What You Need to Know About Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuits
People go to great lengths to look a certain way, and ever-changing trends often push us to try new techniques and products to fit the right aesthetic. Chemical hair straighteners have long been popular among numerous populations, thanks to their ability to soften and straighten curly and wavy hair. However, a growing body of research shows that these hair straighteners are potentially toxic to women’s health—and worse, the manufacturers should have known this and made consumers aware. When a company harms you with their defective or inherently unsafe product, you have legal options. Start your Southern California defective product claim with the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates. Just give us a call at 562-216-2944 to set up a claim now.
What makes people turn to chemical hair straighteners over conventional heat styling tools? In most cases, it’s a matter of convenience and longevity. Someone with slightly wavy hair might spend 10 to 20 minutes using a hair straightener every morning. But for someone with very curly, wavy, or coarse hair, using a heat straightener would take upwards of an hour each day. That’s before you even consider the tons of styling products you’d need to protect the hair. Instead, those with coarse or curly hair may choose to use a chemical straightener every four months or so.
An Overview of Chemical Hair Straighteners
Chemical hair straighteners are often marketed as capable of turning curly, coarse hair into smooth, straight hair. This is a massive change, so it should come as no surprise that these chemical straighteners can be very harmful to your hair. They inherently change the hair’s structure by breaking down the bonds in the hair, leaving it straight. People need to redo the process every few months to keep up with hair regrowth. Chemical hair straighteners have a wide range of chemicals in them, including parabens, phthalates, benzophenone-3, triclosan, sodium hydroxide, and fluoride.
Dangerous Chemicals in Straighteners
These products have a long list of active chemicals, many of which cause profound harm to the hair, skin, and other parts of the body. People who use these products risk frying their hair if they reapply too often or do not condition enough. The skin can become irritated, since the skin on the scalp tends to be thinner than skin on other parts of the body. This means it absorbs a greater amount of the chemicals.
Several of these chemicals are considered endocrine disrupting chemicals. The endocrine glands secrete hormones and regulate hormonal activity in the body, and damage to them could lead to several types of health issues.
Uterine and Ovarian Cancer Research
A growing body of research uncovers the deadly link between chemical hair straighteners and multiple types of cancer. These products are heavily marketed to Black women, so several studies focus on cancer rates in this population. Per one study out of Boston University, those who used hair relaxers more than twice per year for at least five years had more than a 50% increased risk of uterine cancer. This compounds an already devastating racial disparity in uterine cancer. When compared to white women, Black women are more likely to have extremely aggressive subtypes of uterine cancer and are far more likely to die of the disease. It is crucial that people who routinely use chemical hair straighteners both seek out medical attention and protect their legal interests.
Other research focuses on those who straighten their hair more than four times per year. As noted, many experts only recommend straightening every three to four months—or even less often if possible. Those who use these products more than four times per year are significantly more likely to develop uterine or ovarian cancer. There is also significant research linking chemical hair straighteners to breast cancer.
Those who have developed uterine, ovarian, or breast cancer after routine use of chemical hair straighteners may be entitled to compensation. It is essential that you speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible, as the clock starts ticking once you are aware or should have become aware of your condition. Surviving family members of someone who passed away from cancer caused by a defective product may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Start Your Claim With the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates
We understand how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be. Knowing that a company sold you products that led to this outcome is painful. Let us help you hold them accountable. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 562-216-2944 or filling out our online contact form.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
