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In a groundbreaking legal campaign that is attracting global attention, over 8,000 women in the United States are taking a stand against major hair care manufacturers, with L’Oréal USA, SoftSheen, Revlon, and Namaste Laboratories LLC facing allegations that their hair relaxer products have elevated users' risk of developing uterine cancer. The ripple effects of this legal challenge have reached South Africa, where similar products are on the market and consumer safety authorities are closely monitoring the proceedings overseas.
The American lawsuits allege decades of use and a potential link between the chemical compositions found in hair relaxers and a slew of health problems, from respiratory issues to ovarian and uterine cancer. The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. is also considering bans on particular hair-straightening substances due to these associated health threats.
South Africa’s consumer rights groups are vigilant, as products by divisions of the implicated companies are available in the local market. Research has revealed that some hair relaxers sold in South Africa have pH levels that are comparable to those of household drain cleaners, a fact that exposes consumers to potentially harmful and corrosive chemicals.
In particular, the focus on hair relaxers heightened after the US National Institutes of Health reported a study in October 2022 linking the use of chemical hair-straightening products to an increased risk of uterine cancer. The study's findings are significant, especially given the prevalence of hair relaxer use among black women; an estimated 80% of black women in the UK reportedly use hair relaxers regularly, according to a statement from UK law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper.
The U.S. legal challenges, some of which have been consolidated, are based on allegations stretching far beyond uterine cancer, covering other types of cancer, fibroids, miscarriages, and preterm delivery, all purportedly connected to the use of hair relaxer products. The defendants in these cases have been accused of leveraging anti-black beauty standards and disregarding the health implications of their products, which are said to contain harmful chemicals.
Notably, targeted marketing towards black communities has been a significant element of the lawsuits, with some companies accused of aiming sales tactics at children to guarantee future consumer loyalty, despite alleged knowledge of the carcinogenic properties of their products.
While no widespread complaints from South African users have come to light so far, the implications of the U.S. cases are being taken seriously. South Africa’s National Consumer Commission has not received any grievances about hair relaxers, but the Commission and consumer rights advocates are closely monitoring the situation, given the potential health implications.
The legal battles underway in the U.S. and the scrutiny it has generated globally reinforce an important dialogue on consumer protection, corporate accountability, and the cultural and health implications of beauty products. As more information comes to light through the U.S. court proceedings, it becomes increasingly clear that this issue is far-reaching, affecting consumers across continents, including South Africa.