A long-awaited federal ban on formaldehyde in chemical hair straighteners and relaxers has been delayed again, leaving consumers and health advocates questioning when federal regulators will act.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously indicated it would decide by April 2024 whether to prohibit formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair straightening products. That deadline was delayed multiple times in 2024 and into 2025. As of now, it appears the proposed rule is stalled again due to a presidential executive order.
The executive order Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, issued in January 2025, has paused certain pending federal regulations while under administrative review. The order has affected the timeline for multiple pending health regulations, including the proposed formaldehyde ban.
The FDA has been examining the risks of formaldehyde in hair products for years. However, regulatory freezes in prior administrations also delayed action on the issue, stretching the proposed ban across nearly a decade.
The Health Risks Linked to Hair Straightening Products
Formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). When hair relaxers and straightening products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are heated during styling, they can release fumes into the air. Exposure has been associated with eye, nose, and throat irritation, respiratory issues, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and chest pain.
Concerns about ingredients in hair products escalated in October 2022 when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published findings showing that women who used chemical hair straighteners four or more times per year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to non-users. Researchers also noted that Black women may face disproportionate exposure due to longstanding cultural and workplace pressures surrounding hair texture and grooming standards.
Many chemicals found in relaxers act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the body’s hormonal system. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been linked to reproductive harm, cancer, immune dysfunction, and developmental complications.
The Government’s Role in Ensuring Beauty Products Are Safe
Unlike prescription drugs, cosmetics are not approved by the FDA before they enter the marketplace. While the FDA can regulate products and pursue enforcement actions under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, manufacturers are largely responsible for ensuring the safety of their own products before they are sold.
Despite years of advocacy from public health groups and medical professionals, the U.S. has banned only 11 cosmetic ingredients, compared to more than 1,300 banned by the European Union.
The FDA’s repeated delays in finalizing a rule banning formaldehyde in hair straighteners have intensified scrutiny of how cosmetic products are regulated. Critics argue that prolonged regulatory inaction leaves salon workers and consumers exposed to chemicals that research has linked to cancer and hormone disruption.
Amid growing public concern over dangerous chemicals in cosmetic products, lawmakers have reintroduced the Safer Beauty Bill Package, a series of federal bills aimed at modernizing cosmetic safety laws that have not been significantly updated in decades.
The Safer Beauty Bill Package, introduced by Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, and Ayanna Pressley, seeks to modernize federal cosmetic safety laws. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit several toxic chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, endocrine disruption, and organ damage, including PFAS, formaldehyde, and certain phthalates. It would also require full ingredient disclosure, closing the longstanding loophole that allows manufacturers to conceal chemicals under the generic term “fragrance.” In addition, the proposal aims to strengthen health protections for women of color and salon workers who may face disproportionate exposure to hazardous ingredients, while establishing baseline safety testing requirements that cosmetic suppliers must meet before their products reach consumers.
The legislation remains pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, but it has renewed national debate about whether existing federal oversight adequately protects consumers.
Hair Relaxer Cancer Litigation Continues
After the October 2022 NIH study found that women who frequently used chemical hair straighteners faced a significantly increased risk of uterine cancer, hair relaxer lawsuits were filed across the country against major cosmetic manufacturers. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of women who used hair straighteners for years and developed uterine cancer to seek compensation for their injuries.
Due to the large volume of cases filed, in early 2023, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ordered the hair relaxer cases centralized into multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3060) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. According to federal court filings, the MDL includes thousands of active cases alleging that prolonged exposure to certain chemicals in hair relaxers contributed to uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. The Court continues to oversee coordinated discovery, expert testimony deadlines, and pretrial scheduling. There are also state-based actions and lawsuits in the states of Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York.
While the FDA’s proposed rule regarding formaldehyde in hair products remains under regulatory review, the federal litigation continues independently in federal and state courts.
Our Atlanta-based mass tort law firm is monitoring both the regulatory developments and the ongoing multidistrict litigation/state court-based litigations. As federal rulemaking for toxic hair chemicals remains uncertain, the courts may play a central role in determining responsibility for alleged harms linked to hair relaxers.
If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer after using hair relaxer products, contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith online or call (800) 641-0098 to determine your legal options. A diagnosis of uterine or ovarian cancer can be emotionally devastating and financially disruptive. When that diagnosis may be linked to long-term use of a dangerous consumer product, families deserve clear answers. We are here to help.
Related: Steps to Take After Suffering Hair Relaxer Injuries
