Lawsuit Update Center
Millions of women use chemical hair relaxers on a regular basis. In 2022, new scientific research revealed that chronic exposure to the chemicals in hair relaxer products can cause uterine and ovarian cancer. This new evidence prompted a wave of lawsuits against the manufacturers of hair relaxer products by women claiming that they developed cancer as a result of using these products.
These cases are moving forward. The MDL judge has scheduled the first bellwether trial for November 3, 2025, with a second trial to follow in February 2026. These trials are intended to help both sides gauge how juries might respond to the evidence and could influence settlement discussions…if there is not a global settlement before the first trial, as many, including our lawyers, suspect.
Our mass tort lawyers have been at the forefront of the hair relaxer cancer lawsuits from the very beginning. We are currently accepting hair relaxer cancer cases from women across the country. Call our office today for a free consultation at 888-322-3010, or get a free online consultation.
Latest Hair Relaxer Lawsuit News & Updates
April 24, 2025 – Battle Over Defendant Fact Sheets
The latest dispute in the multidistrict litigation centers on the use (and utility) of Defendant Fact Sheets during bellwether discovery. Plaintiffs’ counsel argue that what began as a tool for efficient information gathering has now collapsed into an exercise in duplicative, boilerplate disclosures. Their position is clear: the process has outlived its usefulness. It is time to move beyond the formality of generalized fact sheets and focus instead on targeted, case-specific discovery that actually advances the litigation.
It is a little hard to argue with this, right? Especially when you consider how often these fact sheets are filled with copy-paste responses that shed little light on the actual facts of the case. Plaintiffs argue that real progress now depends on drilling down into the unique circumstances of each bellwether plaintiff, not recycling vague generalities under the guise of formal discovery.
Yet, the defendants, unsurprisingly, disagree. They are asking the Court to limit the use of these fact sheets strictly to the 32 selected bellwether plaintiffs and to shut down what they describe as overbroad, repetitive, or expert-driven inquiries. At the heart of the disagreement are familiar fault lines—scope, timing, and whether these fact sheets are being used to circumvent closed discovery.
But underneath the procedural wrangling lies a more fundamental debate. For plaintiffs, this is not just about paperwork. It is about whether discovery will serve its intended purpose—uncovering facts and revealing truth—or whether it will be reduced to a bureaucratic treadmill that burns time and resources while defendants hide behind a wall of process.
The defense, for its part, seems determined to argue that less discovery equals more fairness, which is like saying fewer lifeboats make for a better cruise experience.
With both sides dug in, the Court is now in the unenviable position of having to decide whether to enforce discipline or allow the process to bend toward deeper transparency. Either way, the outcome will shape not only the pace but also the fairness of the litigation going forward.
April 22, 2025 – What Would a Global Hair Relaxer Settlement Cost?
With over 10,000 plaintiffs now part of the chemical hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL), settlement projections are no longer academic—they are essential. The cost to defendants will hinge entirely on the average payout per plaintiff. Below is a visual projection of total liability based on different potential per-claimant settlement values:
As this chart illustrates, even a $100,000 average per person settlement payout would translate to $1 billion in total liability. That number escalates quickly: $200,000 per plaintiff means $2 billion, and so on. At the high end, a $500,000 average settlement balloons the total to a staggering $5 billion.
This is just the MDL. It does not account for the state court lawsuits.
These are back-of-the-envelope projections, of course, but they’re grounded in the math. And they explain why both sides are sharpening their strategy as the litigation moves toward critical causation hearings and potential early trial verdicts.
April 1, 2025 – Hair Relaxer MDL Case Count Update
There are 9,788 active cases in the chemical hair relaxer MDL as of April 1, unchanged from last month. The recent dip in case counts was driven by procedural dismissals, not a decline in plaintiff interest. A key new order now allows dismissed plaintiffs to rejoin the MDL if they meet tight deadlines. With general causation expert disclosures due later this year and bellwether trials expected in 2027, the litigation is maturing, and settlement pressure is building.
March 24, 2025 – Special Master Appointed
Attorneys for both sides have mutually agreed on the nomination of Ellen Reisman of the firm of Reisman Greene Theis to serve as the special master/mediator for this case. Ms. Reisman’s primary role will be to help facilitate negotiations on a global settlement deal. She is a seasoned veteran in the mass tort settlement field and has been appointed as a special settlement master in numerous prior mass torts.
February 14, 2025 – Filing Slowdown
Following the surge of over 150 new cases in the past two months, January saw only 44 additional filings, resulting in a total of 9,863 pending cases—a notable slowdown. The primary reason? Most affected individuals have likely already retained legal representation. But our lawyers still get calls from victims every day. New claims will continue to surface due to the long latency period between chemical exposure and the onset of hormone-related illnesses such as uterine and ovarian cancer (and some people are still just learning of the connection to chemical hair straighteners).
Hair Relaxers
Hair relaxers, also known as “hair perms” or “straighteners,” are predominantly used by African American women to achieve a flat hair appearance. The process of hair relaxing, or lanthionization, can be carried out either at home or at a salon. Typically, the product is applied to the hair’s base or root and left in place to undergo a “cooking” process. During this process, potent chemicals within the product target the hair’s natural protein structure, compelling it to flatten. Generally, retreatment is necessary every 4-8 weeks.
Hair relaxers often contain harsh chemicals like phthalates, which pose potential harm to the human body due to their classification as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs can disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating hormones such as estrogen. Notably, these chemicals are frequently not listed as individual ingredients on the product label. Instead, they are often broadly categorized under terms like “fragrance” or “perfume.”
Chemicals in Hair Relaxers
Hair relaxer products contain many powerful chemicals. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (“DEHP”) is a particularly harmful phthalate chemical that is found in hair relaxer products. It is used to make the product adhere to the scalp and absorb into the hair. DEHP is an EDC that is known to cause major disruption to the endocrine system and trigger hormonal imbalances.
This interference can lead to various reproductive and developmental issues, including infertility, cancer, and developmental abnormalities. Scientists have shown that DEHP acts as a mimic for the female hormone estrogen, contributing to hormonal imbalances.
In response to these health risks, numerous countries have implemented regulations to restrict the use of DEHP and other phthalates in consumer goods. For instance, the European Union has prohibited the use of DEHP in children’s toys, and the United States has imposed limitations on its inclusion in children’s products. However, the use of hair relaxers by children raises more serious concerns, as the direct application of these products with chemicals poses a more intimate exposure compared to playing with a toy, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and regulation.
NIH Study Links Hair Relaxer to Cancer
In October 2022, the results of a groundbreaking long-term study called the “Sister Study” were published. The Sister Study was conducted by a research team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and it included a group of over 50,000 women who participated in the study.
The Sister Study found that frequent use of chemical hair relaxers (over 4 times per year) over long periods increased the risk of uterine cancer by 150%. The results of the Sister Study were definitive proof that hair relaxer was linked to uterine cancer. Chronic exposure to the chemicals in hair straightener products has also been linked to increased risks of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and other health conditions involving the female reproductive system, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis.
Hair Relaxer Class Action Lawsuit
Almost as soon as the Sister Study was published with its findings linking chemical hair relaxers to cancer, women across the country began filing lawsuits. These are product liability claims against some of the biggest cosmetic companies in the world, including L’Oréal, Dabur, and Godrej. These companies manufacture well-known brands such as Dark & Lovely, Africa’s Best, Motions, and Just for Me—products that many women have used for most of their lives, often beginning in childhood.
In January 2023, the growing number of federal lawsuits led to the formation of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Chicago. This consolidated all of the hair relaxer cancer cases under one judge, making it easier to manage early discovery, streamline legal arguments, and prepare for bellwether trials that might shape the future of the litigation. There were fewer than 50 cases when the MDL was formed. By the end of the year, the number had ballooned to over 8,000.
That rapid growth was partly driven by women connecting the dots between long-term relaxer use and serious diagnoses like uterine or ovarian cancer. It was also helped along by a wave of legal advertising—some useful, some just noise, all of it impossible to miss.
The women filing these lawsuits say they used chemical relaxers regularly, month after month, often for years. Many were later diagnosed with reproductive cancers. Their claims are straightforward: these companies failed to warn them. They marketed the products as safe, never mentioned the potential risks, and continued selling them despite growing scientific concerns.
