Mass Tort – Hair Relaxer

A Widespread Pattern of Harm

For decades, hair relaxers have been aggressively marketed to women as a convenient way to achieve straight, manageable hair — especially among Black women, who have been disproportionately targeted by beauty industry advertising. These products, often used starting in childhood or adolescence, became routine personal care items, passed through generations without question.

But new revelations have exposed that these seemingly harmless products contain toxic chemicals capable of disrupting the body’s endocrine system, leading to severe health consequences — including uterine cancer, fibroids, infertility, and other hormone-related diseases.

Corporate Negligence and Legal Action

The companies that produced and profited from these products — including major brands like L’Oréal — are now the subject of nationwide lawsuits. Plaintiffs allege that these corporations failed to disclose known health risks, continued to market their products despite growing scientific evidence, and failed to conduct adequate safety testing.

At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we’re helping clients across the country hold these corporations accountable through mass tort litigation. We believe you deserve answers, accountability, and justice for the harm you’ve suffered.

What Are Hair Relaxer Lawsuits?

Understanding the Legal Basis of the Claims

Hair relaxer lawsuits fall under the broader umbrella of product liability — a field of law that holds manufacturers responsible when the products they release to the public are unreasonably dangerous or defective. These lawsuits are filed as part of a mass tort, meaning many individual plaintiffs with similar injuries join together in coordinated litigation, usually through multidistrict litigation (MDL) in federal court.

The lawsuits allege that:

1. The products were inherently unsafe due to their chemical composition.
2. Manufacturers failed to warn consumers about known risks, including reproductive harm and cancer.
3. Marketing efforts were racially targeted, focusing disproportionately on Black communities.
4. There was a failure to adequately test or reformulate products despite available alternatives and growing evidence of harm.

These claims are not about temporary side effects — they concern life-altering injuries, many of which require surgery, fertility treatments, or lead to permanent disability or loss.

The Science Supporting Hair Relaxer Litigation

NIH Study Establishes Link to Uterine Cancer

In 2022, a landmark study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that women who regularly used chemical hair straighteners were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not. The study followed over 33,000 women for nearly 11 years, offering the strongest evidence yet of a direct correlation between these products and reproductive cancers.

How the Chemicals Cause Harm

Hair relaxers contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with the body’s hormonal systems. The most common culprits include:

1. Phthalates: Synthetic chemicals used to make plastics flexible, which mimic estrogen and can trigger hormone imbalance.
2. Parabens: Preservatives linked to breast and reproductive cancers.
3. Formaldehyde-releasing agents: Used for smoothing effects, yet known to cause cancer when inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
4. Triclosan and Bisphenol A (BPA): Chemicals banned or restricted in many countries but still found in some hair care products in the U.S.

When applied to the scalp — especially on damaged or irritated skin — these chemicals are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Over time, chronic exposure builds up, disrupting hormonal pathways and increasing the risk of cancer, infertility, and other serious conditions.

Health Conditions and Injuries Linked to Hair Relaxers

Reproductive and Oncological Injuries

Women who used chemical relaxers and straighteners over long periods have developed a variety of medical conditions. These injuries are at the heart of the ongoing litigation and include:

1. Uterine cancer: Requires invasive treatment such as hysterectomy and chemotherapy. Often diagnosed in younger women with no family history.
2. Endometriosis: Causes chronic pelvic pain and infertility; often misdiagnosed or untreated for years.
3. Fibroids: Noncancerous growths in the uterus, leading to pain, heavy bleeding, and sometimes surgery.
4. Ovarian and endometrial cancer: Deadly forms of cancer that may not be caught until advanced stages.
5. Infertility and miscarriage: Many women have suffered the inability to conceive or have lost pregnancies due to hormonal imbalance caused by these chemicals.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

The physical consequences are only part of the damage. Women often face:

1. Depression and anxiety from cancer diagnoses or fertility struggles.
2. Grief over reproductive loss or inability to start a family.
3. Social and relationship stress, especially when reproductive outcomes affect personal identity or life planning.
4. Post-surgical recovery trauma, including those who’ve undergone hysterectomies at a young age.

These injuries go far beyond medical charts — they reshape lives.

Who Can File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

Legal Eligibility Criteria

You may qualify to file a lawsuit if:

1. You used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners consistently over time — typically multiple times a year, for several years.
2. You were diagnosed with a qualifying condition, such as uterine cancer, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cancer, or infertility.
3. Your diagnosis occurred within the statute of limitations, typically one to three years from discovery or diagnosis (this varies by state).

