Hair Stylists Bladder Cancer, Breast Cancer Risks Are Now Leading to Lawsuits Against Makers of Hair Coloring Products

Hair dye manufacturers now face a threat of new litigation brought by hair stylists and cosmetologists nationwide, as a growing body of research suggests that exposure to chemicals in certain professional salon products may increase the risk of both bladder cancer and breast cancer, even when all of the safety instructions are followed.

Concerns about the safety of chemicals used in certain hair products first gained widespread attention in 2022, following the publication of a pivotal study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which found that women who regularly received hair relaxer treatments had a significantly higher risk of developing uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Researchers identified a number of endocrine disrupting chemicals contained in the hair relaxers, many of which manufacturers failed to previously disclose on the product labels.

This research has resulted in a wave of hair relaxer cancer lawsuits being filed by women who used these products, claiming the manufacturers failed to warn about the risks. Now, a similar growing body of medical research has begun to emerge, establishing a link between hair stylists’ occupational exposure to hair dye chemicals and an increased risk of bladder cancer and breast cancer.

As a result, cosmetologists, hair stylists and other licensed salon professionals who have developed breast cancer or bladder cancer are now pursuing hair dye cancer lawsuits against the manufacturers of the products, claiming the companies failed to adequately warn salon workers of the hair dye cancer exposure risks.

Hair Stylists Routinely Exposed to Hair Dye Chemicals

Hair dye products, including permanent, semi-permanent and temporary color treatments, are widely used in salons. However, these products contain a variety of chemical compounds designed to alter hair color by penetrating the hair shaft or coating the strands. Permanent hair dyes, in particular, rely on oxidative reactions involving ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and aromatic amines, some of which have been identified as potential carcinogens.

Due to the nature of their work, hairstylists frequently have direct skin contact with these chemical dyes during application. Despite the use of gloves, prolonged exposure to even trace amounts of these substances through absorption or inhalation increases the risk of harmful effects.

Additionally, the process of coloring hair requires the use of various utensils, such as brushes, mixing bowls, applicator bottles and foils. These tools must be cleaned and reused regularly, further increasing a stylist’s exposure to chemical residues. Hair washing, combing, and blow-drying post-application also contribute to the inhalation of airborne particles, exacerbating long-term exposure and the risk of developing certain cancers.

While individuals having hair dye applied to their head only have limited exposure on a periodic basis, the hair stylists’ bladder cancer and breast cancer risks are substantially heightened due to the repeated exposure on a near daily basis.

Hair Dye Bladder Cancer Risks for Stylists

A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology was among the first to establish a link between hair dye exposure and bladder cancer, finding that hair stylists have a 1.3 times higher risk of developing bladder cancer compared to the general population.

After reviewing 247 research papers, the study highlighted chronic exposure to toxic chemicals in hair dyes as a key occupational hazard for hair stylists.

The study, along with supporting research, has demonstrated how aromatic amines and other carcinogens commonly found in hair dyes contribute to an increased risk of bladder cancer. Researchers have emphasized multiple exposure pathways that place hair stylists at significantly higher risk.

How Hair Stylists are Exposed To Hair Dye Chemicals

• Repeated Skin Absorption: Even with gloves, frequent contact with hair dye chemicals allows carcinogens like p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and aromatic amines to enter the bloodstream. These substances have been linked to bladder cancer in both human and animal studies.
• Inhalation of Chemical Fumes: During application, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released, exposing stylists to respiratory hazards and increasing bladder cancer risk. Poor ventilation exacerbates this exposure.
• Chronic Exposure to Aromatic Amines: Compounds such as o-phenylenediamine and 4-chloro-o-phenylenediamine, found in many permanent hair dyes, have demonstrated carcinogenic properties in animal studies.
• Use of Ammonia and Resorcinol: Ammonia, used to open the hair cuticle, facilitates the penetration of harmful dyes, while resorcinol, a coloring agent, has been linked to endocrine disruption and potential cancer risks.
• Lack of Manufacturer Warnings: Many brands fail to disclose the long-term cancer risks associated with their products, leaving stylists unknowingly exposed.

