Mizani Hair Relaxer Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Lawsuits allege that hair relaxers sold under L’Oreal brands, including Mizani, contain chemicals that disrupt hormones. The suits say this raised the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer in women who used them. The defendants include L’Oreal USA and SoftSheen-Carson.

Individual lawsuits against several relaxer makers are coordinated in MDL No. 3060. The court’s checklist lists five Mizani relaxers. Arizona’s attorney general also filed a consumer-fraud suit in September 2026 that lists Mizani among its brands.

These are allegations. L’Oreal USA denies the Arizona claims. No court has found that any relaxer caused an injury. There has been no settlement or verdict.

Latest Mizani Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Updates

September 24, 2026: Judge Sets First Bellwether Trial Date

Judge Mary M. Rowland set the first bellwether trial in the hair relaxer cases for September 7, 2027. She oversees MDL No. 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois.

A minute entry in Docket No. 2041 also schedules case management conferences in 2027 before that trial [1]. The court has not said which bellwether case will go first.

September 11, 2026: Arizona Attorney General Announces Suit Listing Mizani Among Brands

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced a consumer-fraud suit in Maricopa County Superior Court. It names L’Oreal USA, L’Oreal USA Products, L’Oreal S.A. and SoftSheen-Carson.

The State’s complaint, dated September 10, 2026, names Dark and Lovely, Optimum and Mizani [2]. Reuters reports Arizona is the first state to sue over alleged cancer risks [3]. L’Oreal USA says the claims lack merit.

September 1, 2026: MDL Report Shows 12,129 Pending Actions

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reported 12,129 actions pending in MDL No. 3060 on September 1, 2026. Its statistics report also counts 16,561 actions filed in total [4].

Those counts cover every maker named in the hair relaxer cases, including L’Oreal and Revlon, so they are not a count of Mizani cases alone.

August 27, 2026: Court Enters Dates to Cut Bellwether Cases from Ten to Five

After the August 20, 2026 status hearing, the court entered agreed dates to cut the bellwether cases from ten to five. The parties must file a joint proposed order by October 21, 2026.

Case-specific expert discovery for the five cases closes December 21, 2026. Summary judgment motions are due January 11, 2027, under the order in Docket No. 2016.

August 6, 2026: FDA Formaldehyde Rule Received for Federal Review

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs received FDA‘s formaldehyde rule for review under Executive Order 12866 [5]. The rule covers hair smoothing and hair straightening products.

The rule is at the proposed rule stage. It concerns formaldehyde smoothing products and does not name Mizani or lye relaxers.

May 5, 2026: Cross Motions Target General Causation Experts

The defendants moved under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 to exclude the plaintiffs’ general causation experts in Docket No. 1828.

The plaintiffs moved to exclude specific opinions of some defense experts in Docket No. 1832. As of October 2026, the court has not ruled on either motion.

April 2, 2026: Court Selects 10 Bellwether Cases

Judge Rowland selected 10 cases as the bellwether trial case pool (Docket No. 1781). An order on April 22, 2026 substituted one plaintiff (Docket No. 1809).

January 8, 2026: Court Holds Science Day

Judge Rowland held a Science Day in the MDL. The Plaintiff Steering Committee and the defendants presented experts on the scientific and medical issues in the cases (Docket No. 1664).

November 13, 2023: Court Rules on Motion to Dismiss

Judge Rowland granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ joint motion to dismiss, in a Memorandum Opinion and Order [6].

The negligent misrepresentation, fraud and fraudulent concealment counts were dismissed. The negligence, design defect, failure to warn and warranty claims went forward.

August 3, 2023: Court Form Lists Five Mizani Relaxers

Case Management Order No. 7 adopted the Short Form Complaint (Docket No. 175), whose product list includes five Mizani relaxers [7].

They are Butter Blend Relaxer, Butter Blend Sensitive Scalp Rhelaxer, Butterblend Prosolvent Relaxer, Classic Rhelaxer and Sensitive Scalp Rhelaxer. The list is only a checklist of products a plaintiff may select.

May 15, 2023: Master Long Form Complaint Filed

Plaintiffs’ Leadership filed the Master Long Form Complaint (ECF 106) in the MDL. Judge Rowland’s November 13, 2023 opinion describes it as pleading fifteen counts, including wrongful death, survival and loss of consortium.

February 6, 2023: Panel Centralizes Cases as MDL No. 3060

The Panel centralized the hair relaxer actions as MDL No. 3060 before Judge Mary M. Rowland. Its order counted 53 actions in nineteen districts [8].

October 17, 2022: NIH Announces Uterine Cancer Study

NIH announced the results of an NIH-led study of hair straightening products and uterine cancer [9]. Women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer.

What Is Hair Relaxer?

FDA’s consumer page on hair dye and relaxers says hair relaxers are used to make your hair straight [10]. It says hair dye and relaxers can hurt your skin, hair and eyes, especially if you are not careful.

FDA also says it does monitor the safety of hair dyes and relaxers. The hair relaxer lawsuits concern relaxers sold under several brands, and Mizani is one of them.

Who May Be Affected?

People who used one of the five Mizani relaxers and were later diagnosed with uterine, endometrial or ovarian cancer match the products and diagnoses on the court’s short form. These are the three cancer boxes on that form.

