Hair Straightener Uterine Cancer Lawsuit

More women are stepping forward to share their stories, and many of the most powerful claims are now coming from hairstylists and salon professionals. These are women who worked around chemical relaxers every day, often for years, applying the products for clients in enclosed salon spaces with little to no warnings about long-term health risks.

Recent studies support what many stylists have long suspected: the more you’re exposed to these products, the greater your cancer risk. That’s why occupational exposure claims are quickly becoming some of the strongest cases in the national hair relaxer litigation.

For many of these women, the impact has been devastating:

• Cancer diagnoses that came with no warning
• Careers cut short by illness or surgery
• Long-term complications and financial uncertainty

These cases all share a troubling theme: the companies that made and sold these products never warned stylists or consumers about the risks.

Case Count Update

As of October 2025, there were 10,552 lawsuits pending in the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Illinois. This is a slight decrease from last month because some dismissed cases have been cleared from the docket, and new claims have emerged in state courts.

You Don’t Need to Live in Illinois to File

Even though the MDL is based in Illinois, you can file a claim no matter where you live. Hach & Rose can help women across the country pursue justice and compensation for the harm they’ve suffered.

If you were diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, or another hormone-related condition after years of using or working with chemical hair straighteners, you may have a legal claim.

Contact Hach & Rose today for a free, confidential consultation. We’re here to help you understand your rights and take the next step forward.

The federal court overseeing the hair relaxer cancer lawsuits continues to make progress, with several important updates this month that impact how the case is progressing.

Court Orders Defendant Company to Hand Over Internal Emails

A judge has ruled that Namaste must turn over internal emails it tried to withhold from the plaintiffs. The court determined these communications were not protected by the attorney-client privilege and must be shared. These documents could help shed light on what the company knew about the potential risks of its products.

Discovery and Trial Preparation Continue

These key deadlines will help move the cases toward trial:

• Plaintiffs’ expert reports are due by December 1
  
• Defense expert reports are due January 6, 2026
  
• A Science Day is scheduled for January 8, where experts will present evidence about the connection between hair relaxers and hormone-related illnesses
• Expert discovery will close in March, followed by legal challenges in April

Concerns Raised Over Avlon’s Legal Tactics

Plaintiffs’ attorneys are raising concerns about how another defendant, Avlon, is handling discovery. Issues include late document production, mixed deposition formats, and witnesses’ refusal to verify their own emails. These delays make it harder for plaintiffs to prepare their cases fully.

Insurance Dispute Could Affect Future Settlements

Yet another defendant is complicating this litigation. Sally Beauty Holdings is now suing its insurance carrier for failing to pay defense costs related to the lawsuits. The outcome could impact how much money Sally may have available for victims seeking compensation.

Case Count Grows

As of September 2025, there are now 10,858 lawsuits pending in the federal multidistrict litigation. Many women are just now discovering the potential connection between long-term chemical relaxer use and diagnoses such as uterine cancer, fibroids, and other reproductive issues.If you’ve been diagnosed with a hormone-related cancer or other serious medical condition after using chemical hair straighteners, you may have legal options. The team at Hach & Rose is here to help you understand your rights and what steps to take next.

A newly published study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention forecasts a significant increase in uterine cancer deaths by 2050, particularly among Black women. According to the report, mortality rates for Black women are projected to rise by nearly 98%, reaching 27.9 deaths per 100,000, compared to 11.2 per 100,000 for white women.

Researchers cite aggressive tumor subtypes, delays in diagnosis, and systemic barriers to care as primary drivers. The study also points to hormone-disrupting chemicals, such as those found in hair relaxers, as a potential contributing factor. This builds on prior research from the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which linked frequent hair relaxer use to a 2.5-fold increased risk of uterine cancer.

These findings coincide with growing litigation against manufacturers like L’Oréal, Revlon, and SoftSheen-Carson. In these lawsuits, plaintiffs are alleging failure to warn consumers of the cancer risks associated with long-term chemical exposure, and most claimants report beginning use during childhood or adolescence.

The federal judge presiding over the multidistrict litigation (MDL) has scheduled a Science Day for January 8, 2026. During this non-adversarial proceeding, expert witnesses from both sides will present scientific information on the alleged link between chemical hair straighteners and hormone-related cancers, including uterine, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.

Although the presentations are not formal evidence and won’t be subject to cross-examination, they are expected to influence the court’s future decisions on expert testimony and the admissibility of scientific opinions.

Science Day will also help shape how the court handles the next phase of the litigation, including the first round of bellwether trials, which will draw from a discovery pool of 32 selected cases.

The hair relaxer MDL now includes 10,404 active cases, up from 10,317 the previous month. While the rate of new filings has moderated, claims continue to rise steadily as more individuals link their diagnoses to long-term product use.

If you or someone you know developed cancer or a reproductive illness after long-term use of chemical hair straighteners, you may be eligible to file a claim. The Hach & Rose team can explain more about your legal rights during a free consultation.

L’Oréal USA Files Motion for International Discovery

L’Oréal USA filed an unopposed motion under the Hague Convention seeking documents from its French parent company, L’Oréal S.A. The documents relate to product ingredients, safety testing, and health risks. Discovery efforts are ongoing.

Bellwether Trial Selection Deadlines

By April 30, 2025, plaintiffs and defendants must submit 20 cases each for bellwether selection. The court will narrow the pool to 32 and select 10 cases involving uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer for trial. Trials are scheduled for 2026.

State Court and Class Action Update

No major developments occurred in state court hair relaxer cases last month. Most have been transferred to MDL 3060. A proposed consumer class action seeking refunds and medical monitoring remains active. No new rulings were issued in the past 30 days.

The hair relaxer cancer litigation’s Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee has asked for 11% of the total gross settlement or judgment in hair relaxer lawsuits to be reserved for a plaintiff benefit fund. 8% of the funds would go towards work that benefits the collective parties involved, with the remaining 3% going towards everyday benefit expenses.

This allocation of funds is not part of the compensation intended for plaintiffs and instead covers the expenses of the many lawyers involved in the case.

Hair relaxer lawsuits have put pressure on the FDA to reevaluate its stance on the many harmful chemicals used in hair relaxer products. With the conclusions reached by many studies as justification, the FDA has proposed banning formaldehyde from use in chemical hair relaxers.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that is commonly associated with embalming and preserving dead specimens, but also has been found in hair relaxer products. There is a clear consensus that it is a carcinogen and dangerous to human health in even small amounts.

As estimated, the number of hair relaxer cancer lawsuits has increased significantly over the past month, bringing the total number of pending hair relaxer lawsuits to 5,996. The addition

of about 4,000 new plaintiffs this month heralds even more growth in the hair relaxer litigation and even more pressure on hair relaxer manufacturers.

It is currently estimated that if the growth in the number of hair relaxer cancer lawsuits increases at a similar rate then there could be close to 10,000 lawsuits filed by the end of the year.

The numerous hair relaxer lawsuits filed in various districts across the country have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML). This measure was taken after the panel found that the many lawsuits shared common questions of fact, so that the process for this widespread litigation would be more streamlined for the benefit of all.

Multidistrict litigation consolidates and brings together many similar civil lawsuits from different federal district courts under one single district court for pretrial proceedings. This alleviates the burden on the court system and makes the discovery process much more convenient for both plaintiffs and defendants.

The hair relaxer multidistrict litigation has been consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago under Judge Mary Rowland.

There are over 100 hair relaxer lawsuits filed in various Federal Courts nationwide. On November 15, 2022, a group of plaintiffs filed a motion to transfer venue to establish a federal hair straightener MDL based on common questions of fact and law that have been raised in the approximately 100 hair straightener lawsuits as of that date. The Joint Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) filed the motion.

In an MDL, all nationwide lawsuits filed in federal courts would be consolidated in one jurisdiction before a single judge. The plaintiffs have requested that the Northern District of Illinois be chosen as the proper venue for the hair relaxer uterine cancer lawsuit.

The JPML issues a notice of hearing on December 16, stating it will entertain oral arguments on the morning of January 26, 2023, to determine whether all hair straightening lawsuits should be consolidated. There are many manufacturers involved, the biggest being L’Oréal. However, the manufacturers oppose creating a hair straightening MDL due to the number of defendants and varying types of injuries.

• Obesity
• Over the age of 50
• Family member with uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer
• Estrogen replacement during menopause
• Environmental factors (this includes hair products, which help explain the health disparities and increased uterine cancer rates for black women)

Hair relaxer use has also been tied to the risk of developing other health conditions. Uterine fibroids have been found to occur at higher rates among demographics that use hair relaxers. Uterine fibroids are growths in the uterus that are not cancerous but can grow in ways that can cause complications.

Hair relaxer use by children has been connected with the early onset of puberty. The hormonal problems caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in hair relaxers can cause puberty to occur early, which can increase the risk of metabolic syndromes such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The following are some of the significant symptoms attributed to the development of both ovarian and uterine cancer. If you or a loved one notices that you have been suffering from several of the following symptoms, then seek help from your physician as soon as possible. These symptoms, paired with a history of hair relaxer use, can be a likely indicator that you could be suffering from either ovarian or uterine cancer.

• Fatigue
• Changes in bowel habits (constipation, high frequency)
• Frequent urination
• Bloating
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain or pressure

For years, scientists and researchers were baffled as to why black women had a disproportionately high rate of uterine and endometrial cancer compared to white women. Black women are not predisposed to this type of cancer. Instead, the everyday use of chemical hair straighteners and the increased risk of uterine cancer explain this away.

This is the first epidemiological study to find an association between the use of chemical hair straighteners and uterine cancer, regardless of frequency. However, frequent users are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

If you were diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer or uterine fibroids resulting in a hysterectomy after using chemical hair straighteners and relaxers, you could be entitled to seek compensation from the manufacturer. Companies have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe for consumers to use and to warn consumers of any potential dangers associated with using them. Contact the hair relaxer lawsuit attorneys with Hach & Rose, LLP to discuss your situation and your legal options.

A 2016 study by the Environmental Working Group studied retailers and stores that sell beauty products targeting black women. The researchers cataloged ingredients in numerous products, including hair straighteners.

Regarding chemical hair straighteners, the study found that a vast majority were considered extremely risky due to potential harm. Some “no lye” relaxers and dyes were marketed as safe alternatives due to the lack of sodium hydroxide. However, the study deemed these “no-lye” treatments to pose a substantial health risk as they contained formaldehyde and parabens. Both ingredients are linked to increased uterine cancer risk.

Chemical hair straightening products typically contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. While the National Institutes of Health study may be the first research paper investigating the link between hair straighteners and uterine cancer, there is a body of scientific research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Our endocrine system controls the body’s production and use of specific hormones. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals disrupt the endocrine system and can completely throw hormone production out of whack. Many diseases, including uterine cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer (a type of uterine cancer) are hormone-related cancers. In other words, hormones could create and exacerbate cancers and diseases.

Here is some interesting information on the science behind the link between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and uterine cancer. We can only assume that these endocrine-disrupting chemicals play a significant role in why the users of hair straightening products cause women to develop uterine cancer. This is the only logical reason black women develop uterine cancer at an alarming rate.