The multidistrict litigation (MDL 3060) involving hair relaxer products has surpassed 11,000 filed cases, with new lawsuits being added at a rate of approximately 247 per month. The litigation alleges that chemical hair straightening products caused uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis in women who used them regularly.
The Daubert Challenge
The most critical near-term milestone is the April 1, 2026 deadline for Daubert motions. Daubert motions challenge whether expert witnesses' scientific testimony meets the legal standard for admissibility. In mass tort cases, the outcome of Daubert hearings often determines whether a case can proceed to trial.
Defendants — including L'Oréal, Revlon, and other major cosmetics manufacturers — are expected to argue that the scientific evidence linking hair relaxer chemicals to cancer is insufficient and that plaintiffs' experts rely on flawed methodology. Plaintiffs' attorneys will counter with epidemiological studies, including a landmark 2022 National Institutes of Health study that found women who frequently used chemical hair straighteners had more than double the risk of developing uterine cancer.
Who Is Affected
The litigation disproportionately affects Black women, who have historically been the primary consumers of chemical hair straightening products. Studies show that Black women use these products at significantly higher rates and from a younger age than women of other races, leading to longer cumulative exposure to potentially carcinogenic chemicals including formaldehyde, bisphenol A, and phthalates.
Timeline and Next Steps
If the plaintiffs' scientific evidence survives the Daubert challenge, bellwether trials — small groups of representative cases tried before a jury — are expected to begin in 2027. The outcomes of bellwether trials typically set the framework for broader settlement negotiations.