Hair Dye Lawsuits: Cancer Risks & Legal Action

Hairstylists and cosmetologists who were diagnosed with cancer are filing lawsuits against hair dye manufacturers.

Lawsuits also claim that defendants could have used safer ingredients but didn’t.

In June 2025, a California judge grouped 12 hair dye lawsuits together in California. More cases are expected to be filed.

You may qualify for a hair dye lawsuit if you developed cancer as a salon professional, hair stylist or long-term user of certain types of hair dye.

While many of the current lawsuits involve hairstylists who used hair dye at work, people who used hair dye regularly at home may also qualify. Make sure to contact an attorney to verify your eligibility.

According to the American Cancer Society, studies have connected hair dyes to bladder cancer, breast cancer and leukemia. The risk of bladder cancer has been particularly noted among professionals who spend significant time working with hair dyes.

A 2009 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology determined that hairdressers are more likely to develop cancer than the general population.

Chemicals and Exposure: What’s Known vs. Unknown

When it comes to hair dye and cancer risk, the scientific consensus as of 2025 is that most evidence points to slightly increased cancer risks for certain groups and product types. However, there is no clear proof that hair dye actually causes cancer.

Aromatic amines, a substance used to create the color in some hair dyes, are one of the primary suspects for causing cancer.

What remains unknown is whether modern hair dyes, reformulated since the 1980s, pose the same dangers or whether observed associations result from lifestyle or genetic factors. More research is needed to determine how certain hair dyes can cause cancer.

A key point of contention in the litigation is the use of ingredients called aromatic amines. These chemicals react with other parts of the hair dye to create colors. According to the American Cancer Society, darker hair dyes include more aromatic amines than lighter ones.

Evidence that aromatic amines could be carcinogenic has existed for over a century. In the late 1800s, a German clinician discovered that workers in the dyestuff industry were developing bladder cancer at higher-than-normal rates. Similar findings were also recorded in Great Britain.

Aromatic amines remained a common ingredient in hair dye until the 1970s, when more research further emphasized their cancer risk. Some countries banned certain types of aromatic amines, and hair dye manufacturers began to alter their products.

Current lawsuits claim that these potentially dangerous ingredients continue to be used in some commercially available hair dyes.

Key Chemicals

Hair dye cancer lawsuits center on several chemicals in hair dye that they claim can cause cancer.

Darker dyes may contain more chemicals that are associated with cancer than lighter shades.

History and Regulation

Darker dyes used before 1980 had higher concentrations of certain chemicals that could cause cancer. Modern dye formulas have removed many of these harmful chemicals to reduce cancer risks, but more research is needed.

Modern reforms target specific hazardous ingredients and require more transparent safety reports. These reforms don’t yet include mandating pre-market approval for most commercial hair dyes.

Lawsuits allege that popular hair dye manufacturers misled hairstylists, cosmetologists and everyday customers.

“Defendants failed to warn … that frequent, daily, continuous, and/or long-term exposure to their hair dye products, especially by professional hairstylists, could cause or greatly increase the risk of bladder cancer,” Matarazzo’s lawsuit claims.

One of the key claims made in lawsuits is that these companies should have alerted their customers to the potential cancer risk that could be associated with their products. Hair dyes generally don’t contain warnings along these lines.

Some products also do not include warnings or instructions on using protective wear that could prevent or limit exposure.

Another issue outlined in lawsuits involves how manufacturers market their hair dyes. For example, Wella refers to chemical-based products as natural and nourishing. Lawsuits say this is an attempt to draw in health-conscious users without warning of serious risks.

Generally, you will need to document your cancer diagnosis and your exposure to hair dye to file a lawsuit.

Your health documentation can include medical records that verify your diagnosis or treatment, which you can get from your doctor. You should also document any comments your doctor makes linking hair dye exposure to your health concerns.

In addition to medical records, you may need to provide evidence of your exposure to hair dye, including specific brands or products.

The evidence you gather should show work exposure and a cancer diagnosis after hair dye exposure. Your lawyer will use these, along with available scientific evidence, to build your case.

Several major hair dye manufacturers have been listed as defendants in lawsuits. These cases claim manufacturers knew or should have known that their products may cause cancer.

L’Oréal Lawsuits Over Chemical Hair Dyes

L’Oréal’s hair dye products are extremely popular, but lawsuits claim that some of its hair dyes contain carcinogens that may have led to the development of cancer in some hairstylists.

L’Oréal acknowledges on its website that p-paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a type of aromatic amine that lawsuits say has been tied to cancer, is still used in some of its hair dye products. But, the company claims it follows strict usage limits.

“Our hair dye products containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD) comply with one of the strictest cosmetics regulations which is the EU regulation,” L’Oréal says. “We have been able to optimize the PPD concentration levels in hair dye products in order to always ensure they are well below the authorized level which is 2%.”

L’Oréal is also involved in litigation over some of its chemical hair relaxer products, which help straighten curly hair.

Nearly 10,000 hair relaxer lawsuits are currently pending in federal court, claiming that these products cause uterine, ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Clairol Facing Legal Challenges for Toxic Ingredients

Clairol, a subsidiary of Wella that has been selling hair dye to salons in the U.S. since the 1950s, has also been named in lawsuits over potential cancer risks.

The company was a trailblazer in the hair dye industry. Its innovative marketing strategies played a key role in establishing hair coloring as a standard part of American culture.

Lawsuits argue that the company ignored possible health risks as it marketed its hair dye products directly to salons and stylists.

“Clairol continues to prioritize profit over stylists’ and consumers’ health,” a lawsuit states. “… Clairol’s salon-use dyes do not carry visible warnings on the risks of prolonged exposure, nor do they encourage the use of protective items.”

Hair Dye vs. Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Hair dye lawsuits and hair relaxer lawsuits have similar defendants because some companies, such as L’Oréal, make hair dye and hair relaxers. These two litigations claim cancer as the main injury, though they focus on slightly different cancers.

Hair dye lawsuits are in the initial stages, while hair relaxer lawsuits are slightly farther along, with bellwether test trials set to begin in 2027.

You may be able to file a hair dye lawsuit by signing up for a free case review and connecting with an experienced product liability lawyer through Drugwatch.

Our partners have spent years taking on major corporations in similar litigations and can help you determine if you have a case against a hair dye manufacturer.

It’s important to note that no settlement or trial is guaranteed. Each case is unique, and only a lawyer can advise you about your case.

A lawyer may also be able to assist you in tracking down medical records or documentation that can help you build your case and demonstrate how hair dye exposure has impacted you.

What Compensation Can Plaintiffs Receive?

As part of these lawsuits, plaintiffs are demanding several different types of damages and monetary compensation.

A cancer diagnosis can dramatically alter your life by impacting your health and leading to severe economic consequences. Medical expenses can be extreme, and you might be unable to work due to your condition. Hair dye lawsuits seek justice for these possible losses.