
9,863 actions have been filed and are pending in the hair relaxer MDL as of February, 3.
Active case
Recent research has found a link between the chemicals in hair relaxer products and ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancer.
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Hair relaxer lawsuits allege companies like L’Oréal and Revlon manufactured dangerous products that led to people developing cancer. Studies have linked hair relaxer chemicals to multiple types of cancer. Women who developed these cancers after using hair relaxers may be able to file a hair relaxer lawsuit.
People are filing hair relaxer cancer lawsuits because they or their loved ones developed cancer after being exposed to dangerous chemicals contained in these products. Many women use hair relaxers as a part of their normal self-care regimen. However, research and diagnoses have shown an increased risk of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and endometrial cancer in frequent users of hair-relaxer products.
Hair relaxer lawsuits claim defendants:
These lawsuits began after a 2022 study linked chemical hair relaxers to an increased risk of uterine cancer. The 2022 study used data from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The NIEHS is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Researchers found women who frequently used chemical hair straighteners were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer over those who did not. This study used data from a larger body of research called the Sister Study. The Sister Study followed 50,000 women for 10 years to study cancer and what might cause it. Earlier research had linked using these products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
People began to file hair relaxer cancer lawsuits shortly after the 2022 NIEHS study was published. Motley Rice lawyers are currently evaluating potential cases involving these types of cancer:
These cancers have been connected with various chemicals present in hair relaxer products. If you believe you may have developed cancer from these chemicals, consider reaching out to the hair relaxer lawyers at Motley Rice.
In addition to the class action lawsuit, multidistrict litigation (MDL) for hair relaxer claims is currently proceeding in federal court. The MDL consolidates multiple chemical hair straightener lawsuits across the country. The MDL is against hair relaxer manufacturers over the alleged link between the use of hair relaxers and cancer diagnoses.
As of February 3, 2025, 9,863 actions were pending in the hair relaxer MDL.
In 2023, Motley Rice attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick was appointed co-lead counsel for MDL 3060 In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Motley Rice attorney Carmen Scott is co-chair of the Leadership Development Committee for the MDL. Motley Rice attorney Tope Leyimu is on the Leadership Development Committee and is co-chair of the L’Oréal Liability Committee.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer after using a chemical hair relaxer product, know that you are not alone during this difficult time. For more information or to discuss a potential case, reach out to hair relaxer MDL co-lead Fidelma Fitzpatrick or attorney Tope Leyimu. Call 1-800-768-4026 or email at any time.
The hair relaxer product market alone is worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually. For 2024, its worth is estimated to come out to $719.88 million. That number is expected to grow to $889.83 million annually by 2029. Millions of dollars are at stake over one product category. For this reason, manufacturers have also poured millions of dollars into marketing.
Historically, Black and Brown hair textures have been discriminated against and devalued. Cosmetic companies have used branding and slogans to reinforce Eurocentric standards of beauty. But they haven't disclosed the full health effects of these products.
Many defendants named in today’s lawsuits have been marketing their hair-relaxing products since the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. As a result, brand loyalty has been passed down for decades. This has led to generations of Black and Brown women using these products long-term.
In 1990, Godrej (a large multinational company) developed and began marketing Just For Me products. These products targeted children and young women with catchy commercials and colorful packaging. They used depictions of children and language about the “gentle” formula. Many defendants introduced similar product lines aimed at children.
Hair relaxer manufacturers allegedly used misleading language on hair relaxer packages and advertisements. Below are a few examples. This is not an exhaustive list of allegedly misleading language on hair relaxer products.
Plaintiffs allege hair relaxer cancer lawsuit defendants have used misleading labeling and marketing. Whether they called their ingredients “safe,” “natural” or “nourishing,” they all failed to disclose the serious health risks posed to consumers.
Several cosmetic companies have been named in the lawsuits for hair relaxers. Some are standalone companies, and others are owned by larger parent companies. Companies involved in hair relaxer claims include:
These companies allegedly manufacture, market and sell dangerous chemical hair relaxer products. More defendants may be added as people continue to file lawsuits.
These companies are responsible for using product ingredients that may increase cancer risk. Many hair relaxer brands and products are involved in these lawsuits. Some examples include:
Some companies, like L’Oréal, are responsible for multiple products. You may not be sure what company is responsible for a product you believe may have caused your cancer. A hair relaxer lawyer may be able to determine the responsible company.
Read about the alleged link between these hair relaxer products and cancer below.
A growing body of scientific evidence has allegedly linked chemical hair relaxers to some reproductive cancers. Although many people use these chemical hair relaxer products, Black women are more likely to use them and may be at greater risk.
The NIEHS Sister Study provided data for several other studies. The studies illustrated the link between hair-relaxing chemicals and reproductive cancers. The NIEHS Sister Study was a decade-long study that followed 50,000 women aged 35 – 74. Some analyses of Sister Study data do not use the entire population of the study.
About 60% of the study participants who reported using chemical hair relaxers were Black women. This study confirmed that these risks affect Black women more than others.
Hair relaxers may cause cancer because they include several potentially toxic chemicals. These potentially carcinogenic ingredients include but aren’t limited to:
Many of the ingredients in hair relaxers are known endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruption is linked to reproductive cancers, including ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.
Several EDCs and carcinogens have been found in hair relaxers. Consistent exposure can lead to endocrine disruption and the development of cancer over time. For example, one chemical alleged to cause damage is formaldehyde.
In 2023, the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing chemicals in hair relaxers. The administration was scheduled to unveil a proposal for the ban in April 2024. The FDA pushed the target date back to July after missing the April deadline. In July, the FDA missed its target deadline again and announced plans for regulatory action in September. But as of late October, no further announcements had been made.
Tope Leyimu participated in a community forum discussing the possible health risks chemical hair relaxers may have on women’s health. The panel discussed recent scientific studies and the alleged link between the increased risk of developing certain cancers after using these products. Watch more from CBS News.
In 2022, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published a study that found an increased risk of uterine cancer in women who use chemical hair relaxers and straighteners. Endometrial cancer is a type of uterine cancer. In the study, 94.7% of reported uterine cancer cases were classified as endometrial cancer.
Endometrial cancer begins in the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. Endometrial cancer often causes symptoms early on. This can, thankfully, lead to early diagnosis and treatment. However, the primary treatment for endometrial cancer is a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the uterus and cervix. Women who require this procedure may be eligible for a hair relaxer hysterectomy lawsuit.
One of the biggest risk factors for endometrial cancer and uterine cancer is changes in hormones. Hormone changes affect the reproductive organs drastically.
Endometrial cancer symptoms
Contact your healthcare provider for a screening if you experience any of these symptoms.
In 2021, a study in the journal Carcinogenesis linked the use of hair relaxers with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancers occur in the ovaries, part of the female reproductive system. The study found that women who used hair relaxers four or more times per year were approximately twice as likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer can be hard to diagnose early because symptoms are often downplayed. Many symptoms may present similarly to other common conditions. However, cancer cells can grow quickly. It is important to contact your doctor if you experience ovarian cancer symptoms.
Ovarian cancer symptoms
A change in hormones is a risk factor for ovarian cancer.
2.04.25
9,863 actions have been filed and are pending in the hair relaxer MDL as of February, 3.
1.03.25
The hair relaxer MDL grew to 9,819 actions pending as of January 2, 2025.
12.01.24
The hair relaxer MDL has continued to grow as more people file new lawsuits. The total number of active cases is now 9,649.
11.01.24
Plaintiffs continued to file hair relaxer product lawsuits, bringing the total number of cases in the docket to 9,488 at the start of November.
10.10.24
On October 10, 2024, the court held a status hearing and ruled on discovery closure dates for 2025. Written discovery will close on February 28, 2025, with oral fact discovery concluding on September 30, 2025.
10.01.24
In October, the hair relaxer MDL contained 8,393 cases. Individuals and their families who have developed a qualifying condition as a result of using hair relaxer products may still be able to join the MDL.
