What are Hair Relaxers?
Hair relaxers, also known as chemical straighteners, are chemical lotions or creams applied to ‘relax’ or straighten naturally curly or coiled hair. These chemical straighteners are not permanent and should be repeated every 2 to 3 months to keep the hair straight. Hair relaxer packaging advertises the product as organic, with natural ingredients, soothing oils, and gentle activators; however, the labels do not accurately warn consumers about the chemicals it contains. These hair straighteners contain Bisphenol A (BPA), endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates and parabens, formaldehyde, and metals, all of which can cause serious illness. Although these cosmetic devices have been widely used for many years, research has linked hair relaxers to Uterine Cancer and other types of cancer.
If you or a loved one were recently diagnosed with Uterine Cancer or another serious illness after using hair relaxers at least four times in the past year, you may be entitled to compensation. Talk to a hair relaxer lawyer about your claim today. To be set up with a free consultation, call our office at (713) 932-0777.
How do Hair Relaxer Chemicals Work?
Hair relaxers use various chemicals to straighten the hair by breaking the disulfide bonds in the cortex layer of hair and reforming them while the hair is being held in a straight pattern. In order to do this, these chemicals must penetrate through the outer layer of cuticles protecting the cortex. The most common chemical compounds found in hair relaxers are sodium hydroxide, ammonium thioglycolate, and sodium thioglycolate. Unlike many consumer cosmetics, hair relaxers are uniquely positioned to deliver systemic doses of these compounds through three primary mechanisms:
1- Enhanced Percutaneous Absorption
2- The Endocrine Mimicry Pathway
3- Dose-Response Correlation
What is Enhanced Percutaneous Absorption?
Enhanced percutaneous absorption refers to the ability of the chemicals within hair relaxers to more rapidly pass through the scalp’s protective layers and enter the bloodstream. There are several reasons why the chemicals in hair relaxers can enter the bloodstream: chemical burns and lesions, duration and frequency of use, and occlusion.
- Chemical burns and lesions: The strength of the chemicals in hair relaxers can cause small abrasions, sores, and burns on the scalp, breaking the scalp’s natural barrier and allowing the chemicals to enter the bloodstream.
- Duration and frequency: Using hair relaxers for an extended period of time increases the exposure to the scalp, which leads to a higher probability of absorption into the scalp and bloodstream.
- Occlusion: As the hair relaxer sits on the scalp, it blocks air from reaching the scalp and increases the scalp’s hydration and temperature, which increases the likelihood of the chemicals reaching the bloodstream.
What is the Endocrine Memory Pathway?
Once the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from the hair relaxer enter the bloodstream, they can travel through the body and act like natural hormones, particularly estrogen, and interfere with the endocrine system’s daily functions. This is called the endocrine memory pathway. The EDCs have a structure similar to naturally occurring hormones and can bind to the body’s hormone receptors. When the EDCs bind to hormone receptors, they cause the body to overreact and amplify hormone signals, leading to hormone imbalances. These amplified hormone signals stimulate cell growth in hormone-sensitive tissues, like the breasts and uterus. Eventually, the stimulated cell growth can lead to abnormal cell proliferation and leave hair relaxer users at a higher risk for developing uterine, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, as well as other serious health issues.
What is the Dose-Response Correlation Between Hair Relaxers and Serious Health Issues?
When it comes to hair relaxers, the dose-response correlation means that the longer and more frequently the product is used, the greater the risk of developing certain adverse health effects. Studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that increased exposure to hair relaxers causes a higher risk of developing uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, and infertility. The studies also found that women using hair relaxers are more than 2x as likely to develop uterine cancer than women who do not use hair relaxers. The discovery of this dose-response pattern between hair relaxers and adverse health outcomes has led to over 14,700 lawsuits, which have now been consolidated in the hair relaxer multi-district litigation (MDL).
What Does this Mean for Hair Relaxer Litigation?
The hair relaxer MDL (MDL 3060) will reach the expert discovery deadline in April 2026. With the proven existence of enhanced percutaneous absorption, the endocrine mimicry pathway, and the dose-response correlation, the Plaintiffs’ attorneys are shifting their focus to the cumulative systemic load experienced by long-term hair relaxer users. Additionally, the evidence supporting the dose-response correlation between hair relaxers and severe health issues will strengthen the Plaintiffs’ argument for causation in the Bellwether trials, which will begin after the expert discovery deadline is reached. Those who can document regular use of chemical hair relaxers for several years, were diagnosed with uterine, ovarian, or endometrial cancer, and have medical documentation linking exposure to their condition, should speak with an experienced mass tort attorney to see if they qualify to file a hair relaxer lawsuit.
Contact Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. for Your Free Consultation
If you have been diagnosed with a life-altering illness after the consistent use of a chemical hair relaxer, you deserve to have compassionate and dedicated legal representation representing your interests and fighting for your rights. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our product liability lawyers have worked with many survivors whose daily lives were altered due to the negligence or carelessness of companies that they believed they could trust. For over four decades, our firm has been fighting to protect our clients’ rights and get them the compensation they deserve for the financial, physical, and emotional suffering they’ve endured. For a free consultation to discuss your case, call us at (713) 932-0777.
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