Researchers emphasized that improving salon ventilation systems and implementing hygiene measures to reduce exposure could lower the risk. However, lawsuits now allege that hair stylists and salons were unaware of the need to take these steps, since manufacturers have worked for decades to conceal information about the potential bladder cancer and breast cancer risks from hair dye products.

Hair Dye Breast Cancer Risks

In another study published in the medical journal Carcinogenesis, researchers found that Black women who frequently used dark hair dyes had a 51% increased risk of breast cancer, while white women who used both hair dyes and hair straightening products had a 2.4 times higher risk of developing breast cancer.

The study, and other supporting research has raised concerns over how permanent hair dyes, particularly darker shades, contain higher concentrations of endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic compounds that can increase breast cancer risk, including:

• Frequent Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Resorcinol, commonly used in hair dyes, has been linked to hormonal imbalances that can contribute to the development of breast cancer.
• Prolonged Contact with Aromatic Amines and PPD: Both p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and aromatic amines have been associated with DNA mutations and abnormal cell growth, raising concerns about their role in hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer.
• Higher Risks with Dark Hair Dyes: Studies suggest that darker shades contain greater amounts of carcinogenic compounds, including o-phenylenediamine and 4-chloro-o-phenylenediamine, which are more potent in altering DNA.
• Occupational Cumulative Exposure: Stylists handle these dyes daily, significantly increasing their long-term cancer risk, particularly when formaldehyde-releasing compounds are used in formulations.

Further supporting this link, the Sister Study by the National Institute of Health, which analyzed 46,709 women, found that women who used permanent dyes every five to eight weeks or more had a 60% increased risk of breast cancer.

In a study published in The BMJ, researchers analyzed data from over 117,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and found an increased risk of certain hormone receptor-negative breast cancers, particularly among women with naturally light hair, suggesting that cumulative exposure to hair dye chemicals may contribute to breast cancer development.

In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that women who regularly used permanent hair dyes had a 9% higher risk of breast cancer, with Black women facing a 60% increased risk compared to an 8% increase for white women. The findings suggest that certain chemicals in hair dyes may disrupt hormones or damage DNA

Given that salon professionals are exposed to these products regularly over years, their cumulative exposure is likely much higher than individual users, reinforcing concerns about the occupational risks they face.

Potential for a Hair Dye Lawsuit Multidistrict Litigation

A growing number of hair stylists, cosmetologists and other salon workers are now pursuing hair dye bladder cancer and breast cancer lawsuits, each involving similar allegations that manufacturers failed to warn consumers and salon professionals about the risks associated with long-term exposure to many popular products.

As the size and scope of the litigation continues to expand, it is likely that the federal court system may establish yet another multidistrict litigation (MDL) for claims being pursued against L’Oreal, Clairol, Redken and other major manufacturers, centralizing the cases before one judge for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings, similar to how the hair relaxer lawsuits are currently being managed.

MDLs are commonly used in mass tort cases, where numerous plaintiffs have suffered similar injuries from the same product, streamlining pretrial proceedings and improving efficiency in handling complex litigation. Due to the widespread use of permanent hair dyes and the increasing body of research linking their ingredients to cancer risks, a centralized MDL would allow for coordinated discovery and consistent rulings across cases.

As hair dye cancer lawyers continue to investigate and file claims in U.S. District Courts nationwide, the risk increases that conflicting pretrial rulings or schedules will be issued by different judges.

Through an MDL, the judge presiding over the litigation often establishes a “bellwether” process, where the parties prepare a smaller group of representative claims for early trial dates, to help gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that may be repeated throughout the litigation. However, if the parties fail to reach an agreement for hair stylist cancer settlements following the bellwether trials, each claim may be remanded back to the individual federal district court where it was initially brought for an individual trial date.