Short answer: The hair relaxer MDL is one of the largest and fastest-growing mass torts in federal court. MDL 3060 held 12,381 pending cases on October 1, 2026, up 252 in one month, and summary-judgment and remaining expert motions are due November 16, 2026. There is no global settlement. Intake is open, but every case depends on a documented diagnosis and documented product use, and campaigns have to be run with real care for the women they reach.
Key takeaways
- MDL 3060 sits in the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Mary M. Rowland.
- It is the third-largest product-liability MDL in the country, behind talc and firefighting foam.
- The docket grew from 11,440 cases in March 2026 to 12,381 in October.
- The core science is a 2022 NIH study linking frequent straightener use to higher uterine cancer risk. It shows an association, not proof of cause.
- The November 2026 motions are the next turning point.
Where MDL 3060 stands
The federal panel created MDL 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, in February 2023. Defendants include L'Oreal and Revlon, among other manufacturers. Fact discovery in the bellwether cases closed June 10, 2026. Summary-judgment motions and the remaining expert motions are due November 16, 2026.
The claims are unproven allegations, and the defendants contest them. No settlement program has been announced.
| Date | Pending cases in MDL 3060 |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | 12,381 |
| September 1, 2026 | 12,129 |
| March 2, 2026 | 11,440 |
The science behind the claims
The litigation rests largely on the NIH Sister Study, published October 17, 2022 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers followed 33,497 women aged 35 to 74 for about 11 years.
Women who used chemical straighteners frequently, more than four times in the prior year, had an estimated 4.05% chance of developing uterine cancer by age 70. For women who never used them, the estimate was 1.64%. About 60% of the women who reported straightener use were Black. The same research team had earlier linked straighteners to higher breast and ovarian cancer risk.
The researchers were clear that the study found an association and did not prove the products cause cancer. Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, and rates have been rising, especially among Black women. Whether the plaintiffs' experts can bridge the gap from association to cause is exactly what the expert motions will test.
Intake criteria firms commonly use
Each firm sets its own criteria. These are the points most hair relaxer campaigns screen for:
| Criterion | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Uterine (endometrial) cancer is the core injury. Some firms also accept ovarian cancer. |
| Product use | Chemical relaxer or straightener use, how often and for how many years |
| Brands | The products and brands used, as best the claimant remembers |
| Timing | Date of diagnosis and how it relates to the years of use |
| Jurisdiction | State of residence, to check the statute of limitations |
| Records | Pathology and treatment records that confirm the diagnosis |
I want to understand your target before I take your money. If your criteria are in writing before the campaign starts, every signed case should match them.
How to market hair relaxer cases responsibly
This docket reaches women dealing with cancer, and the products were marketed heavily to Black women. Campaigns that work treat that as the starting point, not an afterthought.
- Answer the questions women actually search. Content that explains the science and the criteria in plain language reaches people while they are still researching, before they ever click an ad.
- Use more than one channel. Search, social, streaming and radio together reach claimants who never fill out a web form on the first touch.
- Inform, never promise. Ads should explain rights and criteria. They should never suggest a guaranteed outcome or settlement amount.
- Get consent right. Every call or text needs clear, documented consent that names the firm or its agent. Ask your vendor for the archived opt-in for every lead.
- Answer fast, with care. A woman who has just been diagnosed should reach a trained, patient intake specialist on the first call.
- Collect documents at intake. Medical records and usage history gathered on day one turn an inquiry into a signed retainer faster.
How we deliver hair relaxer cases
We advertise and screen every inquiry against the criteria your firm sets. Our contract team then retains the qualified claimants by e-signature, and we deliver the signed retainer, HIPAA authorization and completed intake to your firm. Mass tort cases are priced per signed retainer, and we quote each campaign individually.
- See our lead standards and our 12-point checklist for vetting mass tort leads.
- See current campaigns on our mass tort leads page.
- See how this docket compares with others in the hottest mass torts of 2026.
- Claimants looking for information can visit MassTortsCo's hair relaxer page.
FAQ
How many hair relaxer cases are pending?
12,381 federal cases were pending in MDL 3060 on October 1, 2026.
Is there a hair relaxer settlement?
No. As of November 2026, no global settlement has been reached.
Which cancers are involved?
Uterine (endometrial) cancer is the main injury. Some cases also involve ovarian cancer.
What study are the lawsuits based on?
The NIH Sister Study, published in 2022 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which linked frequent straightener use to higher uterine cancer risk.
Who is the judge in the hair relaxer MDL?
Judge Mary M. Rowland of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
What happens next in MDL 3060?
Summary-judgment and remaining expert motions are due November 16, 2026. Those rulings will shape whether and when bellwether trials or settlement talks follow.
About the author
Fadi Agour, J.D., is the founder and CEO of FadiLaw Marketing LLC, the Houston-based parent company of Best Case Leads, Real Performance Marketing, Masstortsco, and Redostar. His companies have made the Inc. 5000 list seven years in a row.
Sources
- OpenClassActions: October 2026 MDL report, from the JPML's October 1, 2026 statistics
- OpenClassActions: Hair relaxer MDL 3060 update (July 17, 2026)
- Motley Rice: Revlon hair relaxer lawsuit, with the March 2, 2026 case count
- NIH: Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk (Oct 17, 2022)
- The ASCO Post: the lead author's 4.05% vs. 1.64% estimate
- ScienceDaily / NIEHS: study population details
- American Cancer Society: Study finds possible link between hair straightening chemicals and uterine cancer
This article is general information about pending litigation, not legal advice. Best Case Leads is not a law firm.
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