For decades, millions of women have relied on hair relaxers and chemical straighteners to achieve smooth, sleek styles.

But what many may not realize is that hiding underneath the glossy surface of these products could be harmful chemical ingredients lurking, quietly increasing their risk of a deadly disease.

A new NIH study has linked a commonly used hair product to a concerning double risk of developing a malignancy in a most intimate area. Just what could be in our beauty products that has researchers so alarmed? The answer may catch you off guard and give you pause for thought regarding your next straightening session.

What Are Hair Relaxers?

Hair relaxers refer to chemical processes used to straighten hair that is curly or wavy in texture. Relaxers can come in two primary types – lye and no-lye.

Lye relaxers contain sodium hydroxide as the primary straightening agent. Sodium hydroxide works quickly to relax curls and is often used by hair professionals due to its effectiveness and processing speed. However, sodium hydroxide can be harsh on hair. Some popular brands that use lye relaxers include TCB Naturals Crème Hair Relaxers.

No-lye relaxers contain milder alkalizing components like lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or guanidine hydroxide rather than sodium hydroxide. While no-lye relaxers don’t straighten hair as quickly as lye relaxers, they are less damaging to curls. The trade-off is they may require longer processing times.

Hair Relaxers and Concerning Link to Cancer

Over the past five years, extensive studies in the United States have explored the potential association between cancer and hair products, specifically focusing on hormone-dependent cancers like breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

A recent investigation conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicated an increased risk of uterine cancer among women who use chemical hair straightening products.

The study found that women who frequently utilize hair straighteners face more than double the likelihood of being diagnosed with uterine cancer. It was based on data from the Sister Study, which had 33,497 U.S. women tracked for about 11 years.

While the doubling of risk is concerning, it’s crucial to contextualize this information, considering that uterine cancer is relatively rare. The research highlighted that approximately 1.64 out of every 100 women who never used hair straightening products may develop uterine cancer by 70 years old. In contrast, for frequent users, the risk increased to over 4 out of every 100 women.

The study did not specifically examine differences by race in the link between straightener usage and uterine cancer. However, it was noted that negative impacts could be more considerable for African-American women, given their higher reported rates of usage.

Approximately 60% of participants reporting straightener use were self-identified Black women. The study underscored the need for more research to confirm these findings in diverse populations, explore potential contributions to health disparities, and identify specific chemicals that may heighten cancer risk in women.

Legal Complications

Numerous lawsuits, such as the hair relaxer lawsuit alleging the development of health conditions, including uterine cancer, breast cancer, and uterine fibroids due to the use of hair relaxers, have been filed in various jurisdictions. These related cases have been brought together as a group (known as multidistrict litigation or MDL) in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Unlike class action lawsuits where any settlement is distributed collectively, TorHoerman Law notes that in an MDL, any resolution would be given out individually taking into account each person’s specific situation and claim. 

The consolidated lawsuit involves victims who have experienced adverse health effects from toxic chemicals in hair relaxers manufactured by multiple companies.

A number of cosmetic manufacturers are listed as defendants in the legal cases linking hair straightening products to cancer risk.

The companies named include L’Oreal, Softsheen-Carson (known for Optimum Relaxer), Dark & Lovely, Just For Me, Motions Hair, ORS Hair Care (produced by Namaste Laboratories, LLC), and African Pride (part of the Godrej Group).

The claimants allege that these companies knowingly released products containing cancerous chemicals and failed to warn users about the potential risks, particularly the risk of uterine cancer associated with their products.

In conclusion, while hair relaxers have been a popular choice for smoothing hair textures for many decades, recent research increasingly points to potentially serious health risks associated with their use.

The doubling of uterine cancer risk found among frequent users is highly concerning, especially for Black women, who make up a large percentage of consumers. Many experts recommend limiting or avoiding straightening products and reading labels carefully to avoid ingredients like sodium hydroxide that are harsher on the body.

As legal cases against manufacturers move forward, more transparency around product safety is crucial so that consumers, especially those in high-risk groups, can make truly informed choices about the hair products they use and potential long-term health tradeoffs.

Overall, this research highlights the need for safer, natural alternatives for straightening textures without compromising health down the line.