Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Reach 11,000 Cases as Daubert Deadline Approaches

The hair relaxer mass tort added 247 new cases in a single month. As of February 2026, 11,195 lawsuits are pending in MDL-3060 before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois, making it the fifth-largest active MDL in the federal court system. The litigation approaches a significant procedural gate: Daubert expert challenge motions are due April 1, 2026, following a Science Day hearing held January 8. Bellwether trials are anticipated in 2027.

The litigation involves a substantial demographic concentration. Approximately 60% of participants reporting chemical straightener use in the NIH Sister Study were Black women, reflecting long-standing marketing of relaxer products. Named defendants, including L'Oréal, Revlon, and Softsheen-Carson, face claims alleging products contained endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers without adequate consumer warnings.

Scientific Research

Two epidemiological studies form the basis of plaintiffs' general causation evidence.

The NIH Sister Study, published in October 2022, tracked 33,497 women over 11 years. Researchers found women using chemical hair straighteners more than four times per year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to non-users. The estimated cumulative risk of uterine cancer by age 70 was 1.64% for non-users compared to 4.05% for frequent users (a 2.4-fold increase).

The Boston University Black Women's Health Study, published in 2023, evaluated 44,792 Black women, identifying that postmenopausal Black women who used chemical relaxers at least twice annually had a 50%+ increased risk of uterine cancer.

Identified chemical compounds include parabens, bisphenol A, heavy metals, and formaldehyde (endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in straightening formulations).

Procedural Status in MDL-3060

MDL-3060 has advanced through initial discovery toward expert witness challenges:

32 bellwether discovery cases were selected for case-specific discovery. Fact discovery concluded in February 2026, with depositions limited to four per case.

The Science Day hearing on January 8, 2026 allowed both parties to present scientific summaries on epidemiology and toxicology to Judge Rowland prior to formal Daubert briefing.

The upcoming Daubert decision will determine whether plaintiffs' general causation experts may testify at trial, setting the framework for 2027 bellwether scheduling.

Evidence Gathering for Hair Relaxer Claims

Hair relaxer cases involve proving both cancer diagnosis and product usage history:

Unlike pharmaceutical claims with central pharmacy fill records, hair straighteners were purchased over the counter or applied in salons. Establishing product identification relies on purchase receipts, salon appointment logs, loyalty program records, and client testimony.

On the clinical side, case files require uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer pathology reports, operative notes (such as hysterectomy records), oncology treatment plans, and hormone receptor documentation. Plaintiffs often have care records spanning multiple facilities (gynecologists, oncologists, surgeons, and primary care physicians).

LlamaLab retrieves oncology, pathology, and surgical records in 4 days on average (with ~30-40% returned same-day on electronic requests) and uses insurance data to surface treatment locations clients don't always remember. Invoices are itemized per case to flow through as recoverable case disbursements on settlement statements.

Next Steps for Law Firms

Summary

MDL-3060 is among the largest active mass torts in federal court. With epidemiological studies published, an active FDA rulemaking process, and Daubert motions scheduled, the litigation is entering its core evidentiary phase.

Firms managing hair relaxer inventories should audit case files to verify complete cancer pathology records and documented product usage histories.

Sources: MDL Update (February 2026 statistics), MDL Update (MDL-3060), AboutLawsuits (hearings), NIH (Sister Study), Boston University (Black Women's Health Study), Reuters (L'Oréal litigation). Case data current as of February 2026.