Hair Relaxer Side Effects

Common side effects of permanent hair straightening or relaxing products include:

• Chemical burns
• Hair damage
• Irritation of the eyes, lungs, scalp and skin

However, some who use chemical hair straighteners may develop more serious health conditions. These include uterine and ovarian cancer.

Here is a closer look at some of this evidence and how the lives of users have been impacted.

Cancer risks

Multiple studies have examined the link between the use of hair relaxers and an increased risk of hormone-sensitive cancers.

• A U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that women who used hair relaxers more than four times per year doubled their risk of developing uterine cancer.
• A long-term NIH Sister Study found that women who frequently used hair relaxers faced a greater risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Women who have used hair relaxer products have also reported endometrial cancer.

Chemical burns

Hair relaxers may cause minor to severe chemical burns on the skin and scalp.

A first-degree burn (minor) affects the top layer of skin. A first-degree chemical burn may cause burning, pain and reddened skin.

Deeper layers of the skin are damaged by moderate and severe burns. These are known as second- and third-degree burns. These painful burns may bleed and cause blisters. These more severe burns pose a greater risk of infection as well. Medical staff may have to provide burn therapy to treat them.

Research has found that even women using no-lye relaxers have reported scalp burns as frequently as those using lye-based relaxers. This is despite no-lye products being marketed as safer alternatives.

Early onset puberty in girls

Research has found hair products with endocrine-disrupting chemicals may cause early onset puberty in girls. 

A 2011 study showed that those who used relaxers and other hair products marketed to Black women were more likely to experience early puberty.

Early puberty is tied to a greater risk of developing medical conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and reproductive tract cancers.

Eye irritation

Hair relaxers can cause eye irritation if the chemical product comes in contact with a person’s eyes. There are several ways these chemicals may be exposed to a person’s eyes:

• Chemicals on a person’s hands can be transferred to their eyes if they inadvertently rub their eyes
• Chemicals may splash into the eyes
• Chemical vapors in the air can irritate the eyes

When one of these scenarios occurs, a person may experience redness, burning, watering and itching eyes.

Hair damage

Multiple women have reported hair damage after using permanent hair relaxers. A survey of 90 women found that more than 95% experienced one or more of the following adverse effects following a chemical hair relaxer procedure.

• Dandruff
• Frizzy hair
• Hair graying
• Hair loss
• Split ends
• Thinning and weakening of the hair

Lung irritation

When undergoing a hair relaxer treatment, individuals may breathe in chemical vapors. Breathing in these chemicals may irritate the lungs and cause complications like difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing and swelling of lung tissue.

Multiple individuals who have suffered severe side effects or health conditions linked to hair relaxer products have filed hair relaxer lawsuits. The lawsuits have been consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Lawsuits are currently pending in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division against several hair relaxer manufacturers. As of September 3, 2024, nearly 8,500 actions are pending in the MDL.

Who are the defendants in the hair relaxer lawsuits?

Several hair relaxer product manufacturers are named as defendants in the case. Allegations claim the defendants manufactured, sold, distributed, advertised and promoted hair relaxer products that caused the plaintiffs to develop severe injuries and health conditions, including cancer.

Products and their manufacturers named in lawsuits include, but are not limited to:

• Dark & Lovely (L’Oréal)
• Optimum (L’Oréal)
• Mizani (L’Oréal)
• Crème of Nature (Revlon)
• Revlon Realistic (Revlon)
• 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 Mega Growth (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)
• Cantu (PDC Brands)
• 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)

If you file a hair relaxer lawsuit in the MDL, that does not mean you are filing against all of the above defendants. Your lawsuit would name the specific products you used and be filed against the manufacturers responsible for them.

Hair straightening products may contain harmful chemicals. Multiple studies have connected using hair relaxer products to serious health conditions.

Thousands of women have filed hair straightener lawsuits against manufacturers to seek compensation for the significant harm these products have caused and the substantial medical bills they have incurred.

However, not all permanent hair straightening products are associated with cancer. It is important to review the ingredients in your hair care products and understand the risks associated with each one.

Many have been impacted by ovarian, uterine or endometrial cancers, which are believed to be linked to the use of chemical hair relaxers. If you believe you have been similarly impacted by toxic exposure to hair relaxer chemicals, consider discussing your options with an attorney experienced in multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Our attorneys have a depth of experience supporting women and families facing life-altering health problems. Our knowledge 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 breast implants
• Endured severe complications allegedly caused by birth control devices such as Essure® and Paragard® and complications arising from the use of transvaginal mesh.

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