Did you use chemical hair relaxers and develop uterine cancer?
If you or a loved one regularly used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners and were later diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer, you may have a legal claim in the ongoing hair relaxer cancer lawsuit.
What to know about the hair relaxer lawsuit
- Core Issue: Research has raised concerns that chemicals found in some hair relaxers and straighteners may increase the risk of certain gynecological cancers among women who use these products.
- Who it Affects: Women who regularly used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners over an extended period and were subsequently diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer.
- Harm/Impact: A cancer diagnosis can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life, from their health and financial stability to their ability to work and care for their family. In some cases, these diagnoses have resulted in the loss of a loved one.
- Legal Status: As the hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL 3060) continues through the court system, attorneys are actively investigating new hair relaxer lawsuits.
- Take Action: If you or a loved one developed uterine or ovarian cancer after using chemical hair relaxers or straighteners, complete the short form on this page to see if you qualify to file a chemical hair straightener lawsuit.
What is the hair relaxer cancer lawsuit?
Thousands of individuals have filed personal injury claims against major beauty companies, alleging that chemical hair relaxers and straighteners caused uterine and ovarian cancers. These claims have been consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL 3060).
These hair relaxer lawsuits argue that:
- Chemical hair relaxers and straighteners contain potentially harmful ingredients that research has linked to uterine cancer
- Manufacturers knew or should have known about the potential cancer risks
- Consumers were not adequately warned about the potential risks associated with regular, long-term use of these products
If you or a loved one developed uterine or ovarian cancer after regularly using chemical hair relaxers or straighteners, you may qualify to take legal action.
Who qualifies for the chemical hair straightener lawsuit?
You may qualify for hair relaxer lawsuit if the following apply:
- You or a loved one used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners for a total of at least five years, even if there were breaks in use
- You or your loved one were diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer within the past five years
- You or your loved one were 65 or younger at the time of diagnosis
Time limits may apply. Do not wait to check whether you may qualify.
Legally reviewed by: Stacy Hauer
Attorney, Johnson // Becker, PLLC
The law firms responsible for the content of this page are: Johnson // Becker, PLLC; St. Paul, MN; 800-279-6386; johnsonbecker.com and LegaFi Law LLC (an Arizona law firm), 888-4-LegaFi, www.legafi.com.
Hair relaxer lawsuit update
Legal status as of October 2026
- October 2026: The hair relaxer MDL remains active. More than 12,300 cases are pending, and attorneys continue to investigate new claims.
- November 2025: The parties have selected the first 5 bellwether cases. The first of these trials is tentatively scheduled for 2027.
- February 2023: More than 50 individual lawsuits were consolidated into the hair relaxer MDL (MDL 3060) in the Northern District of Illinois, before Judge Rowland.
This page was last reviewed and updated in October 2026 to reflect the latest case developments.
Potential long-term harm linked to chemical hair relaxers
Research has raised concerns about a possible connection between chemical hair relaxers and certain cancers, including uterine and ovarian cancer. For those diagnosed, the effects can extend far beyond their health, affecting their finances, relationships and everyday lives.
Some of the challenges individuals and their families may face include:
- Cancer Treatment: Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or other medical procedures.
- Medical Expenses: Cancer treatment, follow-up appointments and ongoing medical care can create significant financial burdens for individuals and their families.
- Lost Income: Taking time away from work for treatment and recovery can result in lost wages. Some individuals may be unable to return to work for an extended period.
- Fertility and Reproductive Health: Certain treatments for uterine and ovarian cancer may affect a person’s ability to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy, particularly if surgery involves removing reproductive organs.
- Emotional Impact: A cancer diagnosis can bring fear, anxiety and uncertainty, especially when treatment affects a person’s health, fertility or plans for the future.
- Loss of a Loved One: In some cases, these cancers can be fatal, leaving families to cope with the emotional impact of losing someone they love.
The defendants in chemical hair straightener lawsuits — which include L’Oréal and other major beauty companies — have denied that their products cause cancer.
Is the hair relaxer lawsuit a class action?
Most hair relaxer cancer lawsuits are being handled through a multidistrict litigation known as the hair relaxer MDL (MDL 3060), rather than a class action lawsuit.
Unlike a class action, where individuals are generally represented as a group, an MDL brings similar lawsuits together in one federal court to streamline legal proceedings. Each person maintains their own individual claim, allowing factors such as their medical history, cancer diagnosis and personal circumstances to be considered.
If you qualify to file a hair relaxer lawsuit, your claim would be evaluated based on your individual circumstances. Any potential compensation would depend on the facts of your case and how the litigation is resolved.
Which brands are named in the hair relaxer lawsuits?
Hair relaxer cancer lawsuits have named several major beauty companies and brands associated with chemical hair relaxers and straighteners, including:
- L’Oréal
- Motions
- ORS
- Revlon
- Soft and Beautiful
- SoftSheen-Carson
- Strength of Nature
- TCB
Many of these brands have both denied wrongdoing. Revlon has even stated that it does not believe scientific research supports a link between chemical hair relaxers and cancer.
Studies link chemical hair relaxers to increased uterine cancer risk
While Revlon disputes the scientific evidence, research has raised concerns about a possible connection between chemical hair relaxers and uterine cancer. A long-term study by Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study found that frequent use of chemical hair relaxers was associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer, particularly among postmenopausal Black women.
A separate 2022 study reported similar findings.
These findings have become an important part of the scientific evidence cited in hair relaxer cancer lawsuits.
Hair relaxer lawsuit settlement and payout update
As of October 2026, no global hair relaxer lawsuit settlement has been announced in MDL 3060. The litigation remains ongoing, and no settlement payout amounts have been established for the federal cases.
Individuals who believe they may qualify to file a claim can still explore their legal options while the litigation moves forward.
Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.
After you fill out the form, an attorney(s) or their agent(s) may contact you to discuss your legal rights.
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