Hair Relaxer Hysterectomy Lawsuit

Hair relaxer users are getting hysterectomies to treat reproductive cancers. The cancers are associated with endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals in hair straightener products. Chemicals in hair relaxers have been linked to an increased risk for developing uterine cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer.

Thousands of women, mostly Black and Brown women, have filed hair relaxer lawsuits. They are alleging that chemical hair straighteners have harmed them. These women claim that the makers of these products knew, or should have known, that they were dangerous and did not warn the public.

In addition, plaintiffs claim that hair straightener manufacturers targeted women of color in their marketing. They claim manufacturers used historical stereotypes about Black hair and European beauty standards. Plaintiffs also claim the marketing contained misleading terms, such as “organic,” “natural,” “safe” and “botanical.”

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the uterus and, in some cases, the cervix and surrounding organs. After the procedure, a woman can no longer get pregnant.

There are four types of hysterectomies, depending on how much of the uterus, cervix and surrounding organs doctors must remove:

• Radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: This operation removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and the upper portion of the vagina. It sometimes also removes the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. This type of hysterectomy is most commonly used when there is cancer. Patients enter menopause immediately after procedures or surgeries that remove the ovaries.
• Supracervical hysterectomy: This surgery removes the upper part of the uterus and leaves the cervix. Doctors may also remove the fallopian tubes and the ovaries at the same time.
• Total hysterectomy: This type of hysterectomy removes the uterus and cervix but not the ovaries.
• Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: This operation removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Multiple studies link the frequent use of hair relaxers with an increased risk of uterine cancer. The link between hair relaxers and cancer is due to the presence of several dangerous chemicals that may act as carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, including:

• Carcinogenic gas
• Cyclosiloxanes
• Di-(2-ethylhexyl)
• Formaldehyde
• Metals
• Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane
• Parabens
• Phthalates

What is uterine cancer?

Uterine cancer is a type of cancer that grows in the tissues of the uterus. There are two different types:

• Endometrial cancer: This type of uterine cancer grows in the inner lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. About 95% of all uterine cancer cases are endometrial. A hysterectomy is the primary treatment for this condition.
• Uterine sarcoma: This form of uterine cancer is very rare. It grows in the muscle wall of the uterus, called the myometrium.

Studies link uterine cancer and hair relaxer products

Several studies show a link between uterine cancer and hair relaxers.

In 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published data from the Sister Study, a nearly 11-year, comprehensive study of more than 33,000 women aged 35 to 74. The researchers found that women who used chemical hair straightening products four or more times per year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer as women who did not.

Around 60% of the study participants who reported using hair relaxers self-identified as Black. Researchers didn’t find a connection between uterine cancer and other hair products that women reported using, such as hair dyes, bleach, highlighters or perms.

Another study by researchers at Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS) followed 45,000 women for up to 22 years. They found that women who reported using hair relaxers just twice yearly had a 50% higher risk of developing uterine cancer than those who did not. Black women are more than twice as likely to die from the disease compared to non-Hispanic white women.

Hair relaxers are associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. This is because of the presence of the same harmful chemicals linked to uterine cancer.

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is cancer in the ovaries, which are the female reproductive organs where eggs form. Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the ovaries and fallopian tubes grow and multiply out of control.

There are several different ovarian cancers, starting from four different cell types:

• Epithelial cells: These cells cover the outer lining of the ovaries. Epithelial cell tumors are the most common type of ovarian cancer.
• Germ cells: These cells produce eggs. Germ cell tumors are often benign (non-cancerous), though some may still be life-threatening.
• Sex cord stromal cells: These cells form the tissue that gives structure to the ovaries. They also produce sex hormones, such as estrogens and androgens. Around 5% of ovarian cancers are this type.
• Small cells: Small-cell ovarian cancer is very rare and very aggressive. It has two types. The hypercalcemic type is more common in young women in their teens and twenties. It is more resistant to chemotherapy. The pulmonary type is more commonly diagnosed in older women and is less resistant to chemo.

Treatment for ovarian cancer aims to remove as much of the cancer as possible, usually through a combination of hysterectomy surgery and other methods, such as chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy.

Surgery is also how doctors determine the stage of ovarian cancer. Like other cancers, it is staged I to IV, with Stage IV being the most severe.

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for epithelial ovarian cancer (the most common type) is 92% if it is localized and has not spread outside the ovaries. The survival rate for ovarian cancer that has spread to other organs, such as the liver and spleen, is 32%. The rate for all stages combined is 51%.

