Hair Relaxers and Ovarian Cancer

Multiple scientific studies show that frequent use of hair relaxers may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Below are some studies indicating a correlation between hair-relaxer usage and ovarian cancer.

• In a study published in Carcinogenesis in 2021, adult participants who self-reported use of hair straighteners had a higher ovarian cancer risk. The scientists leading the study said more research was needed to determine how these chemicals impact certain racial and ethnic groups.
• The long-term Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS) at Boston University published findings that suggest using hair relaxers may increase the risk of certain hormone-related cancers. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalates and parabens, may cause hormonal imbalances that may lead to cancer. This study is significant because it examines the health of Black women. Hair-relaxer product manufacturers have largely targeted young Black and Brown girls.
• A study published in 2023 in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology looked at several substances, including parabens, to examine the correlation between these chemicals and women who had been previously diagnosed with cancer. Researchers found a relationship between the chemicals and individuals who had received an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Parabens are common ingredients in hair-straightener products and have been linked to hair straightener-related ovarian cancer. 

Terms to know

A familiarity with key scientific and medical terms can help one’s understanding of the risk associated with hair-relaxer products. Knowledge of these terms also aids in navigating research findings and understanding the connection between them.

• Endocrine disruptors: Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can mimic, block or interfere with the body’s hormones. The endocrine system produces hormones to control many biological processes. Disruptors can lead to many serious health issues, including cancer.
• Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is a preservative used in personal care products, including hair relaxers, because it can extend a product’s shelf life. 
• Hair relaxers and hair straighteners: Hair relaxers, also known as hair straighteners, are products that change the hair’s texture to straighten the hair and make it smooth. These products are applied to the hair shaft base and left in place for a specific length of time during which they alter the hair’s structure by damaging its natural protein structure. 
• Lye: Also known as sodium hydroxide, lye breaks down the hair’s bonds when using hair straighteners. Some hair relaxers don’t include lye as an ingredient.
• Ovarian cancer: The growth of abnormal cells in the ovaries can lead to ovarian cancer. These cells typically multiply rapidly and can destroy healthy body tissue.
• Parabens and phthalates: Often used in tandem in hair-care products, these two chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects, including cancer. 

Hair relaxers or straighteners are believed to cause cancer by the ingredients in these products disrupting the endocrine system. The endocrine system regulates all biological processes including the reproductive system. Disruptions to the reproductive system can impact hormone levels, possibly leading to serious health consequences like cancer.

When hair relaxers or straighteners are applied to the hair shaft base, endocrine-disrupting chemicals may enter the body through the skin on the scalp and go into the bloodstream. Hair relaxers may also cause chemical burns, lesions and inflammation on the scalp, allowing chemical ingredients to enter the body.

Research suggests that an injured scalp may be exposed to parabens, phthalates and other chemicals often found in straighteners. Although no-lye relaxers are marketed as safer alternatives, their users have reported scalp burns just as frequently as people who use lye-based relaxers. No-lye relaxers may still contain harmful chemicals that the skin can absorb.

What types of cancer are linked to hair relaxers?

Multiple studies have linked frequent use of hair relaxers with a higher risk of developing cancer. Cancers associated with hair-relaxer use include uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. 

A long-term Sister Study by the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that women who used hair relaxers more than four times a year appeared to be more likely to develop ovarian cancer. The researchers’ analysis showed a strong correlation between ovarian cancer and exposure to the chemicals found in hair relaxers.

A Sister Study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) — also part of the NIH — found that about 1.64% of women who never used chemical hair straighteners would develop uterine cancer by age 70. For women who frequently used hair relaxers, that percentage increased to an estimated 4.05%.

Multidistrict litigation (MDL) in connection with hair-relaxing products is pending in federal court. An MDL combines hundreds of civil lawsuits into one federal district court to make the legal process more efficient. 

Hundreds of individual hair-relaxer lawsuits have been consolidated in MDL No. 3060,. As of September 3, 2024, nearly 8,500 actions were pending in the MDL.

Motley Rice is representing several of these plaintiffs and their families (if the injured party is a minor or deceased). Plaintiffs in this lawsuit report developing serious health conditions, including ovarian cancer, after using hair-relaxer products. 

Manufacturers overwhelmingly marketed these products to Black and Brown women based on misrepresentations that exploited social and economic pressures to maintain straight hair. Despite being aware of the potential risks, the defendants marketed and sold these toxic products without providing adequate information to consumers about the potential risks. 

The lawsuit also accuses manufacturers of violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act because the hair-relaxer manufacturers failed, within a reasonable time frame, to cure any damage that resulted from using these products.

Who are the defendants in hair relaxer lawsuits?

Hair-relaxer manufacturers and their products named in the lawsuit include but aren’t limited to:

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

Filing a hair-relaxer lawsuit in the MDL doesn’t mean you’re filing against all the defendants listed above. Your lawsuit would specify which products you used, and you would file it against the manufacturers responsible for those products. Any hair-relaxer lawsuit settlement reached would be with those manufacturers.

Ovarian cancer occurs when cells that destroy healthy body tissue form and multiply quickly in the ovaries. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type and has several subtypes, including serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma.

Experts estimate that nearly 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024, with more than 12,700 anticipated deaths from the disease.

Research has linked frequent use of hair-straightening products to increased risk of ovarian cancer. Toxic ingredients found in many hair straighteners can enter the bloodstream and disrupt the body’s endocrine system. This important biological system produces hormones to control how well the body functions. Disrupting this process can lead to serious health outcomes, including cancer.

Ovarian cancer symptoms

Women may not experience symptoms when ovarian cancer first develops. Symptoms, when they become noticeable, may include:

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Back pain
• Bowel habit changes, including constipation
• Fatigue
• Frequent need to urinate
• Pelvic area discomfort
• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Weight loss

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, see a medical professional as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Some of the symptoms above are also common with other medical conditions. If diagnosed with ovarian cancer, treatment may include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and other therapies.

Is there an FDA ban on hair-relaxing products?

No ban on hair-relaxing products has been passed. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a ban on formaldehyde, one of the key ingredients in many hair relaxers. 

The federal agency was originally scheduled to implement the ban in April 2024 and September 2024 but has missed several deadlines. 

Many people have been affected by ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer linked with the use of chemical hair relaxers. If you believe you’ve been similarly impacted by toxic exposure to hair-relaxer chemicals, consider discussing your options with an attorney.

Our attorneys are experts at supporting women and families facing life-altering health problems. We have knowledge that can help you weigh your legal options.

Motley Rice leads litigation brought by thousands of women harmed by defective products. Our law firm has extensive experience litigating product liability lawsuits for women who:

• Developed ovarian cancer after using talc-based baby powder for feminine hygiene 
• Suffered breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) allegedly caused by Allergan implants
• Endured severe complications thought to be caused by birth control devices such as Essure® and Paragard®, as well as complications arising from the use of transvaginal mesh

We’ve also helped mothers who have filed lawsuits for birth defects caused by prescription drugs and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) linked to baby formula. 

We invite you to reach out to our attorneys at any time to discuss a potential case.