Chemical Hair Relaxer

Hair Straighteners/ Relaxer lawsuit

For the last few years, hair care manufacturing companies have developed products like hair straighteners, gels and many more. But hair straighteners have been in the news due to uterine fibroids and cancer diagnoses. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences stated that hair products cause adverse health issues like cancer.

Hair straighteners/relaxers are hair care products that alter hair texture, typically to straighten curly or kinky hair. However, these products have potential risks and adverse effects on hair and scalp health. Some individuals have filed hair straighteners lawsuits against manufacturers of hair straighteners/relaxers, claiming that these products have caused harm, such as hair damage, scalp burns, allergic reactions, and cancer.

What do you know about hair straighteners lawsuit?

According to an NIEHS study of October 2022, women who have used hair relaxers regularly can get affected with uterine cancer 1. As per the sources, about 60 women have filed lawsuits against the companies of hair products in federal courts. The victims of the products have targeted companies like L'Oréal SA, Godrej SON Holdings Inc and many more that knew that their products have harmful chemicals; still without providing adequate warning on the products they have been selling hair straighteners/relaxers in the market.

What are Hair straighteners/ relaxers?

Hair relaxers are commonly used on curly or tightly coiled hair to straighten the hair's structure temporarily. They typically contain chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, guanidine, or ammonium thioglycolate, which break down the protein bonds in the hair shaft, reshaping it into a straighter form. Hair relaxers are usually applied by a professional stylist and require careful application and timing to avoid damage to the hair or scalp.

Hair straighteners use heat to temporarily break the hydrogen bonds in the hair shaft, allowing it to be reshaped into a straighter form. On the other hand, hair straighteners use heat to straighten the hair temporarily. They usually come in flat irons or straightening brushes, which are applied to the hair section by section to smooth out the curls or waves. However, excessive heat from hair straighteners can damage the hair, so it's essential to use them cautiously and apply heat-protectant products to minimize potential damage.

Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of chemicals known as phthalic acid esters, which are commonly used as plasticizers. They are added to plastics to increase flexibility, transparency, and durability. Phthalates are widely used in various consumer products, including vinyl flooring, toys, medical devices, cosmetics, and personal care products.

Phthalates have been a topic of concern due to their potential health risks. Some studies have suggested that exposure to phthalates may adversely affect human health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as infants, children, and pregnant women. Phthalates have been associated with hormonal disruption, reproductive and developmental toxicity, asthma and allergy, and other health effects.

Phthalates and Uterine Fibroids

Although the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, it is believed that phthalates may disrupt hormonal regulation and function, potentially contributing to uterine fibroids' development.

One study published in the journal Environmental Research in 2016 found that women with higher urinary levels of specific phthalate metabolites had an increased risk of uterine fibroids. Another study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility in 2017 found that exposure to certain phthalates was associated with an increased risk of uterine fibroids in women of reproductive age.

Do Hair Relaxers Cause Uterine Fibroids Or Cancer?

Some studies have suggested a possible association between using hair relaxers and an increased risk of uterine fibroids, although the evidence is inconclusive. Hair relaxers contain chemicals like lye or no-lye that straightens tightly curled hair. These chemicals can be absorbed through the scalp and into the bloodstream. Some researchers have hypothesized that long-term exposure to these chemicals could be linked to the development of uterine fibroids. However, more research is needed to establish a clear causative relationship between hair relaxers and uterine fibroids.

According to the International Journal of Cancer in 2019, women who have used hair relaxers have more chances of developing breast cancer.

The American Journal of Epidemiology, in 2017, stated a possible link between hair relaxer use and the harm of uterine leiomyomata (fibroids) in African American women. The study further noted that women who used hair relaxers had a 30% higher risk of getting fibroids than those who did not.

On October 17, 2022, an NIEHS study said that women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products were more than twice likely to have chances of developing uterine cancer than women who did not use them.

What are the criteria to hair relaxer lawsuit?

Did you use the products for years and suffer from these products with health issues? You need to take a look at these factors:

• Suffered adverse health issues

  You must have suffered harm or injury from using hair relaxer products. This harm could include physical injuries, such as scalp burns, hair loss, or other adverse health effects caused by the product.

• Manufacturing defect

  You may need to establish that the hair relaxer product was defective in its design, manufacturing, or labeling. For example, the product may have contained dangerous chemicals, had inadequate warnings, or failed to meet industry standards.

• Lack of Instructions

  You may need to prove that the manufacturer or distributor of the hair relaxer product was negligent in some way, such as by failing to adequately test the product for safety, not providing proper instructions for use, or not conducting adequate quality control.

• Medical evidence

  You may need to establish a link between your use of the hair relaxer product and the harm or injury you suffered. This may require medical evidence, such as documentation from a healthcare professional, to establish that the hair relaxer was the cause of your injuries.

• Time Limitations

  Time limitations or statutes of rules may determine how long you have to file a hair relaxer lawsuit after the harm or injury occurred. It's essential to be aware of these time limitations and take appropriate legal action within the specified timeframe.

Support

Are you a victim of hair products like hair straighteners/relaxers and want to file a lawsuit against the company? You need the best class action lawyer to plead the case; we are here to help you.