Hair Relaxer & Straightener Cancer Litigation
In re Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices Litigation
Where it stands
Active MDL with thousands of pending personal-injury cases; bellwether trials are being staged. No class settlement exists — claims proceed individually.
What it's about
Thousands of women sue relaxer makers over links between chemical straighteners and hormone-driven cancers. Cases are consolidated in Chicago, with the first bellwether trials expected to shape any global resolution.
The allegations
Plaintiffs allege relaxer products contained endocrine-disrupting chemicals (including phthalates) that raise cancer risk, and that makers marketed them aggressively to Black women without adequate warnings.
Related cases
Ozempic / GLP-1 Stomach Paralysis Litigation
Active MDL with a fast-growing case count as GLP-1 use expands
Patients across the country are suing the makers of blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs, alleging severe gastrointestinal injuries including stomach paralysis.
Social Media Adolescent Addiction Litigation
Fast-moving in 2026: Meta settled the state attorneys general claims on August 26, 2026 (reported ~$17.1B over ten years plus product changes)
Thousands of lawsuits by teens, families, and school districts claim social platforms engineered addictive products that harmed adolescent mental health. The states settled with Meta in August 2026; individual and school-district claims continue.