For decades, hair stylists and cosmetologists have helped their clients feel confident, beautiful, and empowered. But today, many of these professionals are discovering that the products they used every day in their salons—especially chemical hair straighteners and relaxers—may have silently put their own health at risk.
Starting in 2022, people who have received salon treatments are filing lawsuits against hair product manufacturers. These lawsuits claim that the chemicals in their products, especially hair relaxing products, are interfering with their bodies’ hormonal balance and causing medical problems such as uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.
Until fairly recently, most of the injured plaintiffs have been women, usually women of color, who have been relaxing their hair for decades. We have been following these cases for years, and we’re seeing a new surge of cases that appear to be very strong in this fight against dangerous products.
Salon Workers Are Facing the Same Cancer Diagnoses As Their Clients
In 2025, a significant trend emerged in the national hair relaxer cancer litigation. Women who work in the beauty and salon industry are filing a wave of lawsuits claiming hair care products have caused their cancers. These occupational exposure claims are now seen as some of the most compelling cases in the entire multidistrict litigation (MDL).
That’s because salon workers are often exposed to these chemicals more frequently, more intensely, and for far longer periods than the average consumer who receives these treatments every few months. If you’re a hair stylist or cosmetologist and have been diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or another hormone-related condition, you may have a strong legal claim—possibly stronger than most consumers.
Our mission is to explain why these products are dangerous, how to file a hair straightener lawsuit, and what kind of compensation is available. For more specific information about your unique circumstances and legal rights, reach out to a dedicated dangerous product lawyer right away.
Key Takeaways About Why Salon Professionals are Filing Claims
- Salon workers face higher exposure to the harmful chemicals in hair relaxers, putting them at greater risk of cancer.
- These occupational exposure claims are considered some of the strongest cases in the MDL.
- Lawsuits focus on manufacturers’ failure to warn stylists about long-term health risks despite knowing the dangers.
- Compensation may cover medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and career loss.
- Dolman Law Group is accepting stylist and salon worker claims and offers free case reviews.
Why Stylists Face a Higher Cancer Risk Than Consumers
While most consumers apply chemical relaxers a few times a year, professional stylists often apply, handle, and inhale these products on a daily basis. That repeated exposure adds up quickly, especially when protective gloves, ventilation systems, or ingredient transparency were missing.
Daily Exposure in the Workplace
Hair relaxers are not like ordinary beauty products. They often contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—substances that interfere with the body’s natural hormone functions. These include:
- Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Bisphenols
When stylists use these products in a salon environment, they are often exposed through:
- Direct skin contact while mixing and applying products
- Inhalation of fumes released during chemical processing, especially when using heat tools
- Absorption through the scalp and hands, especially before gloves were standard
Long-Term, Repetitive Use Makes a Big Difference
Cancers like uterine and ovarian cancer typically develop over long periods of exposure. This is what makes occupational claims so strong. Stylists may have years or even decades of cumulative chemical contact, often beginning early in their careers.
Some professionals started using these products as teenagers, applying relaxers to family members before ever working in a formal salon. Many continued the practice for years with little to no awareness of the potential health consequences.
This prolonged and repeated exposure—often in poorly ventilated environments—strengthens the link between these products and later health issues. Studies have also shown that extended exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals can lead to serious medical issues and provide support for these legal claims.
Scientific Support for Occupational Exposure Claims
Research supporting these lawsuits has gained national attention. A 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that frequent use of chemical hair straighteners more than doubled the risk of uterine cancer. While that study focused on consumers, plaintiffs’ experts in the ongoing litigation have emphasized that salon workers may face even greater risk due to their occupational contact with these same products.
Many hair relaxers marketed under popular brand names have been found to contain or release toxic chemicals. Several of these brands and companies have been named as defendants in the pending litigation, including:
- Dark & Lovely – L’Oréal USA / SoftSheen-Carson
- ORS Olive Oil – Namaste Laboratories / Dabur International
- Just for Me – Strength of Nature / Godrej Consumer Products
- Revlon Realistic – Revlon Inc.
- Motions – Strength of Nature / Godrej (acquired from Unilever)
- Optimum – L’Oréal USA / SoftSheen-Carson
Stylists who regularly used or applied these products to clients—especially before 2020—may have unknowingly exposed themselves to dangerous levels of chemical exposure.
Do You Have a Claim as a Hair Stylist or Cosmetologist?