In the NIH-led study, the association with uterine cancer appeared for frequent use, meaning more than four times in the previous year. About 60% of participants who used straighteners that year were self-identified Black women.

NIH says effects may be greater for Black women because use is more common. Arizona’s complaint alleges the defendants have sold relaxers to Black and Brown women in Arizona, and to salons serving them, since as early as the 1970s.

Consumer Reports says over 12,000 women brought the MDL suits, and family members pursue some cases for women who have died [11].

Whether a person qualifies depends on that person’s own facts, and only a legal review can decide it. Users of other brands can read about the hair relaxer lawsuit as a whole.

Reported Injuries or Damages

Plaintiffs allege that the relaxers caused or increased the risk of uterine, ovarian or breast cancer. They also allege endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other reproductive injuries. No court has ruled that any product caused any injury.

The studies below report associations only. Chang et al., in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, followed 33,947 women. Over an average of 10.9 years, 378 developed uterine cancer [12].

Frequent use had a hazard ratio of 2.55 compared with never use. By age 70, NIH estimates uterine cancer in 1.64% of never users and 4.05% of frequent users.

The researchers did not collect information on brands or ingredients, NIH says, so the study does not point to Mizani.

White et al., in a 2021 Sister Study analysis, found frequent use of straighteners or relaxers was associated with ovarian cancer. The hazard ratio was 2.19 among 40,559 women [13].

In the 2012 Black Women’s Health Study of 23,580 women, ever versus never relaxer use had an incidence rate ratio of 1.17 for fibroids [14]. The authors say this raises a hypothesis.

Recall and Regulatory Background

FDA says it regulates cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act but does not approve them. The companies that make them are responsible for their safety and labeling [15].

FDA asks users to tell it about itchy or raw skin, scabs, hair loss or other problems with hair dye or relaxers.

FDA’s rule on formaldehyde in hair smoothing products that are applied to the hair and heated (RIN 0910-AI83) has not been published in the Federal Register as of October 2026.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these items from your use of a Mizani relaxer:

• The Mizani relaxer containers, boxes and any leftover product you still have at home
• Receipts, card statements or salon invoices that show where and when you bought or used it
• Photos of the packaging that show the product name and lot numbers
• Salon or stylist records that show when and how often the product was used on you
• Medical records for any uterine, endometrial or ovarian cancer, fibroid or other diagnosis and its treatment
• Your own notes on how often and for how long you used the product

The court’s short form complaint asks each plaintiff to name the products used. So product names, lot numbers and purchase dates matter.

Filing Deadlines

State law sets the time limit for a product-liability claim. The limit depends on where you live and on when the exposure, the illness or injury and the diagnosis happened.

Some states start the clock at diagnosis. A claim can end if the limit passes, even when the facts are strong. Anyone thinking about a claim should check with a lawyer promptly.

Potential Compensation

The master complaint in the MDL asks for compensatory and punitive damages. It also asks for restitution, medical monitoring and equitable relief.

Reuters reports the suits seek damages for pain and suffering, medical bills and the cost of the products. No court has awarded any amount.

Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Only a court can decide potential compensation in any one case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Mizani Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

Mizani hair relaxers appear in two filings in the hair relaxer lawsuits: the MDL’s short form checklist and Arizona’s complaint dated September 10, 2026. A checklist entry is not a finding about any product.

Who Is Suing L’Oreal over Hair Relaxers?

Women who say relaxers caused their cancers are suing L’Oreal. The suits also name Revlon and other makers. Arizona’s attorney general asks for a permanent injunction, civil penalties, restitution and disgorgement.

What Is the Current Status of the Hair Relaxer MDL?

The current status of the hair relaxer MDL includes putative class actions among the cases. Plaintiffs asked the court to certify medical-monitoring classes. As of October 2, 2026, no ruling has been entered. At the October 1, 2026 status hearing, the parties reported resolving duplicate filings.

What Does the Research Say About Hair Straighteners and Uterine Cancer?

The research on hair straighteners and uterine cancer shows an association, not proof of cause. The authors of the NIH-led study call it the first epidemiologic evidence of association. They say more research is warranted. NIH adds that uterine cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer.

Has a Mizani Hair Relaxer Settlement Been Announced?

No Mizani hair relaxer settlement has been announced. As of October 2026, no settlement or verdict has been announced in the MDL either. Reuters reported on September 14, 2026 that trials could begin next year.

What Is the Bellwether Schedule in the Hair Relaxer MDL?

The bellwether schedule in the hair relaxer MDL set defendants’ case-specific expert reports for September 25, 2026. Plaintiffs’ rebuttal reports are due October 13, 2026. Summary judgment oppositions are due February 10, 2027, and replies are due February 24, 2027.

References

1. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66801859/in-re-hair-relaxer-marketing-sales-practices-and-products-liability/
2. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/arizona-loreal-usa-complaint.pdf
3. https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2026/09/14/340117.htm
4. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-September-1-2026.pdf
5. https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=1496363
6. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_23-cv-00818/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_23-cv-00818-0.pdf
7. https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_documents/_forms/_cmecf/MDL3060/CMO%20No.%207.pdf
8. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-3060-Transfer_Order-1-23.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://www.consumerreports.org/health/hair-care-products/arizona-sues-loreal-over-hair-relaxer-risks-a1012842260/
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://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/hair-smoothing-products-release-formaldehyde-when-heated