ORS Olive Oil® Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

Lawsuits have been filed by women who used Olive Oil Hair Relaxers and developed serious health problems, such as cancer or uterine fibroids that needed surgery.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know used hair relaxers and was diagnosed with uterine cancer, breast cancer, fibroids, or endometriosis, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Studies Find Serious Health Risks From Hair Relaxers

A major study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in October 2022 found that women who used hair relaxers every 4 months were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to women who did not use relaxers.

Another study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2019 found a 30% increased risk of breast cancer for women who used hair relaxers at least every 5 to 8 weeks.

The researchers believe that hormonally-active chemicals in hair relaxers could be absorbed into the body through sores on the scalp, which could potentially lead to side effects, such as:

ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Filed in New York

In November 2022, a lawsuit was filed by Teresa S., a woman from New York who needed surgery to remove uterine fibroids after years of using hair relaxers, including Olive Oil Girls® and Motions®.

She said she first began using hair relaxers in 1988 to straighten her hair, and continued to use them frequently until 2014.

She claims that as a result of using hair relaxers, she developed uterine fibroids and needed a myomectomy in June 2021. The myomectomy was a surgery to remove her fibroids while preserving her uterus.

This has caused her to suffer “severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, suffering, and emotional distress,” the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit was filed against Strength Of Nature LLC, Godrej Consumer Products, Dabur USA, and Namaste Laboratories LLC.

The lawsuit was filed on November 21, 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York — Case Number 1:22-cv-07082.

What is ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer?

Organic Root Stimulator (ORS®) and ORS Olive Oil® are brands of hair relaxers that are enriched with olive oil. They are made by Namaste Laboratories LLC, a company owned by Dabur India Ltd.

Olive Oil Girls® is another hair relaxer brand that is also manufactured by Namaste Laboratories LLC and Dabur.

The manufacturer claims to “offer the most natural and chemical-free products to nourish your hair,” but like most hair relaxers on the market, ORS Olive Oil still contains chemicals that have been linked to serious health problems.

List of Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Products

ORS Olive Oil Creme Relaxer
ORS Professional Olive Oil No-Lye Relaxer
ORS Olive Oil No-Lye Hair Relaxer Kit
ORS Olive Oil New Growth Hair Relaxer
Olive Oil Mild Touch Relaxer
Olive Oil Built-In Protection No-Lye Relaxer (Extra Strength)
Olive Oil Professional Creme Relaxer (Extra Strength)
Olive Oil Girls No-Lye Conditioning Hair Relaxer System
And more

What Are Hair Relaxers?

Hair relaxers are marketed toward women to “tame” their ethnic hair by making it smooth and straight. The hair relaxing process can be done in a salon or barbershop, but many women simply buy a kit at a drugstore and do it themselves at home every few weeks or months.

How Do Hair Relaxers Work?

Hair relaxers contain chemicals that are applied to the base of the hair shaft. They are left in place for a period of time, where the chemicals break down the hair’s natural proteins and make it smoother. As new hair grows out of the scalp, it requires additional treatments (called “re-touches”) every 4 to 8 weeks.

What is the Problem?

The problem is that the chemicals in hair relaxers are harsh — much harsher than a typically hair-dye kit, for example. Women who use hair relaxers commonly suffer scalp burns, irritation, and sores, which can allow toxic chemicals to be absorbed into their body. Over time, a woman who frequently straightens her hair could absorb a lot of these chemicals, which is why experts are so concerned about health risks.

What Chemicals Are In Hair Relaxers?

Lye-based hair relaxers contain sodium hydroxide. No-lye hair relaxers may contain calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate. “Thio” relaxers contain thioglycolic acid salts. While no-lye relaxers are advertised to cause fewer scalp sores and burns, there is little evidence that the other chemicals in no-lye relaxers are any safer.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Carcinogens in Hair Relaxers

Hair relaxers also contain other chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been linked to health problems. In a typical hair relaxer, you might find a variety of hormonally-active or carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals, including:

Formaldehyde
Phthalates (may be disguised as “fragrance” or “perfume” on the ingredient list)
Parabens
DEHP
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Cyclosiloxanes
Diethanolamine
And more

Do I have an ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

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ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuit