Business

California Haircare Heiress Cheryl Morrow Leads Fight to Defend Industry Against Tort Lawsuit

Black hair care industry manufacturers are rallying to defend their products against “attacks” from customers, scientists and federal government officials who claim they are harmful. The companies are being accused of producing relaxers with potentially toxic ingredients that may cause cancer. On the frontlines of that defense in the Golden State is California Curl heiress Cheryl Morrow, who is also publisher of the San Diego Monitor News.

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Cheryl Morrow (Courtesy Photo)

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

On the frontlines of that defense in the Golden State is California Curl heiress Cheryl Morrow, who is also publisher of the San Diego Monitor News.

Morrow, daughter of the late Dr. Willie Morrow who invented and popularized the “California Curl,” also known as the “Jheri Curl” or “Jerry Curl,” has been vocal about debunking the cancer claims as misleading. She also highlights the pioneering spirit and innovation that led to the creation of products for Black hair care by Black companies before mainstream companies entered the businesses.

“In 2022, you come out with a study with an inconclusive correlation that all of a sudden subjugates a Black legacy of hair care manufacturing to be vilified, demonized, criminalized and connected to cancer,” Morrow told California Black Media.

That same year, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump filed a mass tort lawsuit on behalf of Jenny Mitchell, a Black woman who he claims contracted uterine cancer after her use of chemical hair straightening products sold by L’Oréal USA. Crump is suing that company as well as entities that assisted in the development, marketing, and sale of the products including Motions, Dark & Lovely, Olive Oil Relaxer, and Organic Root Stimulator.

In August 2018, Mitchell – who says she has no family history of uterine or other cancer – was diagnosed with the disease and underwent a full hysterectomy.

According to the study, published by Journal of the National Cancer Institute, also known as the “Sister Study,” frequent users of chemical hair straightening products, defined in the study as more than four uses a year, were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who didn’t use those products.

“Black women have long been the victims of dangerous products specifically marketed to them,” said Crump in a press release. “Black women have been told they have to use these products to meet society’s standards.”

Morrow hosts events in the community and online to educate the public about Black hair care products.

“All of that is not by accident,” Morrow insists. “In creating relaxer advocates, my goal is not to protect one brand or manufacturer over another. My goal is to tell the truth, make sure the consumer is informed, to make sure that the industry in relaxing gets innovated.”

As part of her efforts, Morrow hosted an event in San in December titled “Take Your Hands Off Our Legacy.” It showcased Black hair professionals and technicians who educated consumers about the legacies of pioneers like Annie Malone, S.B. Fuller, Marjorie Stewart-Joyner, Joe Dudley, and Dr. Willie L. Morrow.

“They have the language in the lawsuit that the manufacturers did not and should have known that the relaxer was dangerous. My response to them is that they should’ve known that, actually, Black people have made their products safer and have been doing that since 2007. Dr. Morrow already did it with California Cream.”

Court records show that about 75 cases have been filed in the mass tort lawsuit, which was formed at the beginning of February 2023.

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC