Just For Me Lawsuit

Just for Me was the first hair relaxer marketed specifically for young Black and Brown girls. It was advertised as a safe, no-lye product that would not hurt kids’ sensitive scalps. However, it contains chemicals that make it toxic.

Strength of Nature Global, LLC began developing and marketing Just For Me in 1990. Godrej Consumer Products Limited acquired the Strength of Nature brand in 2016. Strength of Nature and Godrej claim that their hair relaxer products, including Just For Me, are safe and natural.

These alleged false claims and the company’s failure to warn consumers of the risks of using the product have led people to file hair straightener lawsuits against Strength of Nature Global, LLC. They seek damages for the serious harm they suffered as a result of frequent use of these hair straightening products.

Individual hair relaxer lawsuits are combined in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Illinois. The MDL consolidates cases which make similar allegations against relaxer products into one court. The Just for Me relaxer lawsuits allege the product is falsely marketed as being safer than other relaxers.

The lawsuits consolidated in MDL No. 3060 In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation. They allege Strength of Nature falsely claims it manufactures and sells hair relaxing products with no harsh chemicals. The products are also advertised as having “Built in Protection,” falsely implying they can be used safely. Over 8,000 pending claims are in the hair relaxer products MDL.

Plaintiffs allege that the defendants misrepresented the harmful aspects of their hair relaxing products and deliberately targeted them toward young women of color. The complaint states the advertising takes advantage of centuries of racial discrimination and emphasizes the importance of having straight hair.

The Just For Me relaxer lawsuits make the following claims regarding the hair relaxer products:

• They are defective and harmful to health.
• They should not be promoted or available for purchase in the United States
• They fail to provide sufficient warnings of the dangers related to their use

The plaintiffs allege that they were exposed to toxic hair relaxing products without warning of the associated dangers. They say the products were falsely marketed as botanicals that are nourishing, organic and safe. The lawsuits allege the Just for Me product labeling and packaging routinely includes images of women of color with smooth, straight hair. 

Strength of Nature and Godrej purposely markets its hair relaxer products for kids as containing “natural hair milk, coconut milk, shea butter, vitamin e and sunflower oil.” This implies that the product contains mostly natural ingredients, which it does not. The companies advertise the hair relaxers as strong, healthy, and providing benefits to the body.

Just For Me lawsuit updates

As of December 1, 2024, more than 9,500 of actions were pending in MDL 3060, In Re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation.

Just For Me hair relaxer is not safe. Numerous scientific studies, continual research, and various government standards and regulations have found using chemical hair relaxer products increases the risk of developing uterine cancer and ovarian cancer because of the toxic chemicals in the products.

Chemical hair relaxer products typically contain ingredients that can disturb or harm a woman’s endocrine system. The endocrine system is essential for life and impacts virtually every process of the human body. Some of the critical processes the endocrine system controls from birth through adulthood include:

• Blood sugar levels 
• Brain and nervous system development
• Metabolism
• Reproductive system growth and functioning

The endocrine system maintains a proper hormonal balance within the body. This balance is critical. Even a small change in hormone levels can lead to severe health problems, including cancer, cognitive deficits, infertility and reproductive issues, immune disorders and metabolic syndrome.

Harm to endocrine system may lead to cancer

Natural and synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in some chemical hair relaxers. These EDCs are often listed as fragrance or perfume. EDCs disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system. They can cause changes to DNA that may block the body’s hormone production. Hair relaxers can be a source of exposure to carcinogens and EDCs.

EDCs are connected to numerous adverse human health conditions, including:

• Altered nervous system and immune function
• Endometriosis
• Hormone-related cancers, including ovarian cancer
• Metabolic issues
• Neurological disabilities 
• Organ abnormalities

These harmful, toxic and carcinogenic ingredients might include cyclosiloxanes, di-(2-ethylhexyl), formaldehyde, lye, parabens, phthalates and other toxic chemicals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed banning formaldehyde in hair products, including relaxers, in October 2023. The ban was to take effect in April 2024. However, the rule has not been finalized.

Phthalates are EDCs known to disrupt hormone production and harm human health. The FDA requires that cosmetic products include an ingredient declaration but does not require a list of individual fragrances. This means that when phthalates are mixed with a fragrance, they do not have to be listed on the packaging. As a result, consumers cannot determine from the ingredient declaration on the label whether phthalates are contained in a fragrance.

Plaintiffs in MDL No. 3060 allege that Just For Me hair relaxer can cause various types of cancer. Recent studies have found a connection between hair relaxer products containing EDCs and ovarian cancer. EDCs harm the endocrine system and have been linked to uterine, ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Ovarian cancer

Research has found that women who had “ever” used chemical hair relaxing products are not necessarily linked to increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, “frequent” use of chemical hair relaxers (more than four times per year) is associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is believed to have a “hormonally driven etiology.” This means that when hormonal disrupting compounds enter the body, they disrupt the balance of a woman’s hormones. This change could lead to ovarian cancer. Hair straighteners with EDCs can cause shifts in estrogen, progesterone and other hormones. Women who use hair relaxers are more prone to ovarian cancer.

Uterine and endometrial cancer

Research says women who use hair relaxers have higher rates of uterine cancer than those who do not. An estimated 1.64% of women who never used chemical hair relaxers develop uterine cancer by their 70th birthday. Those who use them frequently are nearly three times more likely to develop uterine cancer.

Higher levels of parabens and phthalates (EDCs frequently found in hair relaxer products) are present more often in those with endometrial cancer than in cancer-free people. Endometrial cancer is a common type of uterine cancer in which cancer cells form in the endometrium (the lining of the uterus).

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer allegedly caused by using chemical hair relaxers, consider discussing your options with an attorney at Motley Rice. We have extensive experience supporting and representing women and families facing life-altering health problems. 

Our attorneys have the knowledge to help you weigh your options regarding multidistrict litigation (MDL). If you would like to speak with a hair relaxer lawyer for a case evaluation, call Motley Rice at 1-800-768-4026 or send us an email today.

Motley Rice leads litigation brought by thousands of women harmed by defective products, including chemical hair relaxers. Our law firm has extensive experience litigating product liability lawsuits for women who:

• Developed ovarian cancer after using talc-based baby powder for feminine hygiene 
• Experienced severe complications allegedly caused by birth control devices such as Essure® and Paragard® and complications arising from the use of transvaginal mesh
• Suffered breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) allegedly caused by Allergan implants

We’ve also advocated for mothers who have filed lawsuits related to birth defects arising from prescription drugs and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) linked to baby formula use. 

Please reach out to our attorneys to discuss a potential case at your convenience. 

Read more on our toxic exposure litigation experience.