For years, black women’s natural curls have been believed to be unprofessional, unattractive, and inferior to straight hair. As a result, societal pressure has been placed on black individuals to conform to beauty standards with straight hair. Like others, you swear by hair relaxer products, which smooth and straighten hair by coating it with chemicals.
The chemicals in hair relaxer products, like formaldehyde, lye, parabens, and phthalates, are harmful to consumers. Studies reveal that these hair treatment products have resulted in female reproductive organ cancers and other serious injuries and side effects. Therefore, millions of black women are seeking justice and compensation in federal courts to seek compensation for the loss incurred from hair relaxant products.
At People for Law, our lawyers file mass tort hair relaxer lawsuits against manufacturers who fail to provide adequate warnings about potential side effects. We answer your queries and come up with the best possible legal guidance for filing your hair relaxer lawsuit.
In this blog, we will discuss the recent updates (April 2025) on hair relaxer lawsuits and provide associated information that may be helpful to any victims.
Current Updates – April 2025
April 15, 2025: Pressing the Case Against Second Wave Defendants
The plaintiffs’ lawyers in the MDL lawsuits are pushing in their fight to hold beauty companies accountable for the hidden risks of hair relaxant products. Over 12,000 women, predominantly black, have filed lawsuits alleging that the products cause uterine and ovarian cancer. The focus in MDL 3060 has now shifted to a “Second Wave of Litigation.” This group includes John Paul Mitchell Systems, Advanced Beauty, RNA Corporation, Wella, and several other companies. In all cases, the plaintiffs alleged that these companies were aware of the cancer risks associated with using their products. Then, they kept marketing their product to great heights at the cost of consumers’ health risks.
April 8, 2025: New Chemical Relaxer Lawsuit
A woman from Newellton, Louisiana, has joined the multidistrict litigation over side effects caused by the use of chemical hair relaxer products. She has used products such as the PCJ No-Lye Kit, ORS Olive Oil Relaxers, Motions, and Just For Me. According to the complaint, the plaintiff developed ovarian cancer and suffered significant physical pain, emotional distress, and economic losses by using these products. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit as part of the broader multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving hair relaxers, alleging negligence, design defects, and failure to warn, among other claims. The plaintiff is now seeking compensatory and punitive damages and has requested a jury trial.
April 1, 2025: More Consumers File Hair Relaxer Cases In Federal MDL
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reported that there were 9,936 hair relaxer lawsuits in the federal MDL. It shows a significant decline in hair relaxant lawsuits after February, when the total number of cases dropped to some extent. The drop is not due to settlement agreements but due to procedural dismissals. Many plaintiffs are already working to reinstate cases under the guidelines outlined in Case Management Order No. 16. Meanwhile, lawyers are now focusing on bellwether cases, and over a million documents have been exchanged in the discovery process between both sides. The litigation is becoming more focused while digging into the facts and building their arguments.
Which Companies Are Sued for Their Hair Relaxer Products?
Multiple major hair care brands are currently facing lawsuits due to claims that their chemical hair relaxers contain harmful ingredients. Brands that are actively involved in lawsuits include:
- L’Oreal (including the Dark and Lovely product line)
- ORS, also known as Organic Root Stimulator
- African Pride
- Motions
- Strength of Nature
- SoftSheen-Carson
- TCB Naturals
- Creme of Nature
- Design Elements
- Silk Elements
The hair relaxer lawsuits argue that these companies have failed to warn their consumers about the potential health risks associated with prolonged use of their products. You can consult our expert lawyers at People For Law to file a mass tort case against hair relaxer products.
What are the Long-term Effects of Using a Hair Relaxer?
Chemical hair relaxers often cause hair to be brittle, dry, and even damaged. Some of the common harmful effects of hair relaxer include:
- Black women who use hair relaxants are at risk of developing hormone-sensitive cancers and endometrial cancer.
- Frequent use of hair relaxers may cause minor to severe chemical burns on your skin and scalp.
- Individuals who use hair relaxers are more likely to experience early puberty.
- Eye Irritation is common among people who suffer from the side effects of hair relaxer products. It may result in burning, watering, or itching eyes.
- Hair damage includes dandruff, frizzy hair, gray hair, hair loss, split ends, and thinning and weakening of hair.
- Due to prolonged use of hair relaxers, there is a chance of developing lung irritation. This may lead to difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, and swelling of lung tissues.
Contact Our Lawyers to File A Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
Our leading lawyers are actively reviewing claims for black people who believe that hair relaxer products have impacted their health. However, this problem is not limited to one ethnic group. We review your case and determine if you qualify for compensation to file a mass tort hair relaxer lawsuit. Contact People for Law to file a lawsuit against defective products, such as talcum powder and vape products, among many.