Mass tort litigation underway following recent study about hair straightening

Nobody expects their hair products to lead to a cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, that is the reality for countless users of straightening products. A new study has uncovered a previously-unknown and dangerous side effect of chemical relaxers.

Here’s what you should know about the recent study and how you can prepare as a law firm to manage the influx of leads for class action lawsuits.

Can chemical relaxers, hair straightening and Brazilian blowouts cause uterine cancer?

To permanently or semi-permanently relax or straighten textured hair, it is common to rely on chemical treatments such as Brazilian blowouts. Unfortunately, just because a product is on the shelf doesn’t mean it’s safe to use. The hair products used to chemically treat textured hair contain thousands of chemicals, including a well-known carcinogen called formaldehyde. Over the last decade, countless studies have shown the dangerous link between these chemical relaxers and specific hormone-related cancers.

While this information has been public knowledge for several years, a more recent study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute expanded on existing research. The new data shows that chemical relaxers not only increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, but also uterine cancer. While uterine cancer alone is rare, the risk doubles for those who use hair-relaxing products, according to researchers.  It is also the “most common cancer of the female reproductive system, with 65,950 estimated new cases in 2022”.

In addition to the harm caused to reproductive and hormone systems, the chemicals also disrupt immune and vascular systems.

Sadly, this is not the first time hair care product manufacturers, including hair straightener companies, have been under fire for toxic ingredients.

2012 hair-loss settlement could foreshadow what is to come

In 2012, Unilever, manufacturer of Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion 30-Day Soothing Kit, faced a class action suit after their product injured users. According to the lawsuit, manufacturers were aware before launch that their product caused hair loss and scalp burns. However, they failed to warn and purposefully misled consumers by falsely marketing the product as “Formaldehyde-free.”

The original $10 million hair-loss settlement was upheld in 2016.

There is a clear and established precedent that hair care manufacturers must warn consumers of potential dangers. In the event these new findings lead to another class action suit, lawyers and their staff must be ready to manage the influx of calls to ensure they maximize leads and increase ROI.

Convert high-volume leads with 24/7 expert-level support in English and Spanish

At Alert Communications, we provide call, live chat and text services at any time of day, any day of the week. No matter when a call comes in, business owners can have peace of mind knowing matters are being addressed promptly and professionally. This means that we can handle high-volume calls and convert leads so you can focus on other business matters.

In addition to our virtual receptionist, overflow support, live transfers and call routing services, we also offer appointment scheduling. Our legal intake service specialists are fully empowered to book appointments and transcribe sensitive information accurately, ensuring in-house staff can focus on building a case. We can integrate with your existing CRM/case management system to ensure a seamless transition from contact to contract. We have experienced legal administrative support staff ready to answer calls in both English and Spanish.

Receive customized reporting and analytics

With our state-of-the-art intake process, we receive large amounts of data that we use to monitor the intake process.

Examples of metrics we track include:

• Revenue sources
• Calls received
• Call durations
• Response times for web and chat features
• Outbound calls
• Call outcomes

We will provide you with a comprehensive depiction of leads and identify opportunities for conversion. This data can inform marketing decisions to grow revenue for your business as you better understand your target audience.

Partner with Alert Communications for mass tort litigation

Prepare for the influx of leads with administrative and intake support from industry professionals. Connect with our team online or call 800-211-4563 to learn more about our services and how we can support your business.