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Hair relaxer lawsuit: cancer claims and trial schedule
Thousands of lawsuits claim that chemical hair straighteners, often called relaxers, increased the risk of uterine cancer and other conditions. The federal cases are grouped in Chicago, and the first bellwether trial has been set for September 2027.
By SettlementLift. Published · Updated .
What is alleged
Plaintiffs allege that relaxer products contained chemicals such as formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates and parabens, and that manufacturers including L’Oréal and Revlon did not warn about cancer risks. Claimed injuries include uterine, ovarian and breast cancer.
The research behind the cases
An NIH study published in October 2022 followed 33,497 women for almost 11 years and found that frequent users of hair straightening products were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer as non-users. A study finding an association does not by itself prove that a product caused a particular person’s cancer.
NIH: Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk (October 2022) ↗The federal MDL
MDL 3060 is before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois. The federal panel reported 12,381 pending cases as of October 1, 2026.
JPML: Pending MDL dockets by actions pending (October 1, 2026) ↗Where the cases stand
The court set the first bellwether trial for September 2027, with key expert and summary judgment motions scheduled before then. No global settlement has been announced.
Records that matter
Which products you used, for how many years and how often, receipts or salon records if available, and medical records of the diagnosis and treatment.
Deadlines
Each state sets its own filing deadline, and the clock often starts when you knew or should have known about the injury and its possible cause. Joining an MDL does not pause your state’s deadline, so ask a lawyer promptly if you are considering a claim.
Talking to a lawyer
Mass tort lawyers usually work on contingency, meaning they are paid a percentage of any recovery. Ask how the fee is calculated, which costs you could owe, whether your case would be filed in the MDL or in state court, and who will handle it day to day. SettlementLift is not a law firm and does not take or refer these cases.
ABA: Questions to ask a lawyer ↗Frequently asked questions
When will the hair relaxer lawsuit be settled?
No one can say. The first bellwether trial is set for September 2027, and no global settlement had been announced as of October 19, 2026.
Which brands are named?
Complaints name several manufacturers, including L’Oréal and Revlon, and the specific products vary by case.