Dark & Lovely Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Uterine Cancer, Fibroid Risks from Hair Relaxer

In this new class action lawsuit over Dark & ​​Lovely, plaintiffs indicate that the manufacturers have made false and misleading statements about the safety of hair relaxers, leading consumers to spend money on a product they would not have otherwise purchased. Many of the women have used the products for years, often starting when they were children.

“Hair products such as relaxers contain hormonally active and carcinogenic compounds, such as phthalates, known to cause endocrine disruption, are not listed separately as ingredients but, instead, are often broadly lumped into the ‘fragrance’ or ‘perfume’ categories,” the lawsuit states. “Relaxer habits usually begin in formative childhood years, and adolescence is likely a period of enhanced susceptibility to debilitating conditions resulting from exposure to these chemicals.”

The lawsuit seeks to establish a multi-state class action for any consumer who purchased any of the defendants’ hair straighteners or relaxers in the US from May 25, 2017, to the present. In addition to medical monitoring, the Dark & ​​Lovely lawsuit seeks a full refund of the purchase price consumers paid for the hair relaxer, and an injunction which would prevent the defendants from continuing to sell products which may be adulterated due to the presence of toxic chemicals .

Hair Relaxer Cancer Risks

In recent years, studies have been published that make a connection between use of hair relaxer and cancer, raising concerns about the wide spread use of the products by Black and other minority women throughout the US

In October, researchers published findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which warned that ingredients used in the chemical hair relaxers may cause uterine cancer. Researchers found that the rate of uterine cancer was nearly three times greater among women who frequently used hair relaxer chemicals, compared to women who never used the products.

A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Cancer (IJC) issued similar findings, indicating women who reported regularly using straighteners and permanent hair dyes were 9% more likely to develop breast cancer than non-users.

Over an eight year period, researchers identified 2,794 cases of breast cancer after chemical hair straighteners use. The study revealed those who frequently used hair straightener products were at a significantly increased risk of breast cancer, finding women using hair straighteners at least every five to eight weeks, had a 30% increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Researchers warned that African American women who reported using permanent hair dyes regularly were associated with a 60% increase in breast cancer diagnosis, compared to an 8% increased risk for Caucasian women.

Uterine fibroids and endometriosis have been associated with phthalate metabolites used in hair relaxers.

For women actually diagnosed uterine cancer, breast cancer or uterine fibroids, product liability lawyers are reviewing individual Dark & ​​Lovely lawsuits to pursue settlement benefits for the actual medical damages and pain and suffering caused by the hair relaxers. Those claims will be handled separately from any potential class action lawsuits brought against the manufacturers, seeking refunds and medical monitoring.

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