Women have trusted chemical relaxers to style their hair for decades, but new research has connected them to uterine cancer. While the finding raises alarm bells across communities, it has a disproportionate effect on women of color, who are the primary consumer base for hair relaxers.
A 2022 Journal of the National Cancer Institute study followed up with over 33,000 women for nearly 11 years. In that time, 378 participants received uterine cancer diagnoses.
When products cause devastating health effects, Her Case Matters may be able to help. Find out which hair relaxers are safe and how to seek compensation after developing cancer connected to straightener products.
Reach out today to learn more.
Which Hair Relaxers Are Safe for Black Hair?
Safe relaxers for Black hair reduce the risks connected with hair straightener products made with chemical ingredients. If you avoid hormone-disrupting additives, you may reduce your risk of uterine cancer.
These are some of the Environmental Working Group’s lowest-risk hair relaxers:
- Mizani Classic Relaxer
- Organic Root Stimulator ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer
- Silk Elements Olive Oil Regular Relaxer
- Silk Elements Shea Butter Mild Relaxer
“The adverse health effects associated with straightener use could be more consequential for African American and/or Black women because of the higher prevalence and frequency of hair product use, younger age of initiating use, and harsher chemical formulations than other races and ethnicities.”
— Researchers with the 2022 Journal of the National Cancer Institute study
Learning what makes some products safer than others will help you find the next best hair relaxer for your beauty routine and have better conversations with your doctor.
If you or your loved ones have developed uterine cancer after using hair relaxers, Her Case Matters can provide support. Talk with our team to learn about pursuing compensation with a hair relaxer lawsuit.
Don’t wait — get your free case review today.
Why Some Hair Relaxers May Cause Uterine Cancer
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute study that connected hair relaxers with uterine cancer found that endocrine-disrupting chemicals were likely to blame. The female endocrine system produces hormones that support several bodily functions, including the reproductive organs.
Long-term exposure to certain chemicals in hair relaxers doubled the chance of uterine cancer for the study’s participants. Others who regularly treated their hair with dyes, highlights, bleach, or perms had no increased risk of cancer.
Hair Relaxer Ingredients That Could Cause Uterine Cancer
Hair relaxer products differ between brands, so some have more potentially dangerous ingredients than others. Learning which chemicals are linked to uterine cancer could make you feel more confident when it’s time for a touch-up.
The 2022 study connected these endocrine-disrupting chemicals to uterine cancer:
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Formaldehyde
- Heavy metals
- Parabens
- Phthalates
You may have options if you’ve trusted hair relaxers with these ingredients for a long time. Women are filing hair relaxer lawsuits to pursue justice and compensation.
Call us at (877) 640-6101 if you have any questions about taking legal action too.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Some hair relaxers include Bisphenol A (BPA), which is a hard plastic ingredient in the product’s packaging. It may release into the relaxer over time, so it isn’t listed as an ingredient.
BPA mimics estrogen, disrupting hormone regulation and contributing to cancer risks. Remember to check hair relaxers for BPA-free labels to avoid this harmful chemical.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a preservative and helps the keratin in your hair bond with the product. It’s also a known cancer-causing carcinogen that turns into fumes when heated during styling.
The FDA proposed a formaldehyde ban in 2023 to reduce the cancer risks associated with hair straighteners or relaxers. Since the proposal, the FDA has missed self-imposed deadlines and hasn’t banned the carcinogen yet.
You can look for ingredient names like methylene glycol, formalin, and formic aldehyde to spot formaldehyde in your preferred hair relaxer products.
Heavy Metals
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute study also found that heavy metals were contributing to uterine cancer rates in women using hair relaxers. These metals are naturally occurring, but can disrupt the hormone production and regulation system in a woman’s body.
Manufacturers don’t list heavy metals on ingredient lists because they aren’t active ingredients. Instead, they may become part of a product if that product uses dyes or other additives grown on farms with heavy metals in the soil.
Consumers can avoid these metals more effectively by checking product tests published by organizations like Consumer Reports. However, they may not happen routinely or for every hair relaxer.
Parabens
Parabens are synthetic preservatives that end in “-paraben”. For example, you might see methylparaben or propylparaben in hair relaxers.
The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety found that 20 of 21 common parabens are safe preservatives in cosmetics, including hair products, if they remain under 0.8%. However, they can disrupt your hormones if your scalp absorbs them over a long period of time, leading to outcomes like uterine cancer.
Phthalates
Manufacturers may add phthalates to hair relaxers because the chemicals stabilize product formulas and fragrances. They were also linked to uterine cancer in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute study.
Spotting phthalates in product labels is challenging because they aren’t listed individually. Manufacturers aren’t required to break down their fragrance ingredients, so you should look for phthalate-free or fragrance-free labels instead.
Tips to Protect Your Health Around Hair Relaxers
Learning which hair relaxers are safe is the first step in protecting your health. You can also incorporate new shopping strategies to find better alternatives.
Keep these tips in mind while comparing potentially safe hair relaxers:
- Avoid hair relaxer ingredients ending in -paraben
- Consider products with low-risk ratings, like EWG-rated hair relaxers
- Don’t exceed the treatment or processing time on the product’s packaging
- Look for products with BPA-free, phthalate-free, or fragrance-free labels
- Space out your treatments to minimize your chemical exposure
- Treat your hair in ventilated spaces, like a bathroom with an open window
Choosing safer products with smart shopping strategies could reduce your risk of uterine cancer. Given time, you’ll know what hair relaxer is safe to use and creates the style you prefer.
Are Hair Relaxers Safe During Pregnancy?
Hair relaxers may not be safe during pregnancy. A 2022 study in Environmental Research found that hair relaxers, dyes, bleach, and mousse lowered all sex steroid hormones in pregnant women.
Female sex steroid hormones include estrogen and progesterone, which are crucial for maintaining a pregnancy. If your body is absorbing endocrine disruptors, you may not be able to produce the hormones necessary to carry a pregnancy to full term.
Discuss any questions and concerns with your doctor before using hair relaxers while you’re pregnant. They’ll provide the best advice given your medical history and the latest research on chemical straighteners.
How to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit After a Diagnosis
If you or your loved ones have been diagnosed with uterine cancer after using hair relaxers, you may qualify for a hair relaxer lawsuit. Women are filing these claims to get justice and seek compensation that covers medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to their cancer journey.
Here’s how you can file a hair relaxer lawsuit:
- Get a free case review: Speak with our team about your experience, and we’ll connect you with the hair relaxer lawyers in our network if you qualify.
- Collect evidence: Your hair relaxer attorney will save documentation to strengthen your case, including medical records.
- File your hair relaxer lawsuit: Let your hair relaxer lawyer file your lawsuit in the proper courts before applicable deadlines pass.
- Rest at home: Focus on your recovery or your loved one while your lawyer negotiates a settlement or fights for you in court.
Our partner law firm has recovered $10.5 billion to date for clients, including for women suffering from cancer connected to hair relaxers.
Pursuing a hair relaxer lawsuit is about more than seeking a settlement. It’s how many women are holding manufacturers accountable and affording life-saving treatments caused by products they thought they could trust.
Get Safe Hair Relaxers and Support After Diagnosis
You bought hair straightening products from trusted brands and believed they were safe to use. You didn’t know they contained potentially dangerous chemicals because the companies that made them never warned you.
If you used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners and were later diagnosed with uterine cancer, it may have been preventable. Her Case Matters can help determine if you’re eligible to take legal action and seek compensation for your suffering.
Get your free case review now or call (877) 640-6101 today. Our compassionate team will listen to your experience and help you determine your next steps.
