Hair Relaxer Lawsuit: Where the MDL Actually Stands
Over 11,000 pending claims, a court-appointed Special Master negotiating talks, but still no global settlement in the federal MDL.
Table of Contents (6 sections)
Hair relaxer litigation has grown to over 11,000 pending federal cases without yet producing a global settlement — a reminder that a large, well-established MDL and an available payout are not the same thing. A court-appointed Special Master is now facilitating structured talks, which is real progress, but it is progress toward a settlement, not a settlement itself.
Quick answer: The federal litigation is MDL No. 3060 before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois, with over 11,000 pending plaintiffs. Plaintiffs allege long-term chemical hair relaxer use is linked to increased uterine and ovarian cancer risk. In April 2025, the judge appointed a Special Master to facilitate structured settlement negotiations on threshold issues — but no global settlement has been reached as of this writing. The one existing payout source is unrelated to the main MDL: Revlon’s 2023 Chapter 11 bankruptcy set aside up to $44 million for claimants against Revlon specifically, resolved separately from the ongoing litigation against other manufacturers.
What the Litigation Alleges
Plaintiffs allege that long-term use of chemical hair relaxer and straightening products — used disproportionately by Black women, a fact the litigation’s public health narrative treats as significant given the alleged disparate cancer-risk impact — is associated with increased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer, and that manufacturers knew or should have known of this risk and failed to warn users adequately.
Where the Federal MDL Stands
- February 2023 — Cases centralized as MDL No. 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
- Case growth — Over 11,000 plaintiffs pending as of early-to-mid 2026, among the larger current federal MDLs.
- April 30, 2025 — Judge Rowland appointed a Special Master to facilitate structured settlement discussions focused on “threshold issues”: what the product warnings and labeling said, how the products were marketed, and what usage instructions accompanied them.
- As of this writing — No global settlement has resulted from those talks. This is a case where the process for reaching a settlement is visibly underway without yet having produced one — see our explainer on how mass tort litigation actually works for why a special master’s involvement is evidence of progress, not evidence of a deal.
The Revlon Exception
Revlon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2022, with its reorganization plan confirmed in 2023 — separately from, and largely before, the main hair relaxer MDL matured. As part of that bankruptcy, up to $44 million was set aside for hair-relaxer claimants specifically against Revlon. This fund is:
- Much smaller than what a global settlement against all defendants would likely involve
- Limited to Revlon-branded products — it does not cover claims against L’Oréal, Namaste/Strength of Nature, or other manufacturers named in the MDL
- Resolved through the bankruptcy claims process, not through the ongoing MDL litigation
If your claim involves a Revlon product specifically, this fund — not the broader MDL — is the relevant process to ask an attorney about.
What You’d Need for a Claim
- A uterine or ovarian cancer diagnosis, with pathology and treatment records
- A documented history of chemical hair relaxer use — brand, frequency and duration matter to how the alleged risk applies to your case
- Purchase or product records where available — receipts, packaging, or a consistent brand history, since these products were often used over many years before a diagnosis
Sources & Further Reading
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois — docket for MDL No. 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (public via CourtListener)
- Revlon Chapter 11 reorganization plan (confirmed 2023) — establishing the separate hair-relaxer claimant fund
- See our explainer on how mass tort litigation actually works for what “Special Master” and “MDL” mean in practice, and our talcum powder settlement guide for how a bankruptcy process can run alongside — or instead of — ordinary tort litigation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a settlement fund for hair relaxer claims?
Not in the federal MDL — no global settlement has been reached there. The one exception is Revlon specifically: its 2023 Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization set aside up to $44 million for hair-relaxer claimants against Revlon, separate from and much smaller than the litigation against the other named manufacturers.
What are these lawsuits actually about?
Plaintiffs allege that long-term use of chemical hair relaxer and straightening products — used disproportionately by Black women, which is itself part of the litigation's public health narrative — is linked to increased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer, and that manufacturers failed to warn users despite evidence of the association.
What court is this in, and how many cases are pending?
MDL No. 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, consolidated before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Over 11,000 plaintiffs were pending as of early-to-mid 2026.
What does it mean that a Special Master was appointed?
In April 2025, Judge Rowland appointed a Special Master to facilitate structured settlement discussions on threshold issues — things like what the product warnings said, how the products were marketed, and what usage instructions were provided. A Special Master's appointment often signals settlement talks have become more organized, but it is not itself a settlement, and none has resulted yet as of this writing.
Which companies are actually being sued?
The MDL includes multiple manufacturers of chemical hair relaxer products, including L'Oréal and Namaste/Strength of Nature, among others. Revlon is a separate story: it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2022 (confirmed 2023) and resolved its hair-relaxer exposure through that process rather than through the ongoing MDL, which is why its claims process and funding are distinct from the rest of the litigation.
Is it too late to bring a claim?
With over 11,000 cases already in the MDL and settlement talks still in progress rather than concluded, this litigation is clearly not closed to new claimants generally — but your own state's statute of limitations or discovery-rule accrual date for your diagnosis is what actually controls your specific deadline, and that needs an attorney's review of your facts.
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InjuryClaimHub Editorial Team
Research & Editorial
The InjuryClaimHub editorial team researches and writes plain-English guides to personal injury and accident claims. Every guide is built from primary sources — statutes, federal regulations, court rules and government data — and cites them so readers can verify the law themselves. We are not attorneys and our guides are not reviewed by one, which is why every guide tells you to confirm deadlines and figures with a licensed attorney in your state.