Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Information

What Are Hair Relaxers?

Hair relaxers are chemical products used to straighten or loosen tightly curled or textured hair. These products are commonly used in salons and at home and often contain chemicals designed to alter the hair’s natural structure.

Concerns have been raised that some hair relaxer products may contain endocrine-disrupting or potentially harmful chemicals. Numerous lawsuits allege that long-term use of certain hair relaxers may be associated with serious health conditions, and that consumers were not adequately warned of potential risks.

Background:

Hair relaxers have been widely used for decades, particularly among women with textured hair. Scientific attention increased after a 2022 study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported an association between frequent use of chemical hair straighteners and an increased risk of uterine cancer.

Additional studies have explored potential links between certain hair relaxer ingredients and reproductive or hormone-related health outcomes. Researchers note that findings are observational, and further study is ongoing.

About Hair Relaxer–Related Claims

Hair relaxer lawsuits generally involve allegations that manufacturers failed to adequately warn consumers about potential health risks associated with long-term exposure to certain chemical ingredients. Claims commonly raise issues such as:

The following are common legal allegations discussed in hair relaxer–related litigation and are provided for general informational purposes only.

Potential Health Concerns Alleged in Hair Relaxer Claims

Hair relaxer litigation commonly alleges that long-term exposure to certain chemical ingredients may be associated with reproductive and hormone-related cancers, including uterine and ovarian cancer. Scientific findings are observational, and the issues continue to be examined in medical research and court proceedings.

Hair Relaxer Litigation Update (2026)

1. Ongoing MDL and Lawsuit Growth: As of early 2026, more than 10,900 individual hair relaxer lawsuits have been consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3060) in the Northern District of Illinois, where cases alleging uterine, ovarian, endometrial cancer, and related injuries continue to advance.

2. Federal Court Bellwether Planning: In 2025, the federal court overseeing the MDL set a bellwether trial schedule and ordered key discovery processes and deadlines, including setting dates and procedural timelines for expert disclosures and fact sheets.

3. Discovery and Document Production Disputes: Throughout 2024 and into 2025, parties have engaged in contested discovery phases, with motions to compel document production and disputes over evidence exchange as plaintiffs and defendants prepare for future trials.

4. Additional Filings and Case Management Orders: Judges in the MDL have issued case management orders clarifying how plaintiff fact sheets and related disclosures must be submitted, streamlining the litigation process and procedural requirements for ongoing claims.