Dark & Lovely Hair Relaxer Lawsuit – Status & Eligibility

Dark & Lovely hair relaxers, made by L’Oreal USA and its SoftSheen-Carson unit, are named in lawsuits. The suits allege that chemicals in the products caused uterine, endometrial and ovarian cancer and other injuries. Dark & Lovely products are part of MDL No. 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois. On September 1, 2026, 12,129 actions were pending there. No settlement, verdict or trial has taken place. Judge Rowland has scheduled the first bellwether trial for September 7, 2027. Arizona’s Attorney General also sued L’Oreal over hair relaxers on September 10, 2026.

Latest Dark & Lovely Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Updates

September 24, 2026: Court Sets First Bellwether Trial Date

Judge Mary M. Rowland of the Northern District of Illinois set the first bellwether trial in MDL No. 3060 for September 7, 2027. A court minute entry (Dkt. 2041) records the date [1]. Dark & Lovely relaxers are named in the MDL. No bellwether case has yet been named to go first. Monthly case management conferences run from January 28, 2027.

September 10, 2026: Arizona Attorney General Files Suit over Hair Relaxers

Arizona Attorney General sued L’Oreal USA, L’Oreal USA Products, L’Oreal S.A. and SoftSheen-Carson in Maricopa County Superior Court. The Arizona complaint alleges Dark and Lovely, Optimum and Mizani relaxers were sold without disclosing cancer risks [2]. Reuters reported that Arizona is the first state to sue over alleged hair relaxer cancer risks [3]. A L’Oreal USA spokesperson said the company believes the claims are without legal or scientific merit.

September 1, 2026: JPML Report Counts Pending Actions

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation report showed 12,129 actions pending in MDL No. 3060 before Judge Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois [4]. Putative class actions are part of the MDL. Plaintiffs moved to certify medical-monitoring classes (Dkt. 1769). They filed replies on August 3, 2026 (Dkt. 1993 and 1994). The court has not ruled on certification.

May 5, 2026: Parties File Cross Motions on Expert Testimony

Defendants filed a Rule 702 motion to exclude plaintiffs’ general causation experts. Plaintiffs filed a motion to exclude specific opinions of defense experts (Dkt. 1828 and 1832). As of October 2, 2026, the court had ruled on neither motion.

April 2, 2026: Court Selects Bellwether Pool

Judge Rowland selected 10 cases as the Bellwether Trial Case pool (Dkt. 1781). She amended the pool on April 22, 2026 (Dkt. 1809). The pool excluded cases with only one or two defendants. An August 27, 2026 order (Dkt. 2016) set a schedule for cutting the pool from ten cases to five. The parties owe a joint submission on the reduction by October 21, 2026.

January 8, 2026: Science Day Held in the Hair Relaxer MDL

Judge Rowland heard expert presentations from both sides at a Science Day in the MDL (Dkt. 1664). The Plaintiff Steering Committee and the defendants addressed the scientific and medical issues. The minute entry was entered January 15, 2026.

November 13, 2023: Court Rules on Motions to Dismiss

Judge Rowland granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motion to dismiss in the hair relaxer MDL (Dkt. 291) [5]. Negligent misrepresentation, fraud and fraudulent concealment counts were dismissed. Negligence, design defect, failure to warn and warranty claims continued. Plaintiffs had pleaded fifteen counts in their master complaint. The court accepted the plaintiffs’ allegations as true only for this motion.

August 3, 2023: Court Adopts Short Form Complaint

Case Management Order No. 7 (Dkt. 175) adopted the Short Form Complaint, which lists four Dark and Lovely products [6]. The list is a checklist plaintiffs may select from. It is not a finding about any product.

February 6, 2023: JPML Creates MDL No. 3060

The Panel signed its Transfer Order (Doc. 134) centralizing the hair relaxer actions as MDL No. 3060 [7]. The MDL sits before Judge Rowland. The order involved 53 actions in nineteen districts. It describes the allegation that the products contain phthalates or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

November 3, 2022: Williams Class Action Filed

Evelyn Williams and four other women filed a putative class action in the Northern District of Illinois (Williams, 1:22-cv-06110). It names L’Oreal USA, L’Oreal USA Products and two SoftSheen-Carson companies. The complaint alleges Dark & Lovely relaxers contained undisclosed endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The Transfer Order lists the case among the centralized actions.

November 2, 2022: Smith Files Suit Against L’Oreal

Timika Smith filed a products liability suit against L’Oreal USA and other makers in the Northern District of Illinois (Smith, 1:22-cv-06047) [8]. Her complaint alleges chemicals in Dark & Lovely, Just for Me and Cantu Shea Butter relaxers caused her uterine cancer and endometriosis. It was filed one day before the Williams class action.

October 17, 2022: NIH Announces Sister Study Findings

The National Institutes of Health announced a Sister Study analysis finding a higher rate of uterine cancer among women who frequently used chemical hair straightening products [9]. NIH estimated that by age 70, 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would develop uterine cancer, compared with 4.05% of frequent users.

What Are Hair Relaxers?

The FDA says hair relaxers are used to make hair straight. It adds that hair dyes and relaxers can hurt the skin, hair and eyes if you are not careful [10].

Who May Be Affected?

