By the Editorial Staff | Updated June 2026 | No Fee Unless You Win

Women who used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners for years and were later diagnosed with uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer may have legal options. Lawsuits allege manufacturers sold these products without warning consumers about the serious cancer risks linked to long-term chemical exposure. Attorneys are reviewing claims nationwide.

Case at a Glance

• What’s Alleged: Chemical hair relaxer and straightener manufacturers sold products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals without adequately warning consumers about the cancer risk from long-term use
• Alleged Cancers: Uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer
• Use Requirement: At least 4 uses per year for at least 4 years before diagnosis
• Active MDL: MDL No. 3060, Northern District of Illinois; over 11,500 pending cases as of mid-2026
• Current Status: Active and growing; bellwether trial preparation underway; no global settlement announced

What Is the Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit About?

For decades, millions of women used chemical hair relaxers and straightening products as part of their regular hair care routine. Many started using these products as children or teenagers. Lawsuits now allege that the companies making and selling these products knew, or should have known, that the chemicals inside them were linked to serious reproductive cancers, and that they never told their customers.

The core allegation is that manufacturers sold products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, BPA, and heavy metals, while marketing them as safe for repeated use. Plaintiffs allege that the risk of uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer increased with long-term exposure, and that the failure to warn users about that risk left millions of women without the information they needed to make an informed decision about whether to keep using these products.

As of mid-2026, more than 11,500 cases are pending. Courts have rejected early dismissal efforts from several defendants, allowing the claims to move forward into discovery and bellwether trial preparation. Litigation status may change as the MDL develops.

What Is an MDL?

MDL stands for multidistrict litigation. It is not a class action. Each woman’s case remains individual with its own facts, medical history, and damages. The MDL simply allows a federal court to coordinate pretrial proceedings across thousands of similar cases more efficiently.

Alleged Cancers Being Reported

Attorneys are reviewing claims involving the following cancer diagnoses. Eligibility criteria may change as the litigation develops.

• Uterine cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Ovarian cancer

Who May Qualify?

These claims have specific requirements. All of the following must apply for a claim to move forward under current guidelines. Eligibility criteria may change as the litigation develops.

General Eligibility Requirements

• Used a chemical hair straightener or relaxer at least 4 times per year for a minimum of 4 years
• Diagnosed with uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, or ovarian cancer
• Received treatment for the cancer, including surgery, unless the cancer was too advanced for surgery
• Can remember the brand of at least one hair relaxer product used
• Is a U.S. resident
• Is not currently represented by another attorney for this claim

Examples of Brands Involved

• Dark and Lovey
• Olive Oil Relaxer by ORS
• Ovarian cancer
• Motions
• Just for Me
• Optimum Salon Haircare
• African Pride
• Soft & Beautiful
• and More

Treatment Requirement

Treatment must include surgery unless the cancer was too advanced for surgery to be performed. If surgery was not an option due to the stage or severity of the cancer, a claim may still be reviewed. A case review can help assess whether the treatment received meets the current standard.

Filing Deadlines by State

Filing deadlines in these cases depend on when the cancer was diagnosed and when the claimant first connected their diagnosis to hair relaxer use. The rules vary by state. All deadlines are subject to change and a legal review is the best way to confirm what applies to your specific situation.

Why These Cases Have Legal Weight

Chemical hair relaxers have been widely used for generations, and their user base has disproportionately included Black women who have used these products starting at young ages. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2022 found that women who frequently used chemical hair straighteners had more than double the risk of developing uterine cancer compared to women who did not use these products. That research became a catalyst for the litigation and remains a key piece of scientific support for the claims.

Plaintiffs allege that the manufacturers of these products, including major consumer brands, were aware of concerns about the chemical composition of their products and failed to warn consumers. The fact that courts have rejected early dismissal efforts and that the MDL has grown to more than 11,500 cases signals that the legal theories being advanced have substantial support.

What the Lawsuits Allege

• Failure to Warn: Plaintiffs allege that manufacturers knew or should have known that the chemicals in their hair relaxer and straightening products were linked to an increased risk of uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, and failed to warn consumers in any meaningful way.
• Defective Design: Some complaints allege that the products contained known endocrine-disrupting compounds, including phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, and BPA, that posed foreseeable cancer risks with long-term use.
• Negligent Manufacturing and Marketing: Lawsuits claim that manufacturers actively marketed these products as safe for repeated use, including for children and teenagers, without disclosing the known or suspected risks associated with long-term chemical exposure.
• Products Liability: Plaintiffs argue that these products were defective as sold because the known risks were not disclosed and the warnings provided were inadequate to protect consumers who used them regularly over many years.

Subject to Change: The qualifying cancers, use requirements, filing deadlines, and the status of MDL No. 3060 may all change as the litigation develops. This page will be updated regularly. A legal review is the best way to get current information specific to your situation.

Who May Have a Claim

A claim may be available for women who used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners at least four times per year for at least four years and were later diagnosed with uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer at least seven years after first use. The claimant must remember the brand of at least one product used.

The claimant must be a U.S. resident and must not currently be represented by another attorney for this claim. Filing deadline rules vary by state and depend on when the connection between the product and the cancer was first discovered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a chemical hair straightener lawsuit if I used relaxers for years and was later diagnosed with uterine cancer?

You may qualify if you used a chemical hair relaxer or straightener at least four times per year for at least four years, were diagnosed with uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, or ovarian cancer at least seven years after your first use. A case review can help assess whether your specific situation may qualify under current guidelines.

Which cancers may qualify for a chemical hair relaxer lawsuit?

The three qualifying cancers currently under review are uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. The first cancer diagnosis must be one of these three. If a claimant was first diagnosed with a different cancer and later diagnosed with one of these, the claim may not qualify under current guidelines. Eligibility criteria may change as the litigation develops.

What brands of hair relaxers are included in the chemical hair straightener lawsuit?

Many brands are involved in this litigation, including products by L’Oreal, Dark and Lovely, Soft Sheen Carson, and others. The claimant must be able to remember the brand of at least one hair relaxer product used. If only Revlon products were used, the diagnosis date must have been within 90 days of the time of intake due to Revlon’s bankruptcy status. A case review can help assess which brands may be relevant to your situation. Brand lists are subject to change as the litigation develops.

Does the chemical hair straightener lawsuit require that I had surgery for my cancer?

Yes. Treatment must include surgery unless the cancer was too advanced for surgery to be performed. If your cancer was at a stage where surgery was not an option, a claim may still be reviewed based on other forms of treatment received. A case review can help assess whether the treatment you received meets the current standard.

How long do I have to file a chemical hair relaxer cancer lawsuit?

Filing deadlines vary by state and depend on both when you were diagnosed and when you first made the connection between your cancer and hair relaxer use. A case review can help assess whether your situation meets the current deadline rules.

How much does it cost to find out if I qualify for a chemical hair straightener lawsuit?

Nothing. The case evaluation is free and confidential. No outcome or recovery can be guaranteed.

Think You May Have a Case?

Our team works with women who developed cancer after years of using chemical hair relaxers and straighteners. A case review is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation.

See if Your Situation Qualifies →

Filing deadlines vary by state. The sooner you reach out, the more options you may have.