Hair Relaxer Lawsuits in New Jersey

A recent study from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests women who regularly use chemical hair straightening products may be up to 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer. Researchers believe the increased risk of uterine cancer is due to the endocrine disruptors in most hair straighteners and relaxers.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormones. Long-term use of and exposure to products containing endocrine disruptors has been linked to developmental issues, reproductive problems, and hormone-sensitive cancers.

Beauty advertisements in the United States often depict long, sleek, straight hair as the gold standard. Many women use chemical hair relaxers and straighteners to reach this goal. Unfortunately, medical research indicates that hair relaxers and straighteners may increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers. The health of women who use these products could be in grave danger.

Long-time user of chemical hair relaxers or straighteners diagnosed with cancer may be eligible to pursue money damages as compensation for financial and personal losses resulting from cancer diagnosis caused by hair straightening chemicals. The legal team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. has decades of experience in class action and mass tort cases on behalf of consumers injured by unsafe and dangerous products. Uterine cancer patients that used hair straighteners deserve justice.

Contact our New Jersey office to learn more about what the skilled personal injury attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. can do for you. We offer a free case review where you can speak with one of our hair relaxers and straighteners lawyers about your situation.

How Do Hair Relaxers Cause Cancer?

Hair relaxers and straighteners are beauty products designed to straighten curls and tight coils. Most of these hair products contain powerful chemical components. When applied to wet hair, these chemicals begin to break down protein bonds in the hair. These bonds are called disulfides.

Hair with natural curls or coils contains more disulfide bonds than straight hair. It takes a strong chemical solution to break these bonds, which allows the hair to release its natural curl. Research shows that these chemicals can damage hair and potentially increase an individual’s risk of developing cancer.

Women of color are particularly susceptible to developing cancer after prolonged use of chemical relaxers and straighteners. Because Black women tend to have naturally curly hair textures, they are more likely to use products designed to relax and straighten their hair to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards.

Research indicates that many women of color feel societal pressure to straighten their hair and face discrimination when they don’t. A recent study by Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business found that Black women with natural hairstyles are less likely to get job interviews than white women or Black women with straightened hair. This pressure to conform can leave Black women especially at risk for serious health conditions.

Types of Cancer Caused by Hair Relaxers and Straighteners

The harmful chemicals in most hair relaxing and straightening products are endocrine disruptors. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), these chemicals may lead to an increased risk of developing hormone-sensitive cancers like:

• Uterine cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Endometrial cancer

Other significant medical conditions may also result from long-term exposure to these products, including uterine fibroids and endometriosis.

Common Hair Relaxers and Straighteners Linked to Cancer Cases

Hair care is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the United States. It continues to grow, with several brands of relaxing and straightening products on the market – even those containing potentially harmful chemicals. Some of the most widely used hair relaxing and straightening products in the U.S. that are alleged to cause cancer include the following:

• Dark and Lovely
• Motions
• Soft & Beautiful
• Optimum Care
• Crème of Nature
• Olive Oil Hair Relaxer
• Brazilian Blowout
• Just for Me

Who Is Eligible to File a Lawsuit for Cancer from Hair Straighteners and Relaxers?

If you or someone you know was a long-time user of chemical hair relaxers or straighteners and were subsequently diagnosed with hormone-sensitive cancer, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your losses. However, navigating the legal process and learning more about your rights can feel overwhelming – especially when coping with a cancer diagnosis.

At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., our New Jersey product liability lawyers and affiliated national partners can handle every detail of your case so that you can focus on your health. We can review your situation to determine whether you qualify to file a lawsuit to pursue financial relief for your losses. We will investigate the circumstances that led to your cancer diagnosis and gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case on your behalf. You can rest assured that our legal team will do everything possible to demand the justice you deserve.

Compensation Available in a Hair Relaxer or Straightener Lawsuit

The legal team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. and our affiliated partners want to help you pursue the compensation you need. If you’ve been diagnosed with a significant medical condition after prolonged exposure to chemical hair relaxers and straighteners, you may be able to seek money for the following:

• Medical expenses, including hospital stays, diagnostic tests, doctor’s appointments, prescription medications, and other costs related to your treatment
• Out-of-pocket costs, such as travel to doctor’s visits
• Lost wages if you miss work due to your illness
• Loss of earning capacity if your medical condition prevents you from returning to work or being gainfully employed
• Emotional distress
• Physical pain and suffering

Talk to Our Experienced Product Liability Attorney in New Jersey Today

If you or someone you know is or was a longtime user of hair relaxers or straighteners and were diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and financial losses from the companies that harmed you with their dangerous hair straightening products.   The skilled attorneys with Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. understand how a uterine cancer diagnosis can upend a person’s emotional, physical, and financial well-being. We are committed to holding corporations responsible for their careless actions and helping injury victims pursue the compensation they deserve.

If you want to speak to a skilled product liability attorney in New Jersey, contact our office for a free and confidential consultation.  You deserve a consultation with a real law firm and not a marketing agency call center.  Davis, Saperstein & Salomon PC, and our affiliated mass tort law firms can provide you with guidance and advice regarding any case in any state or jurisdiction. Call 1-800-LAW-2000.