Attorneys representing over 120 plaintiffs in a multidistrict litigation case against chemical hair straightening manufacturers recently filed a master complaint outlining allegations against more than a dozen companies.
The lawsuit targets 15 manufacturers, including prominent brands like L’Oreal, SoftSheen, Revlon, Luster, and Sally Beauty, accusing them of failing to warn consumers about the potential dangers posed by their products.
The complaint asserts that these companies knowingly produced and marketed toxic hair relaxer products, leading to various injuries and cancers among plaintiffs, seeking compensation for punitive damages, monetary restitution, medical monitoring, and equitable relief.
The lawsuit highlights the presence of harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates, in chemical hair relaxer solutions, linking them to reproductive problems, uterine cancer, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and preterm delivery.
Allegations in the complaint underscore deceptive marketing practices targeting people of color, including children, with claims of product safety and health benefits, despite the lack of disclosure regarding harmful chemicals on product labels.
While settlements or jury verdicts have not yet been reached, experts estimate potential settlements ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million based on similar product liability claims.
The litigation surge followed a National Institutes of Health study released in October 2022, which found a correlation between chemical hair straightener use and increased cancer risk, particularly uterine and breast cancers.
Despite the lawsuits, L’Oreal reaffirmed its confidence in the safety of its products, asserting that the legal actions lack legal merit.
Chemical hair straighteners have been linked to various health issues, including difficulty breathing and swallowing, nausea, headaches, dizziness, nose and throat irritation, and red or burning skin, due to the presence of hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates.
