MDL Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability
11,440 pending
Pharmaceutical · claims linking chemical hair relaxers to reproductive cancers and endocrine disruption
Defendant
L'Oréal USA, Inc.
MDL / Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Judge
Judge Mary M. Rowland
Plaintiffs
~11,761 pending (11,440 per JPML's March 2, 2026 report, plus ~321 new filings tracked since)
Bellwether / Trial
No verdicts yet
Settlement Status
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Case overview
MDL 3060 (In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation) before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois now exceeds 11,000 federal cases as of mid-2026, with bellwether trials expected late 2026 or 2027. Plaintiffs allege chemical hair relaxers manufactured by L'Oréal, Revlon, Namaste Laboratories, Strength of Nature, and Softsheen-Carson contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cause uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer through chronic scalp absorption and inhalation during decades of regular use. The litigation is disproportionately composed of Black women, who constitute over 80% of product users and many of whom began use in childhood.
Causation Theory
The October 2022 NIH Sister Study found women using chemical hair straighteners more than four times annually had approximately 2.5 times the uterine cancer risk of non-users, with cumulative incidence by age 70 estimated at 4.05% versus 1.64%. Plaintiffs' theory centers on chronic exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals including phthalates, parabens, bisphenol A, and formaldehyde—classified by IARC as a known human carcinogen—absorbed through scalp contact and inhaled during heated application every 6-8 weeks over decades. A June 2026 scoping review in Current Environmental Health Reports confirmed chemical straighteners contain EDCs, carcinogens, and heavy metals, with exposure occurring through dermal absorption, inhalation of heated fumes, and ingestion.
Case Management Orders
Litigation status
Judge Mary M. Rowland has taken direct control of bellwether selection in MDL 3060, rejecting the parties' alternating-picks system and personally selecting cases by April 2026. Case-specific Daubert and summary judgment motions are due November 16, 2026, with first trials expected in 2027. A court-appointed Special Master continues facilitating settlement discussions in parallel.
MDL Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability
11,440 pending
State Court Activity
Coordinated proceedings active in Illinois, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), New York, and Georgia; Georgia Court of Appeals allowed fibroid claims to proceed in state court
MDL 3060 Leadership
Plaintiff Leadership
Co-Lead Counsel
Liaison Counsel
Executive Committee Member
Steering Committee Member
Geographic exposure
NIH study published October 2022 followed approximately 34,000 women ages 35-74 over 11 years, finding elevated uterine cancer risk among frequent hair relaxer users. Black women constitute over 80% of U.S. hair relaxer purchases; many with childhood onset of use. FDA received hundreds of adverse event reports since 2004 including chemical burns, hair loss, hospitalizations, and cancer diagnoses. FDA has missed five deadlines to propose formaldehyde ban.
MDL 3060, In re Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Mary M. Rowland. Over 11,000 federal cases pending as of June 2026. Docket 1:23-cv-00818. Bellwether and general-causation phase active; expert-evidence briefing underway. No global settlement finalized.
Fifty-seven hair relaxer lawsuits filed; forty-four consolidated before Judge Patrick T. Stanton. Four bellwether cases fully briefed on dismissal motions; rulings pending. Discovery stayed pending those decisions. Five cases trial-ready by late 2025 or early 2026; thirteen additional cases await consolidation following August 28, 2025 hearing.
Six cases active in Court of Common Pleas; state-level consolidation ordered June 23, 2025 to streamline pretrial proceedings. Coordination with federal MDL discovery ongoing. Substantial docket growth anticipated.
Twenty cases grouped under Judge Derek J. White; proceedings temporarily stayed pending appeal in Burroughs v. L'Oréal USA, Inc. on statute of repose issue.
Seven active cases; consolidation requests pending before Judge Alvin T. Wong.
Two cases pending; motions to dismiss awaiting rulings.
New plaintiff joined MDL August 17, 2025, reflecting ongoing nationwide intake.
