Hair relaxers are lotions or creams meant to loosen up the curl pattern for people with extremely curly hair. They are used to make it easy to straighten and manage hair. Relaxers work by penetrating the cuticle and cortex layers of the hair shaft to break the curl pattern. Despite their popularity, hair relaxers can be damaging as they may dry hair out, burn surrounding skin, lead to scalp damage, or cause hair loss. What are hair relaxer claims? In recent years, there has been growing concern about the ingredients used in hair relaxers and other beauty products. Many studies have warned about the presence of hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic (or cancer-causing) chemicals in such products, which can be linked to life-threatening diseases. One such study has drawn a potential link between the use of relaxers and the increased occurrence of uterine cancer. This is associated with the presence of phthalate metabolites used in hair-relaxing products. Due to such health risks, many law firms are investigating hair relaxer and straightening lawsuits and claims. Concerns Apart from the doubled risk of uterine cancer, especially in African-American women, several other health concerns are associated with chemical straighteners or hair relaxers. These include the risk of: