Overview

HAIR RELAXER AND HAIR STRAIGHTENING LAWSUITS

There are many complicated emotions surrounding hair care and hair relaxers for women. While some women choose to relax their natural curls for purely aesthetic reasons, others are conditioned to see natural hair textures as unappealing or unattractive. For decades, women have felt the pressure to change their hair care routine to conform to a manufactured image of what is beautiful. Haircare companies capitalize on this message, creating splashy and eye-catching advertisements tempting women to ditch their natural curls in favor of sleek, straight hair.

Unfortunately, women did not know that in altering their natural hair, they were exposing themselves to harsh and potentially cancer-causing chemicals. These chemicals could be responsible for various diseases, cancers, and medical complications.

MEET THE TEAM

Danielle Mason, Partner Letitia Johnson, Partner

Latoya Chambers, Counsel

Kristina Aiad-Toss, Associate
LaCrisha Mcallister, Associate
Shani Butler,
Associate
Zakia Chamberlain, Associate

At Singleton Schreiber, our bold women are ready to move mountains for you. We understand the complicated history behind hair relaxing products. We also understand how the companies behind these relaxers may be responsible for putting products on the market that harm women, especially women of color.

Have you regularly used hair-relaxing products to straighten your natural hair or change its texture? Have you been recently diagnosed with cancer or other health complications? You may be eligible to file a product liability lawsuit against hair-relaxing manufacturers seeking compensation for your financial losses.

Types of Cancer Caused by Hair Relaxers and Straighteners


Since most hair relaxers contain chemicals that disrupt hormones in the human body, these products tend to increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers and cancers that impact the reproductive organs. Common types of cancer associated with the prolonged use of chemical relaxers and straightening products include:

  • Uterine Cancer
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Endometrial Cancer
  • Uterine Fibroids with one of the following procedures:
    • Hysterectomy
    • Myomectomy
    • Endometrial Ablation


Contact the office of Singleton Schreiber at 888-410-9166 to arrange a confidential legal consultation with a product liability attorney. Let’s talk over your situation and outline your options for seeking the compensation you deserve.

Why You Need an Experienced Product Liability Lawyer on Your Side

Product liability cases are complicated. You must prove several elements to mount a potentially successful product liability lawsuit against a company or manufacturer. Managing the challenging aspects of a product liability case solo is never in your best interests. You need the experience that only a skilled product liability attorney can provide.

In the case of hair-relaxing products, they continue to be manufactured by some of the top names in the beauty industry. Going head-to-head with a multi-million-dollar beauty company can be overwhelming and intimidating. The bold women at Singleton Schreiber have the experience and resources to tackle the most demanding legal challenges and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. Our legal team has obtained almost $3 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

How do we put this experience to work for you?

Our legal team can:

  • Investigate the circumstances of your case
  • Identify all parties potentially liable for your injuries
  • Gather evidence and medical documentation to strengthen your case
  • Manage communication between you and other parties
  • Accurately calculate the value of your financial losses
  • Aggressively negotiate for the compensation you deserve
  • Prepare a case for court when necessary

Our compassionate legal team can offer honest legal advice and support during this challenging time.

Current Litigation

Our firm currently represents thousands of women who have been harmed as a result of exposure to toxic hair relaxer chemicals, in many cases since they were young girls.  These hair relaxer products, prevalent in every corner of the country, have been marketed primarily to Black women and girls for generations as a way to meet beauty standards designed to chemically change their natural hair.  As a result, the women we represent have suffered devastating injuries, including uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, fibroids, infertility, endocrine disruption, and other permanent impacts.  Singleton Schreiber has filed lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country against haircare product manufacturers—including L’Oreal, Revlon, Strength of Nature, Namaste Laboratories, and more. The Defendants’ attempts to dismiss these lawsuits have been widely rejected by the courts, and we are progressing toward trial to hold these corporations responsible for their actions.

Do Hair Relaxing Products Cause Cancer?