Formaldehyde banned as cosmetic ingredient by EU/UK legislation effective 2019. Stricter labelling requirements introduced 2026: formaldehyde warning threshold lowered from 0.05% to 0.001% (10 ppm) in finished products. Occupational exposure events documented: former hairdresser in Milton Keynes developed respiratory burns, chronic fatigue, mobility impairment after years of Brazilian blow-dry treatments beginning 2008.
Key defendants
L'Oréal USA, Inc.
Role: Manufacturer
Named in Master Short-Form Complaint (Doc. 106-1, 1:23-cv-00818) for Dark & Lovely, Optimum, Mizani brands. Core Phase I defendant with SoftSheen-Carson LLC.
SoftSheen-Carson LLC
Role: Manufacturer
L'Oréal subsidiary named in Master Short-Form Complaint for hair relaxer brands. Jointly sued with parent; no separate dismissal motion found in results.
Revlon, Inc.
Role: Manufacturer
Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Crème of Nature, Revlon Realistic brands. Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023; litigation posture complicated by restructuring.
Strength of Nature, LLC
Role: Manufacturer
Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Motions, Just for Me, Soft & Beautiful, TCB, TCB Naturals brands. Godrej SON Holdings affiliate; active in MDL 3060.
John Paul Mitchell Systems
Role: Manufacturer
Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1098). Judge Rowland rejected 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) challenges; ~37 plaintiffs actively pursuing claims.
Advanced Beauty Inc.
Role: Manufacturer
Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1097). Judge Rowland found standing and causation allegations sufficient; ~40 plaintiffs from 18 states.
| Defendant | Role | Intelligence Note |
|---|---|---|
| L'Oréal USA, Inc. | Manufacturer | Named in Master Short-Form Complaint (Doc. 106-1, 1:23-cv-00818) for Dark & Lovely, Optimum, Mizani brands. Core Phase I defendant with SoftSheen-Carson LLC. |
| SoftSheen-Carson LLC | Manufacturer | L'Oréal subsidiary named in Master Short-Form Complaint for hair relaxer brands. Jointly sued with parent; no separate dismissal motion found in results. |
| Revlon, Inc. | Manufacturer | Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Crème of Nature, Revlon Realistic brands. Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023; litigation posture complicated by restructuring. |
| Strength of Nature, LLC | Manufacturer | Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Motions, Just for Me, Soft & Beautiful, TCB, TCB Naturals brands. Godrej SON Holdings affiliate; active in MDL 3060. |
| John Paul Mitchell Systems | Manufacturer | Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1098). Judge Rowland rejected 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) challenges; ~37 plaintiffs actively pursuing claims. |
| Advanced Beauty Inc. | Manufacturer | Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1097). Judge Rowland found standing and causation allegations sufficient; ~40 plaintiffs from 18 states. |
Timeline
NIH Sister Study Published
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences published findings in Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Chang et al., PMID 36245087) showing women using chemical hair relaxers more than four times annually had approximately 2.5 times the uterine cancer risk of non-users. Study tracked 33,497 women over approximately 11 years.
First Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Filed
Initial product liability complaints filed within days of NIH study publication, focusing on uterine cancer claims against L'Oréal, Strength of Nature, Revlon, Namaste Laboratories, and other manufacturers.
JPML Creates MDL 3060
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated federal hair relaxer cases as MDL 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois.
Court Denies Motions to Dismiss Core Claims
Judge Rowland largely denied manufacturers' motions to dismiss, allowing failure-to-warn and design defect claims to proceed.
Georgia Appellate Court Affirms State Court Jurisdiction
Georgia Court of Appeals allowed Kiara Burroughs' hair relaxer lawsuit to proceed against L'Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, and Strength of Nature, rejecting dismissal bid.
Bellwether Pool Selections Submitted
Parties submitted 40 total bellwether candidates (20 per side). Special Master Ellen K. Reisman appointed to oversee settlement negotiations.
L'Oréal S.A. Dismissed for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction
Judge Rowland dismissed French parent company L'Oréal S.A. from MDL 3060. Domestic subsidiaries L'Oréal USA remain defendants.
