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Hair Dye Cancer Lawsuits

Cosmetologists and salon employees are filing hair dye cancer lawsuits against product manufacturers after medical studies have shown a strong link between repeated and prolonged exposure to hair dye chemicals and a higher risk of developing bladder cancer and breast cancer.

Hair dyes have been found to contain known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, such as formaldehyde, 4-Aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) and Ortho-Toluidine, all of which are classified as human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP).

As a result, licensed cosmetologists and hair stylists are now pursuing hair dye cancer lawsuits against product manufacturers for their failure to adequately warn about the potential health risks associated with these hazardous substances.

Who is Eligible for a Hair Dye Lawsuit?

Financial compensation and settlement benefits may be available through a hair dye bladder cancer lawsuit or breast cancer lawsuit for:

• Cosmetologists
• Hair stylists
• Hairdressers
• Hair colorists
• Hair technicians
• Other salon professionals

Submit information about your potential claim for a hair dye cancer lawyer to review. Consultations are always free, and cases are handled on a contingency fee basis.

Hair Dye Cancer Lawsuit Updates 2025

• March 11, 2025 Update: A California judge is set to meet with lawyers involved in the hair dye bladder cancer lawsuit filed by Hector Corvera, a licensed cosmetologist, on May 5, 2025. This meeting will address the status of Corvera’s claim that his bladder cancer diagnosis was caused by long-term exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in professional hair dye products.
• March 1, 2025 Update: Following the first hair dye cancer lawsuit filed earlier this year, lawyers across the U.S. are further evaluating the science linking hair dye chemical exposure to bladder and breast cancer, and investigating claims for salon professionals.
• February 1, 2025 Update: One of the first known hair dye cancer lawsuits was filed by Hector Corvera, a licensed cosmetologist, in the Superior Court of California for Los Angeles County on January 23, 2025. The plaintiff, who began using professional hair dye products in 1981, alleges that his bladder cancer diagnosis in June 2023 was directly caused by decades of exposure to hazardous chemicals in these dyes. He claims that routine activities such as mixing, applying, and cleaning up the dyes contributed to his condition.

Hair Dye Cancer Risks

For decades, permanent hair dyes have been widely used in professional salons, with many cosmetologists and hair stylists assuming they are safe. However, manufacturers often fail to disclose that these products contain endocrine-disrupting and potentially cancer-causing chemicals, which can pose serious health risks with repeated exposure.

Permanent (oxidative) dyes work by chemically altering the hair shaft, allowing the color to last until new growth replaces it. Often referred to as coal-tar dyes, they contain colorless compounds like aromatic amines and phenols, which react with hydrogen peroxide to form pigments. Darker shades require higher concentrations of these chemicals, increasing exposure levels.

Studies have highlighted concerns over both semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes, particularly darker formulations, due to their elevated levels of potentially carcinogenic substances.

Hair Dye Chemicals Linked to Cancer

Permanent hair dyes can contain several toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, putting salon workers and long-term users at risk. Some of these potentially cancer causing substances include:

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How Hair Dye Exposure Can Lead to Cancer

Repeated and prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals in hair dyes—such as formaldehyde, PPD, 4-ABP, and ortho-toluidine—poses a serious health risk to salon professionals. These chemicals are absorbed through the skin, inhaled as fumes, and accumulate in the body over time, increasing the likelihood of bladder and breast cancer.

Absorption Through Skin

Salon workers frequently come into direct contact with PPD, aromatic amines, 4-ABP, and ortho-toluidine while applying permanent hair dyes. Even when wearing gloves, these carcinogens can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, leading to long-term exposure.

Once absorbed, formaldehyde and aromatic amines have been linked to both bladder and breast cancer. These chemicals can accumulate in body tissues, increasing the risk of DNA mutations and abnormal cell growth. The long hours and repeated exposure that hairdressers experience over the years make them particularly vulnerable to these harmful effects.

Inhalation of Toxic Fumes

During hair dye application, formaldehyde, aromatic amines, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air, exposing salon workers to harmful fumes. Poor ventilation in many salons amplifies this risk, especially for stylists performing multiple dye treatments daily.

Studies have linked inhalation of airborne formaldehyde, 4-ABP, and ortho-toluidine to bladder and breast cancer. These chemicals can enter the respiratory system, disrupt hormone function, and cause inflammation, leading to cellular damage and tumor formation.

DNA Damage and Cancer Development

Toxic chemicals in hair dyes, such as PPD, formaldehyde, and aromatic amines, interact with DNA in exposed cells, increasing the risk of genetic mutations. Salon professionals, who handle these dyes regularly, are at a heightened risk of long-term cellular damage, leading to the development of cancerous tumors.

Chronic exposure to these DNA-damaging chemicals has been strongly associated with bladder cancer, as mutations in bladder cells can trigger uncontrolled growth. Additionally, hormonal disruption from endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in dyes may contribute to hormone-related breast cancer.

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Hair Dye Bladder Cancer Side Effects

A growing body of research has linked chronic exposure to hair dye chemicals with an increased risk of bladder cancer among salon professionals.