No Proof of Purchase Required

We understand that most women didn’t save receipts or packaging for products used routinely in their homes. That’s not a barrier. Our team helps clients establish usage through:

1. Medical and dermatological records
2. Personal testimony
3. Photographs and videos
4. Brand familiarity and product appearance
5. Witness statements from friends or family

If you suspect a connection between your illness and relaxer use, speak with us — even if you’re unsure about the exact brands.

How to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

Step-by-Step Process with Our Legal Team

Step 1: Initial Consultation

Contact us to schedule a free, confidential case review. We’ll listen to your experience and ask questions about your product use, health history, and timeline of symptoms or diagnoses.

Step 2: Case Evaluation

Our attorneys and medical consultants will review your eligibility. This may involve reviewing medical records, checking diagnosis timelines, and comparing your case to existing litigation benchmarks.

Step 3: Evidence Collection

We will gather necessary documentation, such as:

1. Medical records and test results
2. Expert opinions
3. Usage history
4. Additional supporting documents

Step 4: Filing the Claim

Once we have a complete case file, we’ll file your lawsuit in the appropriate court — often as part of the ongoing federal MDL (multidistrict litigation). You won’t have to file individually or attend court unless your case proceeds to trial, which is rare.

Step 5: Ongoing Representation

We represent you from start to finish, keeping you updated on the progress of the case, negotiating any settlements, or preparing for litigation if needed.

All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case.

What Compensation Is Available?

Financial and Non-Economic Damages

If your claim is successful, you may be eligible for:

1. Medical expenses – past and future costs related to diagnosis, surgery, fertility treatment, or therapy.
2. Lost wages – compensation for missed work or long-term disability.
3. Pain and suffering – for chronic pain, surgeries, recovery, and emotional trauma.
4. Loss of fertility – recognition of life-changing impacts and inability to conceive.
5. Punitive damages – in cases where companies acted recklessly or with disregard for public safety.

Our attorneys will work with economists and life care planners to assess the full impact of your injuries and ensure you are not undercompensated.

Why Choose Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa?

We Are National Leaders in Product Liability and Mass Tort Litigation

When dangerous products harm real people, we don’t flinch — we fight. Our firm brings decades of experience handling high-stakes, medically complex litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations. We’re trusted nationwide for one reason: we win cases that others won’t touch.

We combine the firepower of a national trial firm with the focus and care of a boutique. Every client gets the full weight of our legal team — and none of the cookie-cutter treatment.

Why Clients Trust Us

We represent people, not case numbers. You’ll know your team. You’ll be able to reach them. And you’ll never be in the dark about your case.

We take trauma seriously. These cases often involve devastating injuries. We practice trauma-informed law — with empathy, discretion, and care.

We’re not afraid of anyone. Fortune 500 defense firms? International pharma giants? We’ve gone head-to-head with them all — and walked away with life-changing results for our clients.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

What is the hair relaxer lawsuit about?
The hair relaxer lawsuit involves legal action against manufacturers of chemical hair straighteners and relaxers that contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These companies are being sued for failing to warn consumers that their products may cause serious health conditions such as uterine cancer, endometriosis, fibroids, infertility, and other hormone-related disorders. Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Am I eligible to file a hair relaxer claim?
You may be eligible if you have a history of using chemical hair relaxers or straighteners over an extended period and were later diagnosed with a qualifying condition, such as uterine cancer, fibroids, or infertility. Eligibility also depends on how recently you were diagnosed, as each state has a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have to file a claim.

Do I need proof of purchase to file a lawsuit?
No, proof of purchase such as receipts or product packaging is not required to file a claim. Most women do not retain documentation for personal care products used years ago. Instead, we use other evidence like medical records, personal testimony, brand recall, and supporting statements to establish product use.

What types of injuries or conditions are included in the lawsuit?
The most commonly cited injuries include uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, fibroids, endometriosis, hormonal disruption, infertility, and other reproductive system disorders. These conditions are supported by medical research linking chronic exposure to the chemicals found in relaxers to serious health consequences.

Which hair relaxer brands are involved in the lawsuits?
Several major manufacturers are named in the litigation, including L’Oréal and its subsidiaries, along with other popular hair care brands that marketed chemical straighteners primarily to Black women. New brands may be added as the investigation continues and more victims come forward.

Don’t Wait – Time Limits Apply

Every state has legal time limits, called statutes of limitation, which determine how long you have to file a lawsuit. These can range from one to three years from the date you discovered your condition or were diagnosed.

If you wait too long, your claim may be permanently barred — regardless of how strong your case is. It’s crucial to act now to preserve your rights and join the growing number of women demanding justice.

Contact Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa Today

You don’t have to go through this alone. If you believe your health condition may be linked to hair relaxer use, our legal team is here to help you understand your legal options, build a compelling case, pursue maximum compensation, and hold negligent corporations accountable.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. Let us help you take the first step toward healing and justice.