If you’ve worked as a professional stylist or salon worker and later developed a hormone-related cancer or other condition, you may qualify to join this growing litigation. The key factors we look for in these cases include:
A History of Occupational Exposure
You may have a valid claim if:
- You regularly applied or handled chemical relaxers at work
- You worked in salons, beauty schools, or home-based settings
- You used these products for several years, especially before protective guidelines were in place
A Related Diagnosis
Hair relaxer lawsuits focus primarily on:
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Other hormone-related reproductive issues
If you’ve received one of these diagnoses, and especially if you had no known family history or genetic predisposition, your exposure through work may be a significant factor.
What Losses Can You Recover in a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
Victims of occupational exposure may be entitled to financial compensation for both tangible and intangible losses. Your potential recovery may include:
Economic Damages – Losses That Can Be Proven With Documentation
- Medical bills (past, present, and future) related to cancer-related care, surgeries, treatment, medications, and recovery
- Lost income during treatment or recovery
- Reduced earning ability if you can’t return to your career
- Job retraining or career change costs
Non-Economic Damages – Intangible, Non-Monetary Losses That Are Still Valuable
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Loss of fertility or reproductive capacity
Punitive Damages – Meant to Punish Horrible Behavior
In some cases, plaintiffs may seek punitive damages to punish companies for failing to warn stylists of the known dangers despite having the resources to investigate and test their products more thoroughly. These damages are not awarded very often.
What Makes Salon Professionals’ Cases So Strong?
Legal analysts and plaintiffs’ attorneys widely agree: occupational exposure claims are among the most persuasive in the entire MDL. Here’s why:
- Higher chemical exposure = stronger causation: The more often you’re exposed, the easier it is to prove that the product contributed to your condition.
- Clear work history: Many stylists can demonstrate years of salon work, often with records, witnesses, or photos.
- Financial impact: Illness may force professionals to give up their trade entirely, leading to major income loss.
- Emotional toll: Many stylists feel betrayed. They dedicated their careers to helping others, only to suffer life-altering diagnoses from products they trusted.
These cases show a clear pattern… the companies failed to protect the people most exposed to their products while profiting from their silence.
How to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit If You Work in a Salon
Taking legal action may feel overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with a serious illness. But the product liability lawyers at Dolman Law Group can help simplify the process.
Here’s what you can do now to get started:
1. Document Your Work History
List the salons you worked in, the products you used, and the years you were exposed. Even if records are limited, your memory is a good starting point.
2. Gather Medical Records
If you’ve been diagnosed with a qualifying condition, request your medical history from your doctor or treatment center. We can also help organize this for your case.
3. Contact a Law Firm You Trust
At Dolman Law Group, we understand the complexity of mass tort cases and the sensitivity of occupational exposure claims. We offer free consultations and only get paid if we recover compensation for you. There’s no risk and no cost to learn more during a free consultation.
FAQs: Hair Relaxer Lawsuits for Salon Professionals
Can I file a lawsuit if I only applied relaxers for clients, not myself?
Yes. These claims are based on exposure during use—not personal application. Handling these chemicals regularly is likely enough to support a claim.
What if I stopped working as a stylist years ago?
You may still qualify. Hormone-related cancers often take years to develop, and many plaintiffs stopped using these products long before their diagnosis.
Do I have to prove which product caused my cancer?
Not exactly. If you can identify the types of products or brands you used regularly, that’s usually enough. The lawsuit includes multiple manufacturers with similar formulations.
What if I didn’t wear gloves or didn’t know the product was dangerous?
That actually strengthens your case. Lack of warnings and inadequate safety guidance are key allegations in this litigation. The product companies have a legal obligation to manufacture, market, and sell products that will not harm consumers. These cases allege the hair care product makers breached their duty to the public.
Will this cost me anything up front?
No. Dolman Law Group works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact Dolman Law Group Today to Learn More
If you’ve dedicated your career to helping others feel confident, but now face a cancer diagnosis from products you worked with every day, you may be eligible to file a hair straightener cancer lawsuit against the companies responsible for harming you.
Dolman Law Group is actively seeking hairstylists and salon professionals to join the ongoing hair relaxer litigation. We understand the science, the law, and what’s at stake. And we’re ready to help you fight back and recover the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at (866) 458-3982 or fill out our online contact form for a free, confidential consultation.
