Unraveling the Link: Hair Relaxers and the Risk of Fibroids and Uterine Cancer

In recent years, research has suggested a potential link between the use of chemical products such as hair relaxers and dyes and conditions like uterine cancer, fibroids, and even breast and ovarian cancer. Given that a majority of Black women grew up using these products and the mentioned conditions are statistically more often diagnosed in Black women, it’s not hard to see why Black women have latched onto this research, spread it amongst ourselves, and expressed ongoing frustration about it.

When it comes to discussing topics like this on Uterine Care Collaborative, our aim to discuss it from both a medical and scientific perspective while also approaching the cultural aspect in a way that speaks to our unique experiences as Black women.

What Does Science Say?

A 2023 study indicated that prolonged and frequent use of chemical hair straighteners for Black women was associated with a 17% higher incidence of uterine fibroids. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study suggested that women who used chemical hair-straightening products were at higher risk for uterine cancer compared to women who did not report using these products.

Though some of the studies reference women in general, statistics indicate that Black women have historically begun using these products at earlier ages translating to prolonged use. We also know that the frequency of use may be anywhere from every six to every twelve weeks depending on how fine or coarse the hair might be. This information coupled with the knowledge that Black women are more often diagnosed with uterine cancer and fibroids than their counterparts is the basis for the conversation that their is likely a direct link.

To prove the efficacy and conclusivity of this kind of research, it often must span several studies over many years. Having said that, many researchers maintain that establishing a direct link between chemical hair straighteners and uterine conditions is a much more complex task than people might think, and that the correlation must be explored continually in order to make a definitive statement.

The Negative Impact of a Neutral Approach

Considering the research that is available and the fact that it may not necessarily be conclusive, providers may leave it up to patients to make the final call to stop or continue using these products going forward.

From our perspective, we know the harm in this approach. There are greater educational, geographical, and cultural barriers that may prevent Black women from making the healthiest choice for themselves. Leaving it up to a patient who may not have access to research or a basic understanding of how the research could directly affect them does not equip or empower them. Rather, it leaves the door open to continue harmful practices and to make uninformed choices, which only absolves the medical community should future damage occur in the form of an unfavorable diagnosis.

This sort of neutral approach realistically perpetuates systemic racism, because it puts the ball solely in the patients’ court and does not hold the medical community accountable for deficient practice.

The Wrong Standard

From a cultural perspective, it is often discussed that the use of chemical hair straighteners is rooted in systemic racism that has, for years, encouraged Black women to adhere to European beauty standards. Historically, Black women were told that our hair was unmanageable unless straightened, and even worse, we were made to believe our hair was not beautiful unless tamed. “I began getting relaxers at five years old,” Uterine Care Collaborative founder Kayla Nixon, MEd, shares. “It was time for me to start school, and I distinctly remember my mom being told that it would be easier to do my hair on a regular basis if it was straight.”

These ideas have perpetuated harmful practices that left little to no room for acceptance about the way our hair naturally grows out of our heads. Now finding years later that we might have been incurring longterm, dangerous complications from these products and putting us in a position to experience even more systemic racism when navigating a uterine health condition is understandably frustrating and disappointing.

So—What’s Next?

The natural hair movement has been cyclical since the 1960s. Its resurgence in the 2000s helped millennials and many other modern women reframe the way they thought about their natural hair and spurred the introduction of healthier self-care and self-love hair practices, including the complete removal of chemical straighteners from beauty routines. “I stopped getting relaxers my junior year of high school and never looked back,” Founder Kayla Nixon reflects.

On social media, we are now flooded with content that demonstrates comprehensive wash days and women sharing the products they’ve found most helpful to maintaining a healthy head of natural hair. We also see women almost immediately share products that have had negative effects on their hair whether a flaky scalp, hair breakage, or dry strands.

Of course, it is always important to do research and speak with a provider when necessary (we recommend your primary care physician and a dermatologist), but on a day-to-day basis, this general openness and vulnerability is the kind of communication Black women should continue to foster amongst themselves. In the same way we have shared the research that potentially links chemical straighteners to uterine health conditions and carried on the natural hair movement, we must also continue to be our own safe space by sharing information that encourages healthy and safe practices. The information and support we are often unable to get from the healthcare system can be found at home in our own community—it just has to be made accessible.

Hundreds of women that have been diagnosed with uterine health conditions and used chemical straighteners or dyes for prolonged periods of time are now finding they may be eligible for compensation through legal action—a form of reparations, if you will. We’re not here to encourage you to file a lawsuit necessarily, but overall, we always encourage you to make the healthiest choices for your longterm physical, mental and emotional health.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.