Now, in 2025, the litigation is entering a more serious phase. Discovery is well underway, expert reports are coming into focus, and the first trial dates are now officially scheduled. The initial bellwether trial is scheduled to begin on November 3, 2025, with a second to follow in February 2026. These trials will be the first real test of the plaintiffs’ claims in front of a jury, and their outcomes could shape the path toward settlement or set the stage for a much longer fight. For many of the women at the center of this litigation, it is not just about compensation. It is about accountability. It is about answers. And it is about forcing billion-dollar corporations to finally reckon with the harm caused by products they sold for decades without warning.
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Timeline: Key Events & Developments
2019
Initial Scientific Studies on Hair Relaxers and Cancer Risk
In 2019, researchers began investigating the potential health risks associated with chemical hair relaxers, particularly their link to hormone-related cancers. A notable study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that women who frequently used permanent hair dyes and chemical straighteners had a higher risk of developing breast cancer, with the association being more pronounced among African American women.
The concern was pretty obvious. These products often contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can interfere with hormonal functions. Further research highlighted that hair products used predominantly by Black women, such as relaxers, may contain hazardous chemicals with endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties, potentially contributing to health disparities.
October 2022
NIH Study Links Hair Relaxers to Uterine Cancer
A major National Institutes of Health (NIH) study is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Findings indicate that women who frequently use hair relaxers have a 2.5 times higher risk of developing uterine cancer compared to non-users.
November 2022
First Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Filed
Plaintiffs begin filing lawsuits against major hair relaxer manufacturers, including L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, Strength of Nature, Revlon, and Namaste Laboratories.
April 2023
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit MDL Created (MDL No. 3060)
The JPML approves the consolidation of federal hair relaxer lawsuits into MDL No. 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois, overseen by Judge Mary M. Rowland.
June 2023
Scientific and Medical Review Begins
Plaintiffs’ legal teams work with toxicologists, oncologists, and epidemiologists to build evidence linking phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde in relaxers to cancer risks.
September 2023
First Discovery Requests Issued
Both sides exchange discovery materials, including internal company documents, product formulations, and consumer complaints.
January 2024
Bellwether Trial Selection Process Begins
The court initiates bellwether trial selection, where a small group of cases will be tried first to gauge jury response.
March 2024
Expert Testimonies and Challenges Begin
Both plaintiffs and defendants present scientific experts to support or challenge the link between hair relaxers and cancer. Plaintiffs’ lawyers believe they have the better side of the key economic
June 2024
Lawsuits Grows
There are now over 8,000 chenical hair relaxer lawsits in the MDL, increasing pressure for settlements or trials.
November 2025
Revlon’s Bid to Dismiss Call Cancer Lawsuits Fails
The MDL judge denies Revlon Inc.’s request to dismiss with prejudice all cancer-related claims in the hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL) simply because some plaintiffs lacked a formal cancer diagnosis, ruling that permanently barring potential future claims was too severe. But the judge does dismiss with prejudice all cancer claims filed after the September 14, 2023 deadline and rules that plaintiffs who lacked a confirmed cancer diagnosis but filed before that date could dismiss without prejudice and refile within six months of a diagnosis.
2025 and Beyond
Possible Settlements and Trial Outcomes
The good news is that the bellwether trial dates are set. This is important because trial dates put real pressure on the defendants. The bad news? The trial dates are in 2027. State court trials may come before that.
Predicted Settlement Value of Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
The hair relaxer lawsuits are likely to be resolved through a global settlement, in which the defendants agree to set aside a substantial sum of money for a settlement fund to compensate plaintiffs. In global settlements like this, individual plaintiffs are ranked into “tiers” for purposes of determining the amount of their settlement payout. Plaintiffs with strong claims are in the highest settlement tiers and get more money.
In the hair relaxer class action, uterine cancer cases are expected to fall within the highest settlement tier due to compelling scientific evidence establishing a causal link between hair relaxer use and uterine cancer (as demonstrated in the Sister Study). Additionally, uterine cancer is deemed a more serious injury when compared to uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
Our attorneys estimate that the settlement compensation for hair relaxer-related uterine cancer cases may range from $300,000 to $1,750,000. The wide range in this estimated value is due to the fact that individual uterine cancer cases may be valued differently based on specific circumstances surrounding each case. We think a successful ovarian cancer case could have a settlement value of $400,000 to $750,000. The value for ovarian cancer cases is lower because the causation evidence is not as strong.
Contact Us About a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
If you used a chemical hair straightener and were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer, contact our office today for a free consultation at 888-322-3010, or get a free online consultation.
