Have you or someone you love been diagnosed with cancer or fibroids after using Dark and Lovely hair relaxer for years? You’re not alone, and you deserve answers. Thousands of women are now taking legal action to demand accountability and monetary compensation from the companies that sold these products without clear warnings.
A lawyer from Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you take your next steps. Our team has decades of experience handling cases like this and winning multimillion-dollar verdicts against manufacturers of products like Fen-Phen, Vioxx, and Topamax. We can handle your cases at no upfront cost to you. Call us now or fill out our online contact form to arrange your free consultation.
Why Are Women Suing Dark and Lovely?
Thousands of women are suing Dark and Lovely because evidence suggests the product caused serious health problems. These women used chemical hair relaxers for years and later developed conditions like uterine cancer, fibroids, or endometriosis. Many of them say they never knew the products could carry such risks. The lawsuits claim that L’Oréal, the maker of Dark and Lovely, and other companies sold these relaxers without warning people about possible dangers. Some women also believe the hair relaxer manufacturers targeted Black communities while ignoring growing concerns about harmful ingredients. Now, they want answers, accountability, and compensation for the health issues they say these products caused.
What Are the Dark and Lovely Hair Relaxer Lawsuits?
The Dark and Lovely lawsuits are part of a mass tort legal action against L’Oréal and other beauty brands. Women across the country are filing claims after using hair relaxers for years and later being diagnosed with serious medical issues. These lawsuits focus on chemicals in the products that reportedly affect hormone levels. Researchers have linked these chemicals to higher rates of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and fibroids. A 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health found that frequent users of chemical straighteners were more than twice as likely to get uterine cancer.
Hair relaxers may increase the risk of cancer by exposing users to hormone-altering chemicals.
Health Concerns: How Hair Relaxers May Cause Cancer
Many hair relaxer products, including Dark and Lovely, contain chemicals like formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, and DEHP. Scientists call these ingredients endocrine disruptors because they can affect how hormones work in the body. When women use relaxers often, these chemicals can enter their bodies through the scalp, especially if burns or cuts are present. Studies show these chemicals may raise the risk of hormone-related cancers like uterine and ovarian cancer. Black and Hispanic women face increased risks because they tend to use relaxers more often and from a younger age.
Which Products Are Involved in the Lawsuit?
Women who used chemical relaxers for many years and then developed uterine or other reproductive cancers are filing lawsuits against several major brands, including:
- Dark and Lovely (including “Beautiful Beginnings” and “Triple Nourished”)
- Optimum Salon Haircare (including “Amla Legend” and “Defy Breakage”)
- Motions
- Just for Me
- Soft & Beautiful
- ORS Olive Oil
- African Pride
- Mizani Butter Blend
- TCB Naturals
- Bantu No Base Relaxer
- Ultra Precise No-Lye Conditioning Relaxer
These claims focus on products linked to regular, long-term use. Most of the women in the lawsuits used these products every six to eight weeks for decades, often starting at a young age.
Who Qualifies to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit in Texas?
Women in Houston or anywhere else in Texas could qualify to file Dark and Lovely toxic hair relaxer lawsuits if they:
- Used chemical hair straighteners regularly for at least two years and
- Later received a diagnosis of uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer, or severe fibroids
The diagnosis must have come after regular product use. Our lawyers will also look at your age at diagnosis, the brands you used, and how long you used them to determine whether you should consider hair relaxer litigation.
Damages You May Be Entitled to in a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
If you have grounds for a hair relaxer lawsuit, you could be entitled to financial compensation. The types and amounts of damages (money) available can vary depending on your diagnosis, how the illness changed your life, and the costs of treatment. Our attorneys will look at many factors to estimate the value of your claim. Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses for treatment, surgery, medication, or follow-up care
- Lost wages if you had to miss work or stop working altogether
- Reduced earning ability if your illness affected your long-term work potential
- Pain and suffering caused by physical symptoms and recovery
- Emotional distress tied to the trauma of illness, treatment, or major life changes
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one
Why Are These Lawsuits Important for Houston’s Black Community?
These lawsuits matter deeply to Houston’s Black community because many local women used relaxers like Dark and Lovely from a young age without knowing the risks. For decades, beauty companies targeted Black consumers with ads that promoted straight hair as the standard. Many women and girls trusted these products for years, but now, families are seeing a pattern of health problems linked to long-term exposure. These lawsuits provide an opportunity to push for justice, demand answers, and call for fairness in how companies treat Black consumers and share health information.
How to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit in Houston, TX
You can reach out to a product liability or mass tort attorney at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs to get started with your hair relaxer lawsuit in Houston. During your free case review, we will begin by speaking with you about which products you used and your medical history. If you have any receipts, photos, or other proof of product use, it will be helpful to bring them with you. You won’t pay anything upfront. Our firm handles these lawsuits on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you. Our fee comes from a percentage of any compensation we win, so you won’t ever have to worry about paying us out of pocket.
What Is the Status of Hair Relaxer Lawsuits in 2025?
As of 2025, more than 9,800 hair relaxer lawsuits are moving forward in a federal court in Chicago as part of an extensive multidistrict litigation (MDL) process. The hair relaxer MDL is focusing on products like Dark and Lovely and involves claims that companies like L’Oréal failed to warn users about cancer risks. The court has approved a plan for early “bellwether” trials, but those trials may not begin for several years. However, some state court cases could go to trial sooner, which might pressure the hair relaxer companies to settle. Meanwhile, hair relaxer attorneys across the country continue to file new hair relaxer cancer lawsuits every month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many women who used products like Dark and Lovely in the past have questions about these hair relaxer lawsuits. Below are clear answers to some of the most common questions we hear from clients in Texas.
Can I still file if I stopped using Dark and Lovely years ago?
Yes. You could still qualify even if you stopped using relaxers years ago. What matters most is whether you used the products regularly for at least two years and later developed uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, or severe fibroids.
What if I don’t have proof of purchase?
You can still file a claim. Most people don’t keep receipts for personal care products. If you don’t have receipts, our lawyers can still help you build your case using other types of evidence. These might include photos of your hairstyles, witness statements, or your medical records. Regular use is the key detail in these cases, and many lawsuits rely on testimony and circumstantial proof.
Is there a deadline to file in Texas?
Yes. Texas law sets a strict time limit on how long you have to file a lawsuit. This time period usually begins when you receive a cancer or fibroid diagnosis. The deadline could vary depending on the facts of your case, so you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid missing your chance to file.
How long will the lawsuit take to resolve?
Existing hair relaxer lawsuits are still early in the legal process. The first federal trials are not expected to begin for a few years, though some state court trials could happen sooner. Every case is different, and some will likely settle faster than others. Our attorneys expect that these cases will take several years before they are resolved completely.
Will I need to go to court?
Probably not. Most cases settle without a trial. However, if your case does go to court, our attorneys will guide you every step of the way. You might need to give a statement or answer questions, but most clients won’t have to appear before a judge or jury. Our hair relaxer lawsuit attorneys can handle the process for you.
Contact a Dark and Lovely Lawsuit Attorney Now
Do you know or suspect that you might have grounds for a Dark and Lovely lawsuit in Houston? You don’t have to figure this out alone. The team at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs is here to listen to your story, review your case, and help you understand your legal rights.
We offer free consultations and only get paid if we win money for you. Contact us today to get started.
