Hair Relaxers

Hair relaxers are commonly used to straighten curly or textured hair. Many women use them for years, often starting at a young age. While these products promise smoother, easiertomanage hair, studies now raise serious concerns about what longterm exposure may do to the body.

In 2021, hair straightening products generated more than $700 million in sales in the United States. But in 2022, a major federal health study found a possible connection between chemical hair straighteners and certain cancers. After those findings were released, lawsuits began to be filed against manufacturers, including L’Oréal USA and Revlon.

These lawsuits claim that companies failed to warn consumers about the cancer risks linked to repeated use of hair relaxers.

Recent research highlights why many women are now coming forward:

• Increased Cancer Risk: A 2022 study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) found that women who used chemical hair straighteners more than four times a year had about double the risk of developing uterine cancer.
• Disproportionate Impact on Black Women: Black women are more likely to use hair relaxers regularly and are also more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive forms of uterine cancer.
• Additional Research: A 2023 Boston University study found a higher risk of uterine cancer among postmenopausal Black women who used hair relaxers longterm.
• FDA Action: In 2023, the FDA proposed banning formaldehyde and similar chemicals in hair straightening products due to safety concerns.