For years, countless women have been concerned about the cancer-causing chemicals contained in hair straighteners and hair relaxers—and many have sought out hair straightener lawyers and filed legal action.

Now it looks like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking notice.

According to a recent report by CNN, the agency is planning to propose a ban on many of these products. Specifically, the proposed rule would prohibit the sale of hair-straightening products that contain formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, like methylene or glycol.

Recent Studies Show the Connection Between Hair Straightening Products and Cancer

According to government studies published in 2019 and 2022, women who use chemical hair straighteners and other common hair products have an increased risk of developing breast cancer and uterine cancer, a condition closely related to endometriosis. Exposure can occur in the home or salon, or through work in the hairstyling industry. These hair straightening, smoothing, and relaxing products remain on store shelves and are used in salons and at home every day.

Dangerous Ingredients in Hair Straightening Products

  • Formaldehyde
    According to the FDA, most hair straightening, hair smoothing, and hair relaxing procedures produce formaldehyde gas. Formaldehyde has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can also cause other health issues, like respiratory problems, headaches, skin irritation, and more.
  • Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
    Commonly known as lye, sodium hydroxide is used in hair straighteners and other common hair products to break down the protein bonds in hair. It is highly corrosive and can cause skin burns, throat irritation, severe eye damage, and other health problems.
  • Ethanolamine Thioglycolate (Thioglycoloic Acid)
    Also referred to as thioglycolic acid, ethanolamine thioglycolate is used in hair straighteners, smoothers, and relaxers to help break down the protein bonds in hair. It can cause severe chemical burns, eye injuries, and systemic toxicity.

Potential Health Problems

The toxins in hair straighteners and other common hair products can cause the following health problems:

  • Uterine cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Other cancers
  • Endometriosis
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Asthma and other respiratory problems
  • Throat irritation
  • Persistent cough
  • Nervous system problems
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Eye irritation
  • Vision problems
  • Chemical burns
  • Dermatitis, rashes, and other skin irritations
  • And more

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured by Hair Straightening, Hair Relaxing, or Similar Products?

If you or a loved one has developed hair straighteners cancer or a similar injury, contact the Roach Law Firm’s hair straightening lawyers today. Our attorneys will investigate your claim and help you gather all evidence necessary to move your case forward.

Our Record Speaks for Itself

The Roach Law Firm’s hair straightening lawyers have won judgments and reached settlements totaling billions of dollars over the years, for clients just like you. They have participated in the following landmark cases:

  • $730 Million Truck Accident Verdict
    In 2021, Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach won $730 million in a case arising from a Texas truck accident, the fourth-largest jury verdict in the United States and third-largest in Texas that year. The case was filed by the family of East Texas resident Toni Combest, a 73-year-old great-grandmother who was killed in a collision with an oversize-cargo truck hauling a propeller for a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine.
  • Lone Star Steel Litigation
    Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach represented thousands of steel workers at the Lone Star Steel Mill when they began to suffer from breathing problems and cancer. Roach successfully prosecuted the Lone Star Steel Litigation against some of the most skilled and expensive lawyers in the country for over a decade, ultimately winning $90 million for the plaintiffs.
  • Red River Army Depot Litigation
    When workers at the Red River Army Depot in Northeast Texas began to suffer from diseases caused by exposure to rubber products in the workplace, Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach fought for their rights and recovered $47 million on their behalf.
  • The State of Texas Tobacco Litigation
    In 1995, Roach Law Firm Partner Nelson J. Roach and his former law firm were among a group selected by the State of Texas to prosecute the state’s claims against the tobacco industry. Roach and his team members won $17 billion for the state, setting a record for the largest settlement of a single legal case in U.S. history.

No Fees Unless You Win

The Roach Law Firm operates on a contingency basis, meaning we are paid only if we win your case. We charge no upfront fees for filing your defective medical device lawsuit, and we will not bill you for any expenses while it is pending.

Next Steps

If you or one of your loved ones have suffered a serious injury or death resulting from a hair straightener, hair relaxer, or a similar product, call us at (903) 645-7333 or fill out the electronic form on this page. One of our hair straightening lawyers will be in touch with you as soon as possible.