Uterine Fibroid Claims Excluded from MDL
Court ruled uterine fibroid cases would not proceed within MDL 3060, narrowing consolidated claims to hormone-related cancers (uterine, endometrial, ovarian).
Science Day Held
Judge Rowland conducted formal Science Day hearing in MDL 3060. Plaintiff and defense experts presented epidemiological and toxicological evidence on causation before Daubert briefing.
Daubert Motions Filed
Both sides filed Rule 702 motions challenging scientific reliability of opposing causation experts. Rulings will determine admissibility of general causation evidence.
Judge Selects 10 Bellwether Cases
Judge Rowland personally selected 10 bellwether trial candidates from pool of 32, rejecting party-driven alternating selection process. Only uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer claims eligible.
MDL Reaches 11,877 Pending Cases
JPML Statistics Report shows MDL 3060 has grown to 11,877 pending actions, among the largest active mass torts.
Statute of limitations
MDL No. 3060 (In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation) pending before Judge Mary M. Rowland in N.D. Ill. per search result [6]. FDA formaldehyde ban rule stalled by January 2025 regulatory freeze executive order per search result [6]. Revlon bankruptcy: Hair Straightener Bar Date of April 11, 2023 has passed; late claims require leave of court per In re RML, LLC, 657 B.R. 709 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023), search result [7]. Screen for bankruptcy bar date exposure on all Revlon/ColorProof claims. California and Texas removed from draft—no supporting citations in search results.
Illinois
2 years from injury
Rule: 735 ILCS 5/13-202; product liability claims accrue upon injury
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; accrual when plaintiff knows or should know of injury and its cause
MDL No. 3060 centralized in N.D. Ill. before Judge Mary M. Rowland per search result [6]. State court actions referenced in search result [6].
Florida
4 years from injury; 2 years for wrongful death
Rule: Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a), (e); product liability statute runs from date of injury
Discovery: Discovery rule recognized; statute begins when injury is or should be discovered with due diligence
Confirmed in search result [4].
New York
3 years from injury
Rule: CPLR § 214(2); product liability claims subject to three-year limitations period
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; continuous use doctrine may extend accrual for latent injuries
State court actions referenced in search result [6]. Revlon bankruptcy: Hair Straightener Bar Date of April 11, 2023 passed; late claims require leave of court per In re RML, LLC, 657 B.R. 709 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023), search result [7].
Georgia
2 years from injury
Rule: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; strict product liability claims subject to two-year period
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; accrual upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection
State court litigation active per search result [6].
Pennsylvania
2 years from injury
Rule: 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524; product liability claims subject to two-year limitations
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; statute tolls until plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and cause
State court actions referenced in search result [6].
| State | SOL | Rule | Discovery Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2 years from injury | 735 ILCS 5/13-202; product liability claims accrue upon injury | Discovery rule applies; accrual when plaintiff knows or should know of injury and its cause | MDL No. 3060 centralized in N.D. Ill. before Judge Mary M. Rowland per search result [6]. State court actions referenced in search result [6]. |
| Florida | 4 years from injury; 2 years for wrongful death | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a), (e); product liability statute runs from date of injury | Discovery rule recognized; statute begins when injury is or should be discovered with due diligence | Confirmed in search result [4]. |
| New York | 3 years from injury | CPLR § 214(2); product liability claims subject to three-year limitations period | Discovery rule applies; continuous use doctrine may extend accrual for latent injuries | State court actions referenced in search result [6]. Revlon bankruptcy: Hair Straightener Bar Date of April 11, 2023 passed; late claims require leave of court per In re RML, LLC, 657 B.R. 709 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023), search result [7]. |
| Georgia | 2 years from injury | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; strict product liability claims subject to two-year period | Discovery rule applies; accrual upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection | State court litigation active per search result [6]. |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years from injury | 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524; product liability claims subject to two-year limitations | Discovery rule applies; statute tolls until plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and cause | State court actions referenced in search result [6]. |
Live intelligence
AI litigation brief
Hair Relaxer remains mid-stage / daubert pending with 281 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
Judge Mary M. Rowland has taken direct control of bellwether selection in MDL 3060, rejecting the parties' alternating-picks system and personally selecting cases by April 2026. Case-specific Daubert and summary judgment motions are due November 16, 2026, with first trials expected in 2027. A court-appointed Special Master continues facilitating settlement discussions in parallel.