The five-year survival rate is the approximate percentage of people diagnosed with ovarian cancer who are still alive after five years, as compared to people in the overall population. It is important to remember that survival rates are estimates and can’t predict your individual outcome.

Studies that link ovarian cancer to hair relaxer products

Data from the Sister Study also links chemical hair straighteners to ovarian cancer.

In 2021, the NIH published research using Sister Study data from over 40,000 participants. Researchers found that women who reported using hair straightening products four or more times per year had double the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

If you frequently used hair relaxer products at home or a salon and developed a cancer that led to a hysterectomy, you could qualify to be part of a hair relaxer hysterectomy lawsuit. You may also have a hair relaxer cancer claim if your loved one died from a cancer associated with chemical hair straighteners.

There is an ongoing hair relaxer multidistrict litigation: In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3060. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland is presiding over the case in the United States District Court of Northern Illinois. As of March 2, 2026, it had 11,440 cases pending.

If you are eligible for a suit, you could seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages and other damages. Motley Rice lawyer Fidelma Fitzpatrick is co-lead in the MDL and attorney Tope Leyimu serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. Motley Rice attorneys are reviewing new claims.

As of yet, there are no potential settlements in this case. The court is currently preparing to hold bellwether trials.

Which hair relaxers cause cancer?

There are numerous hair relaxers that may cause cancer. Products and manufacturers named in the MDL include, but are not limited to:

• Affirm® (Avlon)
• African Pride® (Strength of Nature, Global LLC and Godrej SON Holdings)
• Africa’s Best® (House of Cheatham)
• Cantu® (PDC Brands)
• Crème of Nature® (Revlon)
• Dark & Lovely® (L’Oréal and SoftSheen-Carson)
• Design Essentials® (McBride)
• Dr. Miracle’s (Strength of Nature)
• Dream Kids (Strength of Nature)
• Hawaiian Silky® (JF Labs)
• Just for Me® (Strength of Nature)
• Mizani® (L’Oréal)
• Motions® (Strength of Nature)
• Optimum® (L’Oréal and SoftSheen-Carson)
• ORS Olive Oil® (Dabur and Namaste)
• Pink Conditioning No-Lye Relaxer® (Luster)
• Profectiv Mega Growth® (Strength of Nature)
• Revlon Realistic® (Revlon)
• Silk Elements® (Sally Beauty)
• Smooth Touch No-Lye Relaxer® (Luster)
• Soft & Beautiful® (Strength of Nature)
• TCB Naturals® (Strength of Nature)
• TCB® (Strength of Nature)

This list is not exhaustive, and other brands not currently named as defendants may also pose health risks. If you have used any type of chemical hair relaxer and have been diagnosed with an associated medical condition, contact a Motley Rice hair relaxer lawyer.

Women who regularly use hair relaxer products have an increased risk of several health problems, not just reproductive cancer.

Hair relaxers may be unsafe because chemicals in these products can disrupt the human endocrine system. The endocrine system regulates hormone release, development, blood sugar levels, metabolism and the nervous system. Studies found that EDCs in relaxers can unbalance hormone levels.

Some of the health problems people can suffer through hormone level imbalances include:

• Breast cancer
• Cognitive deficits
• Endometrial cancer
• Infertility
• Immune disorders
• Metabolic syndrome
• Ovarian cancer
• Pain
• Reproductive impairment
• Uterine cancer
• Uterine fibroids

At Motley Rice, we have a history of working to help women harmed by defective and dangerous products. These women did nothing wrong. Yet they suffered life-altering injuries because they used products from manufacturers that allegedly knew about the health dangers but didn’t disclose them.

We have helped women seek justice for injuries caused by multiple dangerous products, including:

• Birth control devices like Essure® and Paragard® that led to health complications
• Breast implants from Allergan that led to breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)
• Talc-based baby powder that has been linked to ovarian cancer
• Transvaginal mesh used for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) that led to health complications

Injury lawsuits involving defective products for women can be complex. In a hair relaxer hysterectomy lawsuit, establishing the link between the use of hair relaxers and your reproductive cancer is necessary. Our attorneys have a depth of experience litigating cases against manufacturers whose products have harmed women.

Contact Motley Rice to discuss your legal options. Fill out our online form or call today at 1.800.768.4026.

Read more about our experience with women’s health lawsuits.