Chemical Hair Straighteners

Michigan Attorneys Holding Companies Accountable for Marketing Dangerous Consumer Products

LAWSUITS ARE BEING FILED WEEKLY AGAINST L’ORÉAL AND OTHER COMPANIES DUE TO THE LINK BETWEEN THEIR HAIR STRAIGHTERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UTERINE AND OTHER CANCERS

What Are Chemical Hair Straighteners?

Mostly advertised toward black women due to societal pressures, these chemical hair straighteners remove the hair’s natural tight curls and generate a smooth, straight texture. These chemical straighteners are also used as part of “Brazilian blowouts” and keratin treatments. These products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, namely phthalates and formaldehyde, which are known to disrupt natural hormone production. Many women have used these products for decades with no warning of the dangers of doing so. Even products marketed as “formaldehyde-free,” “organic” or “natural” were found to contain the cancer-causing chemicals in an investigation by the New York State Department of Health.

A Dangerous Discovery

The International Journal of Cancer first released a study in 2019 that linked the use of chemical hair straighteners to an increase in breast cancer diagnoses, especially among black women. A separate study done over a period of 11 years and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2021 found that women who used chemical hair relaxers were developing uterine cancer at twice the rate of those who were not. The more frequently a woman uses the straighteners and the length of time she has been using them are serious risk factors. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health released a third study, which found a nearly 250% increase in instances of uterine cancer among black women who regularly used the straightening products. Most recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on the most dangerous products in the fall of 2023, which is set to go into effect in April of 2024 after a public comment and review period.

Recent Litigation

The mass tort lawyers at Neumann Law Group are closely following the developments of this quickly-evolving legal issue. Days after the study above was published on October 17, 2022, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jenny Mitchell who used chemical straighteners since age 10 and was diagnosed with uterine cancer at only 28 years old requiring a complete hysterectomy. She has no family history of cancer.

Since this time, more than 9 additional lawsuits have been filed by attorneys against L’Oréal and brands promoting similar products such as Dark & Lovely, Just of Me, Optimum, Motions, Olive Oil Girls. The Court is currently considering whether to proceed with a class action lawsuit and as of December 9, 2022, Defendants have rejected this proposal.

As of November 21, 2022 the State of Michigan filed a class action lawsuit provide medical monitoring for women who have not been diagnosed with cancer but are at a higher risk due to use of chemical hair straighteners. Michigan women who have used chemical hair straighteners should advocate for themselves and seek out medical advice for questions relating to their concerns over chemical hair straightener use. Studies have shown that women’s reported concerns of medical symptoms and pain are generally taken less seriously than men’s concerns. Women of color have been noted to face even larger obstacles to having their reported symptoms taken seriously by medical professionals.

Do You Qualify?

Used chemical hair straighteners regularly; and

Diagnosed with

• uterine cancer
• endometrial cancer/endometriosis
• uterine fibroids
• breast cancer

Contact Neumann Law Group About Cancer Causing Hair Straighteners:

We are rapidly investigating these claims regarding the link between chemical hair straighteners and uterine and other cancers. The Michigan Personal Injury lawyers at Neumann Law Group have experience handling products liability claims against large corporations. With our advice and counsel, you can be confident that you will receive the compensation that you deserve. We represent clients statewide in all Michigan consumer tort cases, and have offices in Traverse City, Detroit, and Grand Rapids. Call today at 800-525-6386 or reach out through the online chat for a free case evaluation to discuss if you or a loved one has been injured as a result of this defective product and may be entitled to damages. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with a Michigan product liability attorney today