you have been diagnosed with one of these health issues and have a history of use of hair-straightening products, please call us or fill out the contact form on this page for more information and to discuss potential next steps.

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

At Phillips Law Group, we work on contingency. We are only paid if we win and you collect compensation for your injury. 

There is no cost to discuss your potential case in a free, initial consultation. We represent all types of people in all types of personal injury cases and would be more than happy to discuss your situation with you and determine legal options. Contact us now to learn more!

Other Companies Involved in Hair Straightener Lawsuits

Some other parent companies/brands or products possibly used that could be implicated in hair straightener lawsuits include the following:

• Godrej Consumer Products
  Brand: Strength of Nature
  – African Pride
  – Soft & Beautiful
  – Motions
  – Just For Me
• Revlon
  Brand: Revlon
  – TCB Naturals Relaxer
  – Crème of Nature
• SoftSheen Carson Inc.
  – Soft Sheen
  – Dark & Lovely
• Dabur USA Inc.
  Namaste Labs
  Brand: ORS Haircare
  – Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Relaxer
  – potentially others
• Action Beauty Supply
  – Action Exclusives

If you used a different chemical hair straightener product and developed health issues, please contact our team to discuss your potential legal options. 

Other Potential Health Issues

Other potential health issues associated with hair straightening products include:

• Gynecological Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Vaginal Cancer
• Uterine Cancer
• Vulvar Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Ovarian Cysts
• Endometriosis
• Fibroid Tumors
• Premature birth (if the mother used hair straighteners while pregnant)
• Death resulting from any of these conditions

Please contact our firm without delay if you developed any of those health issues after using hair straightening products.

What Chemicals in Hair Relaxers Are Linked to Cancer?

There is increasing evidence that the formaldehyde—a known carcinogen most often used to preserve bodies after death—contained in some types of hair relaxers can seep through the skin of the scalp and then interfere with the body’s regulation of estrogen within the body, increasing the risk of uterine cancer and various other health problems. Some studies also suggest that exposure to parabens and phthalates in hair relaxing products is correlated with an increased risk of developing uterine cancer.

Can I File a Lawsuit If I Used Hair Relaxers Years Ago?

Litigation over uterine cancer and other health problems connected to long-term use of hair straighteners is still in its early stages, with bellwether trials for the ongoing multi-district litigation over these products not scheduled to begin until 2027. However, depending on what state you live in, you may have anywhere from one to five years to either file your own lawsuit or join a mass tort claim that is already in progress, starting from the date on which you first discovered—or reasonably should have discovered—you were harmed by your use of this product. A conversation with a skilled product liability attorney from Phillips Law Group can provide answers to any questions you have about deadlines applicable to your unique claim.

Has the FDA or Any Other Agency Taken Action Against Hair Relaxer Products?

In response to the 2022 release of the National Institutes of Health’s study exploring the correlation between hair straightener use and uterine cancer risk, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule in October 2023 that would ban the use of formaldehyde in hair relaxing and hair straightening products sold in the United States. This rule was supposed to go into effect in April 2024, but the FDA missed its own deadline without providing much information about the reason for the delay, and in 2025, the FDA announced that it would no longer be pursuing this rule moving forward, once again without a clear explanation of its reasoning. 

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand over a uterine cancer diagnosis or other medical problem connected to the use of hair straighteners or hair relaxers can seek restitution for both economic and non-economic damages stemming from that diagnosis. This can include but is not strictly restricted to:

• Medical bills
• Lost working capacity and work earnings
• Disability-related expenses
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and trauma
• Lost enjoyment or quality of life

Depending on how the ongoing multi-district litigation plays out and what further evidence comes to light, it is unlikely—but possible—that courts may also impose punitive damages against companies such as L’Oreal for knowingly misleading consumers about the safety of its products.

What Are the Benefits of Joining a Class Action Lawsuit Versus Filing Individually?

The primary upside to mass tort litigation and class action lawsuits, compared to filing a product liability claim on your own, is that the former types of claims allow you to work together with other people who have been harmed in the same way by the same dangerous product. This means you can share financial and legal resources, compare evidence, and potentially even get help from the same expert witnesses without having to do all the work yourself. Courts also tend to handle mass torts more quickly than individual lawsuits, since it allows them to resolve many similar claims all at once rather than litigating each one separately.

How Can I Gather Evidence To Strengthen My Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

Comprehensive medical records will be crucial for establishing that you have been formally diagnosed with uterine cancer or a similar condition and that exposure to dangerous chemicals in hair relaxing products is the most likely cause of that condition. Therefore, contacting current and former healthcare providers is a great place to start the evidence-gathering process for this type of claim. If possible, it will also be very helpful to collect and preserve any evidence detailing when you purchased and used these products, including things such as receipts, credit card bills, and even testimony from friends and family members.