Attorney April Preyar is the premiere criminal law expert in the United States.
A Chicago native, she is an experienced criminal defense attorney, legal educator, professional speaker, board game designer, and author of six books. Preyar is a graduate of Duke University and George Washington University Law School. She has been practicing law in the state of Illinois for 22 years.
Last October, the National Health Institute released the findings of the Sister Study. Over nearly 11 years, they followed almost 34,000 women, ages 35 – 74, who still had their uteruses. Black women in the study were more likely to have gotten a chemical hair relaxer at some point in their lives. However, for those who did, if they had a relaxer for just one year with a minimum of 4 applications, they more than doubled their risk of developing endometrial cancer, the most common type of uterine cancer. Previous scientific studies also showed a link between the hormone-altering chemicals commonly used in hair straighteners called phthalates and a higher instance of fibroids, endometriosis, and ovarian cancer in Black women.
Wallace Miller is investigating claims that consumers who used commercially available retail hair relaxers straighten products may have an increased risk of developing uterine or endometrial cancer and other health risks.
Over the last few months weeks since the study came out, April has screened hundreds of Black women to file suit against cosmetic companies for the havoc hair relaxers have wreaked on their reproductive health. These brave mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, and daughters have trusted April with their stories.
N’DIGO sat down with April and had a thought-provoking conversation about the hair relaxer lawsuit and the link between endometrial and ovarian cancers, fibroids, and endometriosis caused by hair relaxers.
N’DIGO: A recent study from the National Institutes of Health has found women using chemical hair straightening/hair relaxers in their hair are prone to harmful health issues. Could you please explain?
April Preyar: Yes, in October 2022, the National Health Institute released its findings from the Sister Study. For nearly 11 years, they studied almost 34,000 women of different races and backgrounds. They concluded that four applications for the Black women who had used hair relaxers for even one year were twice as likely as all other women to develop endometrial cancer. Older studies had shown that Black women who had previously used hair relaxers were also more likely to develop fibroids and ovarian cancer.
What particular element in the hair straightener is harmful?
Phthalates are a type of chemical commonly found in hair relaxers. Phthalates are a type of plastic. They are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they make one’s hormones go haywire. DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) is an especially harmful phthalate found in relaxers.
How could a hair product possibly cause cancer?
Any product that you apply topically seeps into your pores. The scalp is skin. The substance then passes into your bloodstream. When that substance is a phthalate, it specifically mimics or disrupts the endocrine system. The endocrine system controls hormones. This interference with a woman’s hormones manifests in her reproductive organs, primarily her uterus and ovaries.
Wallace Miller law firm is recruiting women for a mass tort lawsuit. Can you explain what this means?
A tort is an injury. Much like a personal injury car accident, you can sue the person or company that caused the harm. However, a mass tort means multiple injured parties are all suing the same companies at once, unlike a class action which is one lawsuit with a class of individuals all suing together. A mass tort is actually hundreds or thousands of individual lawsuits filed against big companies.
As you are recruiting women to join the lawsuit, what traits are you looking for?
We are looking for women who are 60 years old or younger who previously or currently have a relaxer. They must have gotten relaxers, or perms as they are commonly called, for at least five years. They must have later been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and had a myomectomy, hysterectomy, endometrial cancer, or ovarian cancer. They do not have to be able to prove that relaxers led to their illness. That is for our experts to determine.
How can a woman join the lawsuit? What does she have to do?
Affected women can join by visiting www.hairrelaxerharm.com. First, she will be asked a few qualifying questions. Then, someone will follow up with her to have her sign a contract and a HIPAA release.
What are the possible effects of the lawsuit, and how long will it take?
I’m not sure what you mean by “effects.” We are in the very beginning stages of the lawsuit. It is expected to take between 3 and 5 years.
Are you looking for women all over the United States?
Yes, these lawsuits are being heard in Federal court, meaning women from across the U.S. may file.
Hair straighteners are pretty much exclusive to Black women; is this yet another Black woman target market situation?
Yes, for over a century, hair straighteners and relaxers have been marketed almost exclusively to Black women in order to achieve a more European look that would be more acceptable in the workplace. Some companies even targeted young Black girls to encourage them to pester their mothers to relax their hair at young ages.
To learn more about the Wallace Miller Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit and tell your story, click here: https://www.wallacemiller.com/
