Revlon Lawsuit

People are suing Revlon, alleging that the company failed to alert them about the toxic chemicals in its chemical hair relaxers. These chemicals have been connected to severe health risks, including cancer. Plaintiffs allege Revlon has been aggressively marketing these products to Black and Brown women and children for decades.

Those pursuing hair relaxer lawsuits allege that Revlon knew or should have known about health risks associated with chemical hair relaxers. They also allege Revlon failed to warn them about these toxic products. The lawsuits claim that Revlon misled them through advertising campaigns that marketed the products as safe, organic, natural and nourishing. They claim that the company failed to protect women by not warning them about the health risks of using hair relaxers.

The lawsuits also allege that Revlon leveraged a “deep-rooted connection between hair and identity” to target them. That message reinforced century-old stereotypes that emphasize the need to have straight hair for social and professional success. The plaintiffs also claim that Revlon’s marketing deliberately targeted children to “increase sales and ensure generations of dedicated customers.”

Which Revlon products have harmed consumers?

Certain Revlon hair relaxer products are alleged to have harmed consumers. These include:

• African Pride
• Crème of Nature
• Fabu-Laxer
• Revlon Realistic

Medical research has shown that people who use these (and other) hair relaxers might have an increased risk of serious health effects. This is because the products contain toxic chemicals that may lead consumers to develop various types of cancer. There is no evidence that any amount of any hair relaxer product is without risk.

Thousands of lawsuits claiming harm from hair relaxer products have been filed in multiple states against Revlon and other manufacturers. On February 6, 2023, these individual lawsuits were combined into multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under presiding Judge Mary M. Rowland. As of March 2, 2026, 11,440 hair relaxer cases are pending in MDL No. 3060.

Class action lawsuits and multidistrict litigation are not the same. Here are the key differences:

• Class action lawsuits: A class action lawsuit may be created when many people sue for similar facts. In this situation, individual lawsuits would be too duplicative and time-consuming. One plaintiff represents the entire class, and the outcome of the case applies to all class members and future lawsuits.
• Multidistrict litigation (MDL): When lawsuits involving common questions of fact are pending in several federal district courts, they may be transferred to a single district for coordinated pre-trial proceedings. The cases remain individual lawsuits and verdicts or settlements are unique to each case.

MDL No. 3060 includes other companies besides Revlon. It is not related to claims about talcum powder containing asbestos.

How does the Revlon bankruptcy affect the lawsuits?

Revlon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2022. At the time of the filing, consumers had until October 24, 2022, to file hair relaxer claims against Revlon. One week before the deadline, the National Cancer Institute issued a study linking frequent hair relaxer use with uterine cancer. Dozens more hair relaxer lawsuits were filed but disallowed because of the deadline.

But in March 2023, the bankruptcy judge moved the deadline to April 11, 2023, to allow extra time for claims. In November 2023, Judge Mary Rowland declined to dismiss most of the complaints in the MDL made against Revlon and other companies. Both Revlon, Inc. and Revlon Consumer Products Corporation are named defendants in MDL No. 3060. Hair relaxer lawsuits continue to be filed.

What other companies are being sued in the MDL?

The companies being sued in MDL No. 3060 include:

• AFAM Concept, Inc. d/b/a JF Labs, Inc.
• Avlon Industries
• Beauty Bell Enterprises, LLC d/b/a House of Cheatham, Inc.
• L’Oréal USA, Inc., L’Oréal USA Products, Inc.
• Luster Products, Inc.
• McBride Research Laboratories, Inc.
• Namaste Laboratories, LLC
• Parfums de Coeur, Ltd. d/b/a PDC Brands
• Revlon, Inc., Revlon Consumer Products Corporation
• Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc d/b/a Silk Elements
• SoftSheen-Carson LLC
• Strength of Nature, LLC

Is Revlon involved in other lawsuits?

In addition to the hair relaxer lawsuits, Revlon faces other significant litigation. Other lawsuits allege that the company’s Jean Nate Silkening Body Powder contains talc and causes mesothelioma and other types of cancer.

The illnesses named in the Revlon hair relaxer MDL include:

• Endometrial Cancer: Research has found a connection between frequent use of chemical hair relaxers and an increased risk of endometrial cancer.
• Ovarian cancer: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) present in chemical hair relaxers are connected with a higher risk of ovarian cancer, particularly among Black women.
• Uterine cancer: The lawsuits in the MDL claim that defective hair relaxers caused them to suffer serious illnesses, including uterine cancer.

Numerous research studies have found links between Revlon hair relaxer products and serious illnesses, including:

• The Sister Study: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) began the study in 2003. It examined the risk factors for cancer and other serious conditions related to the use of chemical hair relaxers. The researchers concluded that women using hair relaxers had over twice the risk of developing uterine cancer than non-users.
• The Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS): Boston University conducted the study in 2023. Researchers identified a connection between long-term use of chemical hair straighteners and an increased risk of uterine cancer among postmenopausal women. They concluded that frequent users of the products had a 50% (or greater) risk of uterine cancer than those who never or rarely used them.

As of February 2026, no settlements or jury awards in the Revlon lawsuits have been made. Factors that might impact settlement or jury award amounts include:

• Duration and frequency of use: Long-term, consistent use of hair relaxers may strengthen claims.
• Type and severity of injury: More serious diagnoses, such as uterine cancer, might lead to greater compensation.
• Medical costs and treatment plans: Expenses related to surgeries, fertility treatments or cancer care typically play a major role in award amounts.
• Plaintiff demographics and health history: Individual factors can affect how damages are calculated.
• Strength of evidence: Information contained in medical records and expert testimony will influence outcomes.

The hair relaxer litigation is currently in the pre-trial phase. It’s likely that the first settlement amounts won’t be known until the litigation stage, particularly the results of bellwether trials. Bellwether trials are representative trials conducted to gain insight about the prospects for case settlement. They often set benchmarks for broader settlement negotiations in MDLs.

Many women have developed ovarian, uterine or endometrial cancer, allegedly caused by their use of chemical hair relaxers. If you believe you have been adversely affected, you should consider discussing your legal options with an attorney who has experience in multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Recent medical research has found a link between the chemicals in hair relaxer products and endometrial, ovarian and uterine cancer. People who have suffered significant health problems as a result of using hair relaxers may be eligible to seek compensation through a hair relaxer lawsuit. Our attorneys have a depth of experience supporting women and families facing life-altering health problems. They have the knowledge to help you weigh your legal options.

Read more on our hair relaxer litigation experience.