Key developments
Trajectory
Court filings and press coverage are both active in MDL 3060, pointing to sustained litigation pressure rather than a one-off headline cycle. 6 live sources are contributing current context.
Editorial intelligence
MDL 3060 should stay on the lead docket watch because it is the primary consolidation vehicle for Hair Relaxer.
Generated Aug 12, 2026, 3:00 AM UTC
281 events detected
Google News (12)
Claim That L’Oréal Faces ‘11,000 Cancer Lawsuits’ Lacks Important Context - english.factcrescendo.com
Hair Straightener Use Linked to Higher Uterine Cancer Risk – What Frequent Users Should Know - inkl
Oncologists Warn: Chemical Hair Relaxers May Increase Cancer Risk for Women - AOL.com
Oncologists Are Begging Women To Ditch This Common Hair Product - parade.com
L’Oréal Moves to Appeal Order Forcing Exec Depositions in Phila. Hair Relaxer Mass Tort - Law.com
Review finds toxic chemicals in hair straightening products, with Black women and stylists hit hardest - The Cool Down
Popular hair straightening products expose consumers and stylists to toxic chemicals - ehn.org
Hair Relaxers and Dyes Linked to Increased Risk of Uterine Fibroids - Boston University
Relaxer Lawsuit 2026: Payouts, Eligibility & How to File - LawFold.com
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Lawyer: What to Know in 2026 - LawFold.com
Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit: Are You Eligible in 2026? - LawFold.com
Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk - The Indian Panorama
No recent PubMed signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
No recent FDA signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket filed in JPML: The plaintiffs claim that multiple manufacturers produced and sold defective hair relaxer products, resulting in severe health issues such as uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. The lawsuit targets a broad range of hair relaxer products from various companies. Legal claims includ
Authorization to Disclose Employment Information
ilnd_html
This is a form authorizing the release of employment and medical records for litigation purposes, not a court order.
Short-Form Complaint — MDL 3060
ilnd_html
This document is a short-form complaint and jury demand for the Hair Relaxer MDL, incorporating the master long-form complaint and designating venue pursuant to CMO No. 2.
Plaintiff Fact Sheet — Hair Relaxer MDL
ilnd_html
This document is a Plaintiff Fact Sheet requiring each plaintiff in MDL 3060 to provide detailed information under oath about their use of hair relaxer products.
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Althea Brewer; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25508635. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Taylor, Larry) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Bertha Lou Anderson; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25508566. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Taylor, Larry) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Irene Reyna De Leal; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25508321.(London, Michael) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Jade Walker; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25508226.(Glean, Darsey) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Karen Tippin; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25508024.(Wallace, Edward) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Susan Latson; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25507935.(Wallace, Edward) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
Workbench
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LexGenius Ranking
79Score
Court, news, and regulatory activity are elevated
Monitoring
Live
monitoring
Last: Aug 12, 2026, 3:00 AM UTC
Next: —
Source Monitoring
PACER
PACER
Google News
FAERS
PubMed
Event feed
281
events detected
AI Brief
Hair Relaxer remains mid-stage / daubert pending with 281 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
Judge Mary M. Rowland has taken direct control of bellwether selection in MDL 3060, rejecting the parties' alternating-picks system and personally selecting cases by April 2026. Case-specific Daubert and summary judgment motions are due November 16, 2026, with first trials expected in 2027. A court-appointed Special Master continues facilitating settlement discussions in parallel.
Key developments
PACER court filing on Dec 31: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation. ‖ english.factcrescendo.com news on Jul 15: Claim That L’Oréal Faces ‘11,000 Cancer Lawsuits’ Lacks Important Context - english.factcrescendo.com.
Generated Aug 12, 2026, 3:00 AM UTC
Tracked MDLs
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability