Salon Stylist Files Lawsuit Over Bladder Cancer From Hair Dye Products

Cosmetologist indicates that she was exposed to hair dye chemicals almost daily since 1975, while working in a salon, which resulted in her development of bladder cancer.

A Virginia woman who has worked as a salon stylist for 50 years has filed a lawsuit against several cosmetics companies, linking the routine exposure to their hair dye products to her bladder cancer diagnosis.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Sharon Mirtaheri in California Superior Court in Los Angeles on April 28, naming  L’Oreal, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Goldwell New York, Henkel, Schwartzkopf, and Framesi Spa and its subsidiaries as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, Mirtaheri started her career as a licensed cosmetologist in Maryland in 1975, where she worked as a hair stylist at Peter of London. She indicates she was exposed to hair dye chemicals by working with, and regularly inhaling, hair dyes during the course of her work, which included mixing, applying, removing, and cleaning up hair dye.

In February 2025, Mirtaheri was diagnosed with bladder cancer, which the lawsuit claims was caused by her regular hair dye chemical exposures. Mirtaheri’s lawsuit joins a growing number of other hair dye cancer lawsuits being filed nationwide, as more salon stylists become aware of the potential health risks linked to long-term hair dye exposure.

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common form of cancer in the U.S., with research showing about 83,000 bladder cancer diagnoses and about 16,000 deaths per year. In addition, about five percent of all bladder cancer cases are believed to be caused by occupational exposures.

The bladder cancer risks for salon stylists has recently been highlighted in a growing body of scientific literature, which links prolonged contact with certain aromatic amines and chemicals found in hair dyes to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

Mirtaheri’s lawsuit indicates cosmetics manufacturers have known for decades about the risks associated with their products, but failed to provide adequate warnings to salon stylists or consumers in order to increase and maintain profits through their widespread use.

“Hair dye usage is very common in the United States with 75% of women and 38% of men regularly coloring their hair every 6-8 weeks,” the lawsuit states. “US hair dye sales total $2 billion dollars per year with world-wide sales of $12 billion dollars per year.”

The lawsuit indicates the defendants are in violation of numerous federal laws requiring them to maintain adequate label warnings.

Mirtaheri’s complaint presents claims of failure to warn, design defect, negligent failure to warn, deceit by concealment and Violations of California Unfair Competition Law.

Her complaint comes as an increasing number of hair dye cancer lawsuits are being investigated for salon stylists, cosmetologists, hairdressers and other licensed salon professionals who are routinely exposed to chemicals in permanent hair dye and later diagnosed with bladder cancer.

To help hairdressers and stylists determine if they may be eligible for financial compensation or settlement benefits, hair dye lawyers are providing free consultations and claim evaluations for individuals throughout the U.S.