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L'Oreal Hair Straightening Uterine Cancer Lawsuits

Hair straightening products, or relaxers, are claimed to have directly and proximately caused uterine cancer in their users.

After a National Institutes of Health study found a link between an increased risk of uterine cancer and using hair straightening products, attorneys filed a lawsuit on October 21 in Illinois on behalf of 32-year-old Jenny Mitchell, a Missouri resident. She was diagnosed with uterine cancer four years ago and claimed that her exposure to chemical hair straightening products’ endocrine-disrupting chemicals caused her uterine cancer. She has been using hair straightening products since 2000 and continued until March 2022.

Who Is Being Sued?

  • L’Oreal USA Inc. and L’Oreal USA Products Inc.
  • Strength of Nature Global LLC
  • Soft Sheen Carson (W.I.) Inc.
  • Dabur International Ltd. and Dabur USA Inc.
  • Namaste Laboratories

Mitchell’s lawsuit claims that chemicals within these companies’ products can cause uterine cancer. These chemicals and ingredients include:

  • DI-2-Ethilhexylphthalate, or DEHP
  • Paraben
  • Formaldehyde
  • Metals

These ingredients are associated with higher cancer risk. Additionally, when these chemical hair straighteners cause accidental abrasions and scalp burns, they may be absorbed by the body more easily.

L'Oreal Products Related to the Lawsuit

The following L’Oreal products may be correlated to an increased risk of uterine cancer:

  • Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Relaxer
  • Dark & Lovely
  • Motions

If you use these or any other hair straighteners or relaxers, you may have an increased risk of uterine cancer. 

Who Is Most Commonly Affected?

Uterine cancer, also known as endometrial cancer, is most likely to affect obese women who are 50 pounds or more overweight. Black women are twice as likely to die from uterine cancer. The recent paper studying the link between hair products with endocrine-disrupting properties and uterine cancer looked at nearly 34,000 participants between 35 and 74 years old over approximately 11 years. The study found that frequent users of hair straighteners were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who refrained from using the products. Regular product usage elevated this increased risk from 1.64% for women who never used hair straighteners in the previous year to 4.05% for women who used the products more than four times per year.

Did L'Oreal Know About the Risks?

Researchers have known for some time that there is a connection between the chemicals found in hair straightening products and certain hormonal cancers, like ovarian and breast cancers. L’Oreal may claim it was unaware of its chemical hair relaxers’ risk of causing uterine cancer until a recent study was published on October 17, 2022. However, it knew or should have known about its products’ ingredients linked to these other hormonal cancers. Knowing the risks and continuing to produce and market a product known to be harmful could make L’Oreal liable to users of its chemical hair straightening products.

Disparities in the Haircare Industry

  • The finding that women who use chemical hair straightening products are more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer is particularly alarming for people of color. Studies show that black women report using hair straightening products more than other populations.
  • Rates of uterine cancer and related deaths are rising in the U.S.
  • Uterine cancer deaths are highest among non-Hispanic black women.
  • Chemical hair straighteners are often explicitly aimed at black women, with product names like Dark & Lovely featuring black women with straightened hair in the product images.

There is a history in the U.S. of for-profit companies marketing dangerous products to black women.

What Should I do if Hair Straightening Products Caused My Uterine Cancer?

You have legal rights if you use hair straightening or relaxing products and have been diagnosed with uterine cancer. You may be eligible to file a hair straightener lawsuit against L’Oreal or other companies whose products you use. Uterine cancer is serious, and the medical bills that can accompany treating it can be intimidating. You may be able to win damages to help cover the cost of your medical treatment and other losses. The experienced product and pharmaceutical liability lawyers at Levin & Perconti are familiar with hair relaxer lawsuits will be able to answer your questions and inform you of your legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have developed uterine cancer and are a user of L’Oreal’s hair straightening products, you may be able to file a uterine cancer lawsuit. Our attorneys can discuss your unique situation and determine if you qualify.

There is a lawsuit against L’Oreal for the ingredients in its chemical hair relaxers linked to uterine cancer.

If you use chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers and have developed uterine cancer, you may be eligible to file a L’Oreal lawsuit. A qualified lawyer familiar with these cases can help you determine the appropriate legal option for your unique situation. 

A recent study has linked chemical hair straightening and relaxing products to an increased risk of uterine cancer, especially among black women.

Contact Levin & Perconti Regarding Your Uterine Cancer Lawsuit

If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer and have used chemical hair straighteners, you should speak with a knowledgeable law firm regarding your options. An attorney familiar with these hair straightener lawsuits and experienced in similar defective product suits is best situated to answer your questions and provide legal counsel.

The lawyers at Levin & Perconti are ready to help you get the answers you deserve. If you have questions about filing a L’Oreal lawsuit, our team is ready to help. Contact Levin & Perconti today to receive your free consultation. 

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