Relaxers and chemical straightening belong to a class of beauty products designed to loosen the curl pattern of hair. When applied to wet hair, chemicals in these products break down the protein bonds in hair called disulfides. Hair with curls or tight coils tends to have more disulfide bonds than straight hair. Breaking these bonds relaxes the curl pattern and leaves hair straight or slightly wavy. However, as hair grows, more product must be applied to relax the new growth close to the scalp. Chemical straighteners are not a one-and-done product. To keep hair straight, women must constantly reapply the chemicals.

Increasingly, medical studies indicate that the chemicals in popular hair-relaxing treatments may lead to the development of certain cancers. Those who regularly use chemical relaxers or straightening products may be up to two and a half times more likely to develop specific types of cancer.






How do hair relaxing products cause cancer?

The answer may involve chemicals in the products called endocrine disrupters. Many popular hair-relaxing products contain chemicals like formaldehyde, bisphenol A, parabens, ammonium thioglycolate, and diethanolamine. Many of these chemicals are known as endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors interfere with the body’s hormonal system, leading to increased cancers impacting reproductive organs.

Hair Relaxers Pose Significant Risks for Women of Color

A broad spectrum of women uses chemical straightening products and hair relaxing kits. However, women of color may have an elevated risk of developing cancer from using relaxers. The reason why more women of color turn to straighteners is complicated.

Women of color have a complex relationship with natural hair texture, beauty industry standards, and constant marketing to make them want to change their natural hair. One study suggests 60 percent of women who reported using chemical hair relaxers identified as African American.

Unfortunately, more women of color reach for hair-relaxing products and face health disparities and healthcare bias. Studies indicate African American women have shorter life expectancies, higher maternal mortality, and are disproportionately burdened by chronic health conditions. The American Cancer Society estimates that African American women are 41 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.

 

Have You Suffered After Using These Cosmetic Products?

If you have used any of the following products, you may be eligible for compensation.

  • Advantage™ Brazilian Keratin Treatment w/Argan Oil
  • African Pride
  • AG Hair Smooth Firewall Argan Shine & Flat Iron Spray 
  • Amazonliss Keratin Hair Straightening Treatment
  • Advantage Brazilian 24 hrs Keratin Treatment
  • Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener 
  • Avlon Affirm Sensitive Scalp Relaxer
  • Avlon Affirm Sensitive Scalp Relaxer 9
  • Beautiful Textures Straight Texturizer Kit
  • BioNaza Cosmetics – Choco Hair – Brazilian Keratin Chocolate
  • BioNaza Cosmetics – Diamond – Premiere Brazilian Keratin System
  • BioNaza Cosmetics – KeraHair – Premiere Brazilian Keratin System
  • BioNaza Cosmetics – KeraVino Premiere Brazilian Keratin System
  • Brazilian Blow Out - Brazillian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution Brazillian Blowout Solution  
  • Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream 
  • Bumble and bumble Bb. Straight Blow Dry Cream 
  • Cadiveu – Plastica dos Fios (2014)
  • Crème of Nature
  • Dark and Lovely Relaxer with Shea Butter
  • Design Essentials Conditioning Relaxer Regular
  • Drybar Liquid Glass Miracle Smoothing Sealant 
  • Diora Professional – Keratherapy Color Lock and Smooth Keratin Treatment Spray 
  • Envy Professional – Trissola True Keratin Solution 
  • Garnier Hair Care Fructis Sleek Shot In-shower Styler
  • Giovanni Straight Fast Hair-Straightening Elixir 
  • HAIR Moroccan Keratin Smoothing Treatment
  • Hawaiian Silky No Base Relaxer
  • IGK Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray 
  • It's A 10 Silk Express Miracle Silk Leave-In 
  • John Frieda Frizz Ease Straight Semi-Permanent Styling Spray 
  • Johnson’s Regular No-Lye Conditioning Crème Relaxer System
  • Just for Me Conditioning Crème Relaxer 
  • Kérastase Discipline Blow-Dry Smoothing Primer 
  • Keratin Complex – Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy 
  • Keratin Complex – Keratin Complex Express Blowout 
  • Keratin Complex Infusion Keratin Replenisher 
  • Keratin Express – Keratin Express Plus Smoothing Treatment 



  • Keratin Research Brazilian Keratin Straightening Hair Treatment
  • L’anza Healing Smooth Smoother Straightening Balm 
  • La BrasilianaSpruzzi (MSDS) 
  • La Brasiliana – Domani (MSDS)   
  • La Brasiliana – Original (MSDS) 
  • Luster’s Shortlooks Color Relaxer
  • Marcia Teixeira – M & M International - Chocolate, extreme de-frizzing treatment
  • Marcia Teixeira – M & M International - Advanced Brazilian Keratin Treatment 
  • Marcia Teixeira – M & M International - Brazilian Keratin  OriginalTreatment, Marcia Teixeira 
  • Matrix Total Results Mega Sleek Blow Down Smoothing Leave-In Cream 
  • Miracle’s New Growth No-Lye Relaxer
  • Mizani Relaxer Medium Normal Kit
  • Mizani Thermasmooth Shine Extend Anti-Humidity Spritz 
  • Motions Hair Relaxer
  • Moroccan Keratin Brazilian Hair Straightening Treatment
  • Nairobi Replenishing Hair Relaxer
  • Olive Oil Girls
  • Optimum Care No-Lye Relaxer





  • Optimum Multi-Mineral Relaxer
  • ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer
  • Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Crème 
  • Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream 
  • Ouai Finishing Crème 
  • Phyto PhytoSpecific PhytoRelaxer 
  • PHYTO PARIS Index 1
  • Profectiv Mega Growth Relaxer
  • Revlon Professional Regular Conditioning Crème Relaxer
  • Shiseido Crystallizing Straight Professional Hair Straightening Treatment
  • Simply Smooth/American Culture Hair - Xtend Keratin Replenishing After Color Lock
  • Soft & Beautiful Scalp Relaxer 
  • SoftSheen-Carson Defy Breakage No-Lye Relaxer
  • Syntonics Botanical Conditioning Crème Relaxer
  • TCB Hair Relaxer with Protein and DNA
  • Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out Straightening Cream 
  • Van Tibolli - GK Hair Taming System with Juvexin Curly (2016) 
  • Van Tibolli - GK Hair Taming System with Juvexin Miami Bombshell (2014) 
  • Van Tibolli - GK Hair Taming System with Juvexin Resistant (2016) 







What Compensation Is Available in a Hair Straightener Lawsuit?


Suppose you’ve been diagnosed with hormone-sensitive cancer like uterine or ovarian cancer and consistently used hair-relaxing products. In that case, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against the company or manufacturer of the product. A lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for your financial losses related to your cancer diagnosis. Although the value of your case may vary, most women can seek money for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering

In rare cases, the court can award someone punitive damages in addition to the compensatory damages listed above. Punitive damages do not compensate you for your financial losses. Punitive damages are a type of financial punishment for egregious conduct on the part of an individual or company.

Statute of Limitations

Coping with a life-changing cancer diagnosis is challenging enough without having to consider the possibility of filing a lawsuit. However, you have limited time to pursue a case against a company or manufacturer seeking compensation for your financial losses. Typically, you have two years from discovering your injury or condition to file a lawsuit.

For more specific filing deadline information, consulting a skilled attorney is always wise. Some factors may impact legal deadlines. An attorney can work with you to meet necessary deadlines and pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.

Connect with a Skilled Attorney Today

Never in a million years would most women think that a product designed to enhance their hair would be responsible for causing a life-altering cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, that is the reality many women face today after the prolonged use of chemical hair relaxers. If you believe your cancer diagnosis may correspond to your use of chemical hair straightening products, talk to the team at Singleton Schreiber.

At Singleton Schreiber, our bold women are prepared to move mountains to seek the compensation you deserve. Contact our office at 888-410-9166 to arrange a consultation with one of our compassionate product liability attorneys. We are ready to listen to you.

Contact Us Today

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