In a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that hairdressers face a 30% higher risk of developing bladder cancer compared to the general population, stating:

 

The study highlighted how hair dye products contain aromatic amines and other carcinogenic compounds, which are often absorbed through the skin and inhaled as fumes. Researchers emphasized that long-term occupational exposure to these chemicals for salon workers can significantly contribute to the risk of developing bladder cancer risk.

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Hair Dye Breast Cancer Side Effects

Salon professionals who frequently handle permanent hair dyes are exposed to higher levels of harmful chemicals compared to those who use these products occasionally.

According to the National Cancer Institute, long-term exposure to darker hair dyes, which contain higher concentrations of carcinogenic compounds, has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Hair Dye Exposure and Increased Breast Cancer Risk

While studies often focus on individuals who dye their hair, salon workers experience greater exposure due to repeated skin contact and airborne inhalation of toxic chemicals over years of work. A study published in Carcinogenesis found:

• 51% Higher Breast Cancer Risk: Black women who frequently used dark hair dyes faced a 51% increased likelihood of developing breast cancer.
• 4x Greater Risk with Hair Dye & Straighteners: White women who used both hair dyes and hair straightening products were 2.4 times more likely to develop breast cancer.
• Increased Risk of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: White women who regularly used dark hair dyes had a significantly higher chance of developing this hormone-driven cancer.

Because salon professionals handle these products daily, their cumulative exposure is significantly higher, placing them at even greater risk than the general population.

Permanent Hair Dye Breast Cancer Study

The Sister Study, conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), analyzed 46,709 women to assess the connection between hair dye use and breast cancer risk. Findings showed:

• Women who used permanent hair dye within the year before enrolling had a 9% increased risk of developing breast cancer.
• Women who used permanent dyes every 5 to 8 weeks or more had a 60% increased risk of breast cancer.

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Who Is The Hair Dye Cancer Lawsuit Against?

Hair dye lawsuits over breast cancer and bladder cancer side effects are being filed against the hair dye manufacturers for failing to provide sufficient warnings about the cancer risks linked to the chemicals in their hair dye products.

Lawsuits are being filed against multiple hair dye manufacturers, including:

• L’Oréal USA, Inc.
• L’Oréal USA Products, Inc.
• Matrix Professional Hair
• Redken
• Wella Professionals
• Coty, Inc.
• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. a/k/a KKR & Co., Inc.
• Clairol
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Procter & Gamble Hair Care, LLC
• Joico
• Henkel
• John Paul Mitchell Systems
• Chuckles, Inc., d/b/a All-Nutrient

Hair Dye Products Named In Cancer Lawsuits

• Matrix – (L’Oréal USA, Inc.)
• Redken – (L’Oréal USA, Inc.)
• Color Gel – (L’Oréal USA, Inc.; L’Oréal USA Products, Inc.)
• So Color – (L’Oréal USA, Inc.; L’Oréal USA Products, Inc.)
• Wella – (Coty, Inc.)
• Color Charm – (Coty, Inc.)
• LumiShine – (Coty, Inc.)
• Clairol Professional – (Coty, Inc.)
• Paul Mitchell – (John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS))
• Color XG – (John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS))
• The Color – (John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS))
• Joico – (Henkel a/k/a Henkel AG & Co. KGaA)
• All-Nutrient – (Chuckles, Inc., d/b/a All-Nutrient)

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Allegations Raised In Hair Dye Cancer Lawsuits

Salon professionals, including stylists, hairdressers, and cosmetologists who have have been diagnosed with bladder or breast cancer after prolonged exposure to hair dyes are now pursuing legal action against manufacturers for:

• Failing to disclose the health risks associated with long-term exposure to hair dye chemicals.
• Failing to inform salon workers about protective measures, such as the use of gloves, masks, and proper ventilation, to minimize exposure.
• Not reformulating hair products to reduce carcinogenic compounds, despite mounting evidence of associated health risks.

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Hair Dye Lawsuit Example

Cosmetologist Bladder Cancer Lawsuit

Hector Corvera filed a hair dye bladder cancer lawsuit in the Superior Court of California for Los Angeles County on January 23, 2025, claiming that his bladder cancer diagnosis was directly caused by decades of exposure to hazardous chemicals in professional hair dyes, which he used regularly throughout his career as a licensed cosmetologist.

Corvera claims he began using professional hair dye products in 1981 and continued applying them to clients for over 42 years. He claims that his routine and prolonged exposure to the chemicals in these dyes, particularly while mixing, applying, and cleaning up residual dye from tools and surfaces, led to his bladder cancer diagnosis in June 2023.

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Have a Hair Dye Lawyer Review Your Case

Hair dye cancer lawsuits are being investigated for cosmetologists, hair stylists, hair dressers, hair colorists or other licensed salon professionals that were routinely exposed to chemicals in permanent hair dye, and later diagnosed with bladder cancer or breast cancer.

Lawyers provide free consultations and claim evaluations to help salon professionals throughout the United States determine whether they may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries.

There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery or hair dye lawsuit payout is obtained in your case.

Find Out If You Qualify For A Hair Dye Cancer Lawsuit