09.30.24
In September 2024, Judge Mary Rowland determined that a proposed class action lawsuit against hair relaxer manufacturers could proceed. It concerns plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for using allegedly dangerous hair relaxer products. Plaintiffs in the class action say they wouldn’t have purchased the hair relaxers if they had known of the associated dangers. This class action differs from the individual lawsuits filed by people who have developed various cancers connected to hair relaxers.
09.01.24
The September hair relaxer MDL had north of 8,000 actions pending, marking an increase of over 500 cases from August.
08.01.24
The hair relaxer MDL has shrunk to 7,946 actions. Despite this decrease, new claims may still be filed in the Northern District of Illinois.
07.01.24
The hair relaxer MDL grew to 8,192 actions pending as of July 1, 2024. This means 22 more actions have been filed in the past month alleging that hair relaxers have caused cancer in women.
06.01.24
Professor Maura Grossman was appointed Special Master on Electronically Stored Information (ESI) discovery disputes for MDL No. 3060. Professor Grossman’s appointment comes over objections raised by the defendants. Judge Rowland may still continue to rule on discovery disputes.
06.01.24
Over 8,000 actions are pending in the hair relaxer MDL as of June 3, 2024. The year started with 8,026 actions pending. Pending actions refers to the number of individual lawsuits filed within the MDL..
05.01.24
Discussions about appointing a Special Master to the lawsuit continued. A Special Master is a neutral person appointed by the court to help manage the complex proceedings. Professor Maura Grossman was appointed Special Master on Electronically Stored Information (ESI) discovery disputes for MDL No. 3060.
04.01.24
The FDA missed their April 2024 deadline for the proposed formaldehyde ban on hair straightening products.
11.01.23
Two subsidiaries of Dabur India were dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction in the United States. Three subsidiaries of Dabur India were originally included in the MDL. Only Namaste Laboratories remains on the list of defendants.
11.01.23
The Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee filed a claim to loop Revlon into the MDL. Revlon manufactures, markets and sells hair relaxer products containing harmful chemicals. Revlon was not originally included in the MDL because the parent company, Revlon Inc., filed bankruptcy. The November claim required Revlon to include potential plaintiff compensation in their bankruptcy plan.
10.01.23
The FDA proposed a new ban on the use of formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair relaxers. The proposed ban acknowledged the link between formaldehyde and serious illnesses, including cancer. The proposal targeted April 2024 for the ban.
08.01.23
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division approved a Short Form Complaint in the hair relaxer MDL. A Short Form Complaint is an abbreviated version of a legal complaint filed by an individual plaintiff. It contains the essential information connected to the MDL. This includes claims, allegations and damages. It also references the broad allegations common to all plaintiffs in the MDL. A Short Form Complaint addresses the unique aspects of each plaintiff’s case. However, it is still consistent with the primary issues of the MDL.
05.01.23
A new docket entry clarified the process for filing new cases. New complaints would be filed as a new case in the Northern District of Illinois. Each would receive a unique docket number. The complaint had to include a district’s civil cover sheet connecting the new case with the MDL. The Court’s Clerk’s Office was made responsible for transferring the newly filed case to the MDL.
05.01.23
The formal Master Complaint was submitted in federal court. The Master Complaint consolidated the individual complaints and outlined the common allegations.
03.01.23
Motley Rice attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick was appointed as co-lead counsel for the hair relaxer MDL. A Plaintiff’s Steering Committee (PSC) was nominated. This was because the MDL had several law firms representing the various plaintiffs. The PSC would communicate with the court on behalf of all the plaintiffs. Fitzpatrick and their co-leads would preside over the actions of the PSC.
02.01.23
The MDL for hair relaxer marketing, sales practices and products liability litigation was officially approved. It was assigned to the Northern District of Illinois. Plaintiffs were looking for justice and compensation for their injuries caused by hair relaxer products. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland was assigned to the hair relaxer MDL.
01.01.23
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) held a hearing to determine if the lawsuits will consolidate. The defendants opposed the consolidation. But plaintiffs were optimistic the hearing would have a favorable outcome. The Panel made no formal decision.
12.01.22
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation set a hearing date for January 2023. The hearing was for the motion to consolidate the lawsuits into an MDL. During the hearing, the defendants could voice their objections to the MDL.
12.01.22
The defendants, including L’Oréal, argued against the consolidated MDL. The opposition to the MDL would be reviewed by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
11.01.22
A class action lawsuit was filed against L’Oréal and other hair relaxer companies . This separate case was also filed in the Northern District Court of Illinois. The plaintiffs were seeking restitution for the full purchase price of the products they purchased. The products include hair straighteners and relaxers made by L’Oréal and others. These companies allegedly didn’t disclose that their products contained dangerous endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
11.01.22
After the initial hair relaxer lawsuit, more lawsuits were filed in nineteen districts . Attorneys representing the plaintiffs filed a motion to consolidate the related lawsuits into an MDL. With an MDL, similar cases could be transferred to a single district court. An MDL would streamline discovery, combine resources and ensure consistency in pre-trial rulings.
10.01.22
The National Institutes of Health did a study using data from the Sister Study. They concluded that women who use hair-straightening products have a higher risk for uterine cancer than women who don’t . Using the products more than four times a year doubled their risk of developing uterine cancer.
This study added compelling evidence linking the increase in hormone-related cancers to toxic hair relaxers. This study was released days after the original lawsuits for hair relaxers were filed in Illinois.
10.01.22
A 32-year-old woman filed a lawsuit in Illinois against L’Oréal and other companies . Her lawsuit claimed that long-term use of hair-straightening products caused her uterine cancer. The lawsuit alleged that L’Oréal and the other named companies marketed their products as safe and did not warn customers about the increased risk of cancer.
09.01.21
The peer-reviewed medical journal Carcinogenesis published an article in September 2021 about a study that links hair products to increased ovarian cancer risk. The study used data collected by the Sister Study over 10 years. They connected frequent use of hair straightener and relaxer products with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Yes — there is a proposed class action lawsuit for those seriously harmed by chemical hair relaxers.
In late September 2024, U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland determined that enough evidence had been put forth to support the class action lawsuit against hair relaxer manufacturers. As a result, the class action lawsuit can proceed. Motley Rice is not involved in the class action lawsuit.
No hair relaxer lawsuit settlements have happened yet. The first hair relaxer lawsuit trials in the hair relaxer MDL – known as bellwether trials – have not yet begun.
With over 9,000 pending actions as of February 3, 2025, many parties are eager for trial dates to be set. Plaintiffs and defendants are currently involved in preparation, discovery and procedural motions.
As of October 1, 2024, no one has received a settlement from this hair relaxer lawsuit. Settlement offers generally depend on factors like the strength of the evidence and the risks of going to trial. Both parties must be willing to negotiate. Settlement offers can happen during pre-trial proceedings, close to the trial date or after the trial has begun.
To qualify for a hair relaxer lawsuit, you must be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer. If you or someone you love has developed one of these medical issues after long-term use of a hair relaxer, you may have a claim. Contact a hair relaxer attorney at Motley Rice, to discuss your potential case.
Many people have been impacted by ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer allegedly caused by using chemical hair relaxers. If you believe you have been similarly impacted by toxic exposure to hair relaxer chemicals, consider discussing your options with an attorney with experience in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Our attorneys have a depth of experience supporting women and families facing life-altering health problems. We have knowledge that can help you weigh your legal options.
Motley Rice leads litigation brought by thousands of women harmed by defective products. Our law firm has extensive experience litigating product liability lawsuits for women who:
We’ve also helped mothers who have filed lawsuits for birth defects caused by prescription drugs and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) linked to baby formula.
We invite you to reach out to our attorneys at any time to discuss a potential case.
Why are people filing hair relaxer cancer lawsuits?
Predatory marketing efforts of hair relaxer companies
Companies and products named in hair relaxer cancer lawsuits
The alleged link between hair relaxers and cancer
Hair relaxers and uterine and endometrial cancer
Hair relaxers and ovarian cancer
Hair relaxer lawsuit update timeline
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hair relaxer cancer lawsuits
Motley Rice’s experience litigating defective products impacting women
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