The court’s short form lets plaintiffs claim uterine, endometrial or ovarian cancer, plus other injuries, and select from four Dark and Lovely relaxers. The Smith complaint alleges that the plaintiff used the products until 2017 and was diagnosed with uterine cancer and endometriosis in July 2017. The Williams complaint is a putative class action for women who bought Dark & Lovely relaxers. It seeks restitution for the full purchase price and injunctive relief. Women who used other brands may fall under the broader hair relaxer lawsuit, which names other relaxer makers in the same MDL. A legal review of your own facts is the only way to know whether a claim fits.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The Judicial Panel’s Transfer Order lists breast cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids as alleged injuries. No court has ruled that any product caused an injury. Jenny Mitchell sued five relaxer makers in October 2022 (Mitchell, 1:22-cv-05815). ABC News reported that she alleges the products caused her uterine cancer and a hysterectomy [11]. In the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Che-Jung Chang, Alexandra J. White and colleagues counted 378 uterine cancer cases among 33,947 women [12]. Frequent users used straighteners more than 4 times in the past 12 months and had a hazard ratio of 2.55 for uterine cancer compared with never users. Researchers did not collect brand data. A 2021 Sister Study analysis of 40,559 participants found that frequent users of straighteners or pressing products had a hazard ratio of 2.19 for ovarian cancer [13]. The Black Women’s Health Study reported an incidence rate ratio of 1.17 for uterine fibroids, comparing ever with never use of relaxers [14]. The authors say the findings raise the hypothesis that relaxer use increases fibroid risk. The SELF study found ever use of relaxers not appreciably associated with fibroid incidence, so the evidence is mixed [15].

Recall and Regulatory Background

South Africa’s National Consumer Commission notice of April 9, 2022 urged consumers to return certain tubs for a full refund [16]. The tubs are Dark and Lovely Precise Diamond Straight and Shine relaxer, 125 ml, batches 87UD00 and 87UD01. The notice was not a US recall. It does not concern the cancer allegations. The FDA has a proposed rule (RIN 0910-AI83) on formaldehyde in hair smoothing products rather than lye or no-lye relaxers. It went to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on August 6, 2026 [17].

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these records if you used a Dark & Lovely relaxer and later received a diagnosis:

• Relaxer containers, boxes and leftover product, plus photographs of the packaging and lot numbers
• Receipts, card statements or salon invoices that show where and when you bought or used the product
• Salon or stylist records that show when and how often the relaxer was used
• Medical and pathology records for any uterine, endometrial or ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment, with dates
• Notes on how often and for how long you used the product

The court’s short form asks each plaintiff to name the products used, so containers and receipts can help you answer that question.

Filing Deadlines

Each state writes its own filing deadline for injury claims over a consumer product. Which deadline applies depends on where you live and when the exposure, the illness or injury and the diagnosis happened. Some states count from the date of diagnosis, not from the last use of the product. Waiting too long can bar a claim that is otherwise strong. If you are weighing a Dark & Lovely claim, speak with a lawyer soon to learn which deadline covers your situation.

Potential Compensation

The MDL’s master complaint was filed on May 15, 2023. It asks for compensatory and punitive damages, restitution, medical monitoring and equitable relief. Compensatory damages cover medical bills, pain and suffering and other money losses. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation depends on the facts of each claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Any State Sued over Dark and Lovely Hair Relaxer?

Yes, Arizona has sued over Dark and Lovely hair relaxer, among other brands. The complaint alleges violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The state seeks civil penalties, restitution and an order requiring adequate cancer warnings. These are the State’s allegations.

Is There a Dark and Lovely Class Action in Canada?

A proposed class action over hair relaxers including Dark & Lovely was filed in Canada in early January 2023, CBC reported on January 23, 2023. Two plaintiffs filed it in British Columbia. CBC noted that no allegation had been proven and the claim had not been certified.

Is Dark and Lovely Hair Relaxer Sold in the UK?

Dark and Lovely hair relaxer is not sold in the UK, according to L’Oreal UK, which told the BBC it does not import or sell the products there. The BBC reported on April 24, 2023 that more than 100 lawsuits had been filed in the US.

What Does the Research Say About Dark and Lovely Hair Relaxer and Cancer?

Whether Dark and Lovely hair relaxer causes cancer is not established. Research reports associations, not proof. Cancer Research UK’s Karis Betts told the BBC in April 2023 there isn’t enough good scientific evidence to show these products cause cancer. NIH calls uterine cancer relatively rare.

How Do Hair Relaxer Plaintiffs Say the Chemicals Cause Harm?

Hair relaxer plaintiffs say endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalates, are in some relaxers as fragrance. They say the chemicals enter the body through the hair and scalp and interfere with hormone production. They also say makers targeted Black and Brown women and girls.

References

1. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66801859/in-re-hair-relaxer-marketing-sales-practices-and-products-liability/?order_by=desc
2. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/arizona-loreal-usa-complaint.pdf
3. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2026/09/14/884862.htm
4. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-September-1-2026.pdf
5. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_23-cv-00818/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_23-cv-00818-0.pdf
6. https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_documents/_forms/_cmecf/MDL3060/CMO%20No.%207.pdf
7. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-3060-Transfer_Order-1-23.pdf
8. https://www.schmidtandclark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-11-2-loreal-smith-complaint.pdf
9. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/hair-straightening-chemicals-associated-higher-uterine-cancer-risk
10. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/hair-dye-and-hair-relaxers
11. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/woman-sues-companies-alleging-chemical-hair-straightening-products/story?id=92007557
12. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9949582/
13. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8561257/
14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3282879/
15. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12849720/
16. https://thencc.org.za/ncc-urges-consumers-to-return-certain-dark-and-lovely-precise-diamond-hair-relaxer/
17. https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=1496363