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Which hair relaxers cause cancer is a question millions of women — especially Black women — are urgently asking right now. Here is a quick summary of what the research and ongoing lawsuits reveal:
Brands and products most frequently named in cancer research and lawsuits:
| Brand/Product | Manufacturer | Cancer Type Linked |
|---|---|---|
| Dark & Lovely | SoftSheen-Carson (L'Oréal) | Uterine, ovarian |
| Mizani | L'Oréal | Uterine, ovarian |
| Optimum | SoftSheen-Carson | Uterine, ovarian |
| Motions | Strength of Nature Global | Uterine, ovarian |
| Just for Me | Strength of Nature Global | Uterine, ovarian |
| Soft & Beautiful | Strength of Nature Global | Uterine, ovarian |
| TCB Naturals | Strength of Nature Global | Uterine, ovarian |
| Affirm | Namaste Laboratories | Uterine, ovarian |
| ORS Olive Oil | Namaste Laboratories | Uterine, ovarian |
| Creme of Nature | Revlon | Uterine, ovarian |
Note: No individual product has been proven in court to directly cause cancer. The brands above appear in ongoing litigation and/or epidemiological research.
These products share a common thread: they contain chemicals — including formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, and bisphenol A — that research links to hormone disruption and elevated cancer risk.
A landmark 2022 NIH study found that women who used chemical hair straighteners more than four times per year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. A separate large-scale study of Black women found a 50% increased uterine cancer risk with regular, long-term use. These are not small numbers.
As of early 2025, nearly 9,700 lawsuits are pending in federal court (MDL No. 3060), with manufacturers like L'Oréal, Revlon, and Namaste Laboratories named as defendants.
If you used these products regularly and have been diagnosed with uterine, ovarian, or another cancer, you are not alone — and you may have legal options.
I'm Tim Burd, founder of Justice Hero and a consumer advocate who has helped connect thousands of people with the right legal resources for mass tort claims — including those asking which hair relaxers cause cancer and whether they qualify for compensation. I'll walk you through the science, the brands under scrutiny, and what steps you can take next.
Easy which hair relaxers cause cancer glossary:
For decades, the beauty industry sold us a dream of sleek, manageable hair without mentioning the nightmare hidden in the ingredients. We now have a growing body of scientific evidence that explains the connection between these products and devastating health outcomes. When we look at which hair relaxers cause cancer, we aren't just looking at anecdotal stories; we are looking at massive, peer-reviewed studies involving tens of thousands of women.
The most influential research comes from the NIH Sister Study and the Black Women’s Health Study. These aren't just one-off lab tests on petri dishes; they are long-term "prospective" studies. This means researchers followed healthy women for over a decade to see who developed cancer and what products they used.
The results were a wake-up call for the medical community. The Scientific research on hair straightening chemicals and uterine cancer suggests that the scalp is a highly absorbent gateway. Unlike the skin on your arms or legs, the scalp is filled with hair follicles and blood vessels. When relaxers cause "tingling," "burning," or small lesions, those chemicals don't just sit on top of your head—they enter your bloodstream.
The numbers are startling. According to the NIH data, women who reported using hair straighteners or chemical relaxers at least four times in the previous year had a 2.55 times higher risk of developing uterine cancer compared to those who never used them.
But it doesn't stop at the uterus. Other reproductive organs are also in the crosshairs. Research shows that frequent users (those applying relaxers more than four times a year) face a 50% increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Perhaps even more surprising is the Research on hair relaxers and non-reproductive cancers. Recent findings from the Sister Study cohort indicate that these chemicals might be linked to:
This suggests that once these chemicals enter the body, they don't just stay in the reproductive system; they circulate and affect multiple organs. For more details on the specific types of cancer being litigated, you can check our guide on chemical straightener cancer.
We cannot talk about which hair relaxers cause cancer without talking about racial health inequities. This is, at its core, a social justice issue. Because of Eurocentric beauty standards and workplace discrimination (which the CROWN Act in California is finally starting to address), Black women have been the primary target for these products for over a century.
Statistics show that roughly 84% of non-Hispanic Black women have used chemical hair relaxers at some point in their lives. The Black Women’s Health Study, which followed nearly 45,000 women for 22 years, found that frequent use (more than twice a year or for more than five years) was associated with a significantly higher risk of uterine cancer in postmenopausal Black women.
