Full Breakdown
Arizona Sues L’Oréal Over Alleged Cancer Risks From Hair-Relaxer Products
By Drooid · · How we work
The Lawsuit and Its Claims
On September 11, Arizona Attorney General Kristin Mayes filed a consumer-fraud suit in Maricopa County Superior Court against L’Oréal SA, its U.S. subsidiary L’Oréal USA, Inc., and the SoftSheen brand family. The complaint alleges that the companies marketed chemical hair-relaxer products—sold under names such as Dark and Lovely and Optimum—primarily to African-American women and, in some cases, to children, without warning about the alleged risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. Arizona seeks monetary penalties, compensation for pain, suffering and medical costs, and a court order requiring L’Oréal to add cancer-risk warnings or cease sales of the products.
Background & Context
Hair-relaxer products chemically straighten textured hair by breaking down natural protein bonds. Over the past decades, epidemiological research has linked repeated use of these alkaline formulations to increased incidence of hormone-related cancers. A 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that women who used such relaxers several times a year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared with non-users. The study did not establish a causal relationship but highlighted a statistical association that has fueled litigation nationwide.
Data & Statistics
- >12,000 individual lawsuits alleging similar cancer claims have been consolidated in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceeding before a federal court in Chicago.
- The NIH 2022 analysis found a >2-fold increase in uterine-cancer risk among frequent users of hair-relaxer products.
- The Arizona complaint cites “known or probable carcinogens” present in the formulations, referencing classifications that label certain chemicals as cancer-causing when applied to the scalp.
Official Statements & Responses
- A spokesperson for L’Oréal USA responded that the company conducts rigorous safety testing and maintains that the claims lack both legal and scientific merit.
- Revlon, another manufacturer named in the MDL, similarly denied any link between its hair-relaxer products and cancer.
Verbatim Quotes
- “L’Oréal knew or should have known about the dangers associated with these toxic hair straightening products,” — Kristin Mayes, arizona attorney
- “We have seen the devastating impact these products can have on women and their families. The consequences are real, and they can be life-changing,” — DiCello Levitt Founding Partner
What’s Next
The MDL in Chicago is scheduled to move toward trial, with court filings indicating that individual cases could begin in 2027. Arizona’s state-level suit proceeds independently, and the court will determine whether a statewide injunction requiring warning labels is warranted. Both parties have indicated that the litigation may continue for several years as additional scientific evidence and consumer-impact data are evaluated.
