Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Updates
Last updated: June 9, 2026
This page tracks recent developments in the federal hair relaxer litigation, known as MDL 3060, including case count, major rulings, bellwether and discovery progress, and other milestones people watch when following the broader case. It is updated periodically as public developments occur.
This page provides general educational information about public developments in the hair relaxer litigation. It does not constitute legal advice or medical advice. Case counts and deadlines come from public court reporting and can change.
Where the Hair Relaxer MDL Stands Now
The federal hair relaxer litigation, formally In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3060), remains one of the largest active multidistrict litigations in the country. It is centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Mary M. Rowland. Public court reporting through 2026 has placed the number of pending actions in the range of roughly 11,000, with counts fluctuating month to month as new cases are filed and others are resolved or consolidated.
As of 2026 the litigation has moved well past its early stages and is deep into discovery and bellwether preparation. The court held a "Science Day" in January 2026, an educational session where the parties present the underlying science to the judge, and general-causation expert discovery has been a central focus heading through the year. The broader issues continue to center on product design, warnings, chemical exposure allegations, and scientific causation questions, namely whether manufacturers adequately informed consumers about alleged risks tied to repeated use. For the science the court is weighing, see The Hair Relaxer Cancer Studies, Explained, and for the underlying causation question see Does Hair Relaxer Cause Cancer?
Hair relaxer claims are still being filed. If you used hair relaxer products and were later diagnosed with uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer, you may qualify for a free case review. Fibroid-related claims are generally handled differently; see Hair Relaxers and Fibroids.
Check My EligibilityRecent Hair Relaxer MDL Developments
Public court reporting has outlined a detailed pretrial schedule for 2026, with case-specific fact discovery for bellwether cases closing in the spring, plaintiff and defense expert reports exchanged through the summer, expert discovery closing in the fall, and a deadline for summary judgment and certain Daubert motions later in the year. On this schedule, trials are generally not expected until 2027.
The court held Science Day in January 2026, and general-causation expert discovery was a central focus. A bellwether discovery pool of roughly three dozen cases has continued to move through case-specific work, with one replacement selected after an earlier bellwether plaintiff was dismissed.
Judge Rowland denied motions to dismiss filed by several defendants, including John Paul Mitchell Systems, Wella Operations US LLC, and Advanced Beauty, Inc., keeping those companies in the litigation. The court also advanced its bellwether plan, with parties identifying and exchanging initial bellwether discovery cases.
The MDL continued to grow into one of the largest active product liability proceedings in federal court. Important rulings addressed issues such as the consolidated class action complaint, fee structure, and whether major parts of the litigation could continue moving forward.
Why These Updates Matter
In large coordinated proceedings like this one, updates can matter because they show whether the litigation is still expanding, whether major motions are being denied or granted, and whether the case is moving closer to bellwether trials or other turning points.
That does not mean any update predicts the outcome of an individual claim. But readers often follow these developments to understand whether the litigation appears active, whether court deadlines are advancing, and whether the case is entering a more developed phase. It is also worth remembering that procedural progress is separate from the underlying science, which remains a contested question; see Does Hair Relaxer Cause Cancer? for that distinction.
What People Often Watch for Next
- Growth or slowdown in the overall number of filed cases
- Bellwether discovery progress and any trial scheduling
- Rulings on expert evidence and general-causation issues following Science Day
- Summary judgment and Daubert motion deadlines later in 2026
- Case management orders that affect the pace of the litigation
- Whether and how state-court cases, including fibroid claims, move on their own timelines
Why Bellwether Progress Gets Attention
Bellwether cases are often watched closely because they can help both sides evaluate evidence, expert testimony, trial themes, and overall litigation risk. In many MDLs, those early track cases can influence how the broader proceeding develops and whether settlement discussions follow.
Readers following hair relaxer litigation updates are often trying to understand whether the case is still in early development, whether it is moving into a more mature stage, or whether major rulings suggest the litigation is gaining momentum. In this MDL, the focus on general causation and expert discovery is a particularly important phase, because the strength of the scientific evidence is central to how these claims may ultimately be resolved. For background on that evidence, see The Hair Relaxer Cancer Studies, Explained.
How This Updates Page Fits With the Main Hair Relaxer Page
The main Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit page explains the broader allegations, products, health concerns, and claim categories commonly discussed in this litigation. Companion pages cover the science and health questions in plain English: Does Hair Relaxer Cause Cancer?, The Hair Relaxer Cancer Studies, Explained, Hair Relaxers and Fibroids, and Are Hair Relaxers Safe?
This page is narrower. It focuses on procedural developments and public case updates rather than the broader educational overview.
Related Lawsuit Topics
Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit
Read the broader overview of hair relaxer allegations, product history issues, and health concerns discussed in these claims.
Does Hair Relaxer Cause Cancer?
What the research does and does not say about chemical hair relaxers and cancer, in plain English.
The Hair Relaxer Cancer Studies
The 2022 NIH Sister Study and related research that form the scientific backdrop to this litigation.
Hair Relaxers and Fibroids
A separate condition from the cancers at the center of the MDL, and how fibroid claims are generally handled differently.
Are Hair Relaxers Safe?
The reported risks, the chemicals that have drawn scrutiny, and how to think about personal risk.
Mass Torts
Understand how large coordinated proceedings work when many similar claims are handled together.
Find Out If You May Have a Case
If you've been diagnosed with uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, or ovarian cancer after long-term use of chemical hair relaxers, you can request a free, no-obligation case review on Lawsuit Center. Fibroid and other reproductive-condition claims are generally handled differently; a review can help explain how a specific situation may fit.
Educational purposes only. Submitting a case review request does not create an attorney-client relationship.
