Thousands of women have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of chemical hair straightening products, alleging these companies knew their products could cause cancer and failed to warn consumers. If you developed uterine or ovarian cancer after years of using hair relaxers, you may be able to join this litigation and pursue compensation for your injuries.
The State of the Litigation
Hair relaxer lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Illinois, where a federal judge is managing pretrial proceedings for cases filed across the country. This consolidation, designated as MDL No. 3060, allows thousands of individual cases to be handled efficiently while preserving each plaintiff's right to their own recovery based on their own facts.
Major defendants include L'Oréal, Revlon, Namaste Laboratories (makers of ORS products), Strength of Nature (makers of African Pride products), and other manufacturers and distributors of chemical straightening products. The litigation alleges these companies sold products containing carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals without adequate warnings about cancer risks.
The MDL is still in relatively early stages. Discovery is ongoing, with plaintiffs' attorneys gathering internal documents from manufacturers that may reveal what these companies knew about their products' risks and when they knew it. Bellwether trials—test cases designed to help establish case values and litigation dynamics—are being selected and prepared.
The Legal Claims
Hair relaxer lawsuits typically assert several legal theories. Failure to warn is the primary claim: manufacturers have a legal duty to warn consumers about known or reasonably knowable risks associated with their products. If these companies had information linking their products to cancer and didn't disclose it, they breached that duty.
Negligence claims allege that manufacturers failed to exercise reasonable care in formulating, testing, and marketing their products. Design defect claims argue that the products were unreasonably dangerous as designed and that safer formulations were feasible. Some complaints also allege fraud or misrepresentation based on marketing claims that may have understated risks or overstated safety.
What You Need for a Case
To pursue a hair relaxer cancer claim, you generally need a documented cancer diagnosis—specifically uterine or ovarian cancer, as these are the conditions with the strongest scientific support for causation. You need a history of using chemical hair straightening products, ideally over an extended period. And you need to be able to establish a plausible timeline connecting your product use to your cancer development.
Documentation strengthens cases significantly. Medical records confirming your cancer diagnosis, pathology reports specifying the type and stage, treatment records, and any documentation of your hair relaxer use all contribute to building a strong claim. Many women don't have receipts for hair products purchased years ago, but other evidence—salon records, testimony from family members who remember the products you used, even photographs showing straightened hair over time—can help establish usage history.
The Process of Filing
Working with an attorney experienced in mass tort litigation is essential. These cases involve complex science, substantial documentation requirements, and procedural rules specific to MDL practice. Your attorney will evaluate your case, gather necessary records, file your complaint, and manage your claim through the litigation process.
Most hair relaxer attorneys work on contingency, meaning you pay no fees unless you recover compensation. This arrangement makes litigation accessible regardless of your financial situation—you don't need money upfront to pursue your claim.
After filing, your case enters the MDL process. You may need to respond to discovery requests—written questions about your medical history and product use—and potentially give a deposition where defense attorneys ask questions under oath. Your attorney will prepare you for these requirements and guide you through each step.
Timeline Expectations
Mass tort litigation takes time. The hair relaxer MDL is likely to continue for several years before most cases resolve. Bellwether trials, which will significantly influence settlement negotiations, haven't happened yet. Global settlement—if one is reached—probably won't occur until those trials produce verdicts that help both sides assess the litigation's value.
This timeline can be frustrating for women dealing with serious illness who want resolution. But filing promptly remains important because statutes of limitations restrict how long you have to bring a claim. Filing now preserves your rights and positions you for eventual recovery, even if that recovery is years away.
What Recovery Might Look Like
Compensation in successful cases typically includes medical expenses (past and future cancer treatment costs), lost income from time away from work, and damages for pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life. The specific value of any case depends on factors including the severity of illness, the extent of treatment required, and the impact on the plaintiff's life and livelihood.
In mass tort settlements, cases are often categorized into tiers based on injury severity and other factors, with different ranges of compensation for each tier. Until settlements are reached or verdicts rendered, specific dollar amounts remain uncertain—but the litigation's scope and the strength of the scientific evidence suggest meaningful recoveries are possible for qualifying plaintiffs.