Black women are also more likely to be diagnosed with more aggressive subtypes of uterine and breast cancer. When you combine early exposure—many girls start using relaxers as young as four or five years old—with decades of frequent use, the cumulative "toxic load" becomes a major health disparity. This is why we focus so heavily on hair relaxer lawsuits for Black women, as they bear the brunt of this corporate negligence.
When we ask which hair relaxers cause cancer, we have to name names. For a long time, these companies marketed their products as "gentle" or "natural" (think of the "Olive Oil" branding), while allegedly hiding the fact that their formulas contained known carcinogens.
The major defendants in current litigation include some of the biggest names in the global beauty market:
Many of the women we speak with are heartbroken to find that the products they used for "self-care" or to help their daughters manage their hair are the ones now listed in court documents.
Some of the most prominent products involved in the hair relaxer lawsuit include:
The tragedy here is the marketing. Using words like "Naturals" or "Olive Oil" gave consumers a false sense of security while the underlying chemical structure remained dangerous.
There is a common misconception that "no-lye" relaxers are safer. Let's clear that up right now.
Research from the NIH and the Black Women's Health Study has found no evidence that no-lye relaxers are safer when it comes to cancer risk. Both types can cause the scalp lesions that facilitate chemical absorption. If you have used either type and been diagnosed, you should stay informed on the hair relaxer settlements and payouts currently being discussed in the legal community.
To understand which hair relaxers cause cancer, we have to look at the chemistry. These products aren't just "soap and water"; they are complex chemical cocktails designed to break the disulfide bonds in the hair shaft to change its structure.
The most concerning chemicals found in these products include:
The primary reason these chemicals are so dangerous is that they are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). Your endocrine system is your body's "hormone post office." It sends messages to your organs telling them when to grow, when to reproduce, and how to function.
Chemicals like parabens and phthalates "mimic" estrogen. When they enter your bloodstream through your scalp, your body thinks it has more estrogen than it actually does. This "hormone mimicry" can cause the lining of the uterus to grow abnormally, leading to fibroids or, worse, malignant tumors.
This hormonal link is also why we see a connection to breast cancer. Estrogen-sensitive tissue in the breasts can react to these chemicals, potentially triggering the growth of cancer cells. For more on this specific link, read our article: Could Your Hair Straightener Be Linked To Breast Cancer?
While uterine and ovarian cancers are the primary focus of the MDL, the chemical exposure from relaxers can affect the entire body.
If you are reading this because you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after years of relaxer use, please know that the legal system is finally starting to hold these companies accountable.
The litigation has been centralized into MDL No. 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois. "MDL" stands for Multidistrict Litigation. It's not quite a class action (where everyone gets the same small check); it's a way to handle thousands of individual lawsuits efficiently. Each person's case is still unique, but the "discovery" (gathering evidence against the companies) is done together.
The core of the relaxer cancer lawsuit is based on:
We know that a cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. However, if you believe your illness is linked to hair relaxers, taking these steps early can help protect your rights:
If you're ready to see if you qualify, you can fill out our hair relaxer contact form for a free case review.
The research points to a "dose-response" relationship. The NIH Sister Study defined "frequent use" as more than four times per year. Women in this category saw their uterine cancer risk more than double. However, the Black Women's Health Study also looked at "cumulative" risk—meaning how many total years you used the product. Women who used relaxers for more than 15–20 years showed significantly higher risks, regardless of whether they were currently using them.
As of early 2025, the FDA has not issued a total ban on hair relaxers. However, they have proposed a ban on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair-straightening products. This ban has faced multiple delays, with the current target date for a final rule being April 2025. It is important to note that the U.S. lags behind the European Union, which has already banned over 1,300 chemicals in cosmetics, compared to just a handful in the U.S.
Absolutely. The "Natural Hair Movement" has empowered millions of women to embrace their curls, coils, and kinks. If you still prefer a straight look, there are chemical-free options:
At Justice Hero, we believe that no woman should have to trade her health for a hairstyle. The companies that manufactured these products had a responsibility to keep us safe, and the evidence suggests they failed.
Identifying which hair relaxers cause cancer is the first step toward holding these corporations accountable and ensuring that future generations of women aren't exposed to these same toxins. We are committed to providing the most up-to-date legal information and helping you navigate the complexities of the Hair Relaxer Lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has suffered, you deserve to have your voice heard. We are here to help you fight for the justice—and the compensation—you deserve.
