Risk of cancer for women who use Optimum Care chemical hair relaxers
The National Institutes of Health's Sister Study found that long-term, regular use of chemical hair relaxers can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Although SoftSheen-Carson's Optimum chemical hair relaxers are marketed as safe hair straightening products, they contain compounds classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. According to the NIH Sister Study, these chemicals can disturb the endocrine system, and long-term, frequent exposure to them can cause severe health conditions such as ovarian and uterine cancer.
Some of the Optimum Care Hair Relaxers marketed to African American women:
- Optimum Salon Haircare
- Optimum Smooth Professional Optimum Multi-mineral Relaxer Regular
- SoftSheen-Carson Optimum Salon Hair Care Defy Breakage No-Lye Relaxer
Optimum Care hair relaxer lawsuits
According to the Sister Study's initial results, the mix of harmful chemicals in hair relaxer products can significantly increase the risk of uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. The study's publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute immediately prompted several toxic hair relaxer lawsuits filed against L'Oreal and its subsidiary SoftSheen-Carson. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that the cosmetics companies' hair relaxers contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens. Women who filed toxic hair relaxer lawsuits against the Optimum Care hair relaxers' manufacturer claim that the products are promoted as safe without warning about the health risks of exposure to the harmful chemical compounds.
