Will Hair Relaxer MDL Trials Start in 2027?

Yes, the first bellwether trials for the chemical hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL-3060) are expected to start in 2027. However, before the trials begin, the court must resolve expert challenges and summary judgment issues that may continue into early 2027. As the hair relaxer MDL may begin trials in 2027, experienced legal guidance can help you protect your rights. At Uptown Injury Law, PLLC, our lawyers have 15 years of trial experience, including cases involving serious health conditions allegedly linked to chemical hair relaxer exposure. We carefully examine your product-use history, medical records, and diagnosis to link your injuries with the use of hair relaxer products. Call us at 917-540-8728 to file a strong chemical hair relaxer lawsuit.

Are Hair Relaxer MDL Trials Expected to Start in 2027?

Yes, hair relaxer cancer lawsuit trials are expected to begin in 2027, but the court has not guaranteed a specific trial date. For these trials, the court established a process for selecting 5 to 12 bellwether trial cases, with expert discovery and other pretrial proceedings.

These early trials can show both parties how juries may respond to the scientific and medical evidence. They may also help the parties assess the strengths and weaknesses of their cases and encourage broader settlement discussions. However, this timeline may change based on case selection, settlements, or other developments in federal multidistrict litigation No. 3060.

How Many Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Are Pending in the MDL in 2026?

As of September 2026, 12,129 hair relaxer lawsuits are pending in MDL No. 3060, according to the latest Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation report dated September 1, 2026. The number has continued to rise, increasing from 11,779 pending cases in August.

Moreover, the September figure represents a 350-case increase over the previous month, indicating that new hair relaxer lawsuits continue to be filed in the MDL. These lawsuits are being handled by Judge Mary Rowland in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, who allowed most claims to proceed against L’Oréal and Revlon.

What Is the Current Status of the Hair Relaxer MDL in September 2026?

As of September 2026 hair relaxer lawsuit updates, over 12,000 women have filed individual lawsuits alleging that toxic chemicals in chemical hair straightening products caused uterine or ovarian cancers. But Daubert and summary judgment expert motions are still due on November 16, 2026.

This means parties have until November 16 to file summary judgment and non-general-causation Daubert motions, followed by responses on December 16 and replies on January 6, 2027. other than this, the court is currently working through important scientific and evidentiary issues, particularly expert testimony concerning whether chemical hair relaxers can cause uterine, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. These issues could significantly affect which claims can move forward toward trial.

Why Are Hair Relaxer MDL Trials Not Expected Before 2027?

Federal hair relaxer MDL trials are not expected before 2027 because the litigation still requires the parties to complete extensive expert and case-specific discovery and to file pretrial motions. Under the court’s schedule, expert discovery continues until October 2026, while summary judgment and Daubert briefing continue into January 2027.

The main reason for the delay is that the court must resolve the following important issues before a bellwether trial can begin:

• Expert testimony: Whether proposed expert opinions and scientific evidence meet the court’s admissibility standards.
• Summary judgment: Whether defendants should be granted summary judgment before trial.
• Trial selection: Which individual cases are suitable for bellwether trials?
• Pretrial motions: Which legal and evidentiary issues must the court resolve before a case can proceed to trial?

What Are Bellwether Trials in the Hair Relaxer MDL?

Bellwether trials are representative test cases selected from the ongoing hair relaxer lawsuits to examine key evidence, including product liability and causation issues. Their results can help the court and parties evaluate causation, liability, litigation risks, damages, and hair relaxer settlement values without resolving every case individually

However, the bellwether process does not automatically determine the outcome of the remaining lawsuits. Each plaintiff retains an individual claim, and the outcome of one bellwether case does not guarantee the result of another. However, verdicts and developments in these early cases may impact negotiations and decisions about future cases.

Which Hair Relaxer Cases Could Be Selected for the First Trials?

The first hair relaxer bellwether trials are expected to involve representative, well-developed cases that provide clear evidence of chemical hair relaxer use, diagnosis, and alleged causation. The court also narrowed the trial pool strictly to hormone-sensitive cancers, specifically, uterine fibroids, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.

Here’s why courts consider these cases for the first trials:

Clear Evidence of Hair Relaxer Use

Plaintiffs may qualify for consideration if they provide reliable records documenting their history of using chemical hair relaxers. Product names, frequency of use, duration of exposure to harmful chemicals, and the approximate age when use began can also help establish the plaintiff’s exposure history.

Documented Diagnosis of a Relevant Cancer

The court’s bellwether process focuses on specific hormone-sensitive cancers, including uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. Therefore, medical records documenting the diagnosis, treatment, and progression of these conditions can help the court evaluate whether a case is ready for trial.

Representative Case Facts

Bellwether cases are not selected solely because they present the strongest claims. Instead, the court seeks cases with facts and legal issues that are sufficiently representative of the broader hair relaxer MDL. The selected cases can help the parties and court evaluate how evidence, expert testimony, causation arguments, and other recurring issues may be presented at trial.

A representative case may include a well-documented history of chemical hair relaxer use, a qualifying hormone-sensitive cancer diagnosis, established medical records, and evidence addressing alternative causes. Selecting cases with these characteristics allows the bellwether process to provide meaningful insight into the strengths and challenges that may arise across similar lawsuits.

Manageable Litigation Issues

Cases with relatively simple facts may be more suitable for early bellwether trials because they allow the court and jury to focus on the central issues in the lawsuit. In contrast, cases involving overlapping claims, complex medical histories, multiple alleged exposures, or extensive factual disputes may require additional discovery and expert analysis before they are trial-ready.

For the hair relaxer MDL, a manageable case with claims involving reproductive cancers can help the parties clearly present evidence concerning product use, exposure history, and hormone-related cancer diagnosis, without introducing unnecessary factual complications. This also makes it easier for the court to assess expert testimony and for jurors to understand the evidence.

What Are Daubert Motions and Why Do They Determine Whether Trials Start?

Daubert motions challenge the reliability of proposed expert testimony under federal evidence law. In the hair products MDL, rulings on these motions can determine which scientific and medical opinions reach the jury. Because expert evidence may be central to causation, resolving these challenges is an important pretrial step.

Moreover, in federal court, Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) provides the framework for evaluating expert evidence. Federal Rule of Evidence 702 governs this framework and addresses an expert’s qualifications, methodology, reliability, and application of principles and methods to the facts of a case. In the chemical hair relaxer litigation, these requirements make expert testimony particularly important, and Daubert challenges may address opinions involving:

• General causation: Whether exposure to chemicals in hair relaxers can contribute to particular health risks.
• Specific causation: Whether a plaintiff’s exposure was a cause of her particular condition.
• Epidemiological evidence: How studies and statistical findings support or undermine an alleged association.
• Toxicology: If particular endocrine-disrupting chemicals or exposure pathways provide a scientifically reliable basis for an opinion.
• Medical evidence: Whether an expert’s methodology appropriately connects scientific research with an individual plaintiff’s medical history.

What Scientific Evidence Is Being Used in the Hair Relaxer Litigation?

Scientific evidence in the hair relaxer litigation includes hair relaxer cancer studies, chemical testing, toxicology research, and evidence of exposure. Researchers have also examined whether women who use chemical hair relaxers have higher rates of uterine and breast cancers.

For example, a 2022 NCBI study reported that using chemical relaxers had a higher rate of uterine cancer than nonusers (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.12–2.88). The study also found that women who used straightening products more than four times had a 2.55-fold higher hazard of uterine cancer. Black women are more likely to use such hair relaxers frequently and at younger ages.

Therefore, according to the PMC review, the breast cancer death rate for Black women was 40% higher than that of white women. Besides that, researchers have identified potentially concerning ingredients and contaminants in chemical straighteners, such as:

• Phthalates
• Parabens
• Formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances
• Metals
• Other endocrine-disrupting chemicals

Lye relaxers also contain sodium hydroxide, which can cause severe burns. Studies have also examined whether repeated skin contact allows these substances to enter the body. For example, a PubMed research found that recent hair product use was associated with higher urinary concentrations of several endocrine-disrupting chemical biomarkers, including phthalates, phenols, and parabens.

How to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit in 2027?

To file a hair relaxer lawsuit, you need to document your diagnosis and establish your history of chemical relaxer use. You should also preserve medical and product evidence, determine whether your claim meets applicable legal requirements, and consult a hair relaxer lawyer.

Here’s the step-by-step process of filing a lawsuit against hair relaxer manufacturers in 2027:

1. Determine a Qualifying Health Condition

First, you have to identify the health condition underlying your potential claim. Hair relaxer litigation involves allegations concerning certain cancers and other serious health conditions. Your attorney will review your diagnosis, medical history, treatment, and other circumstances to determine whether there is a connection between your condition and your alleged exposure.

2. Document Your History of Hair Relaxer Use

Prepare the detailed history of your chemical hair relaxer use, which must include:

• Brands and specific products you remember using
• Approximate years or age periods when you used them
• How frequently have you applied relaxers
• Whether you regularly performed applications yourself or received them at a salon
• Approximate duration of your overall use
• Any product packaging, photographs, receipts, or purchase records you still have

You do not necessarily need to possess the original product container to discuss a potential claim. However, more specific information about the products and exposure history can help an attorney evaluate the case.

3. Collect and Preserve Your Medical Records

Obtain records relating to your diagnosis and treatment. Depending on your condition, these may include pathology reports, imaging results, physician notes, surgical records, hospital records, medication information, and treatment histories. In addition, preserve documentation showing the financial impact of the condition, such as medical bills and treatment expenses. These records can help establish the nature and extent of your reproductive cancer.

4. Build a Timeline

Create a chronological timeline that shows your approximate hair relaxer use, relevant exposure information, diagnoses, treatments, and major medical developments. This timeline can make it easier for an attorney and experts to evaluate the relationship between the alleged exposure and your condition. However, it should be factual rather than attempting to establish medical causation.

5. Consult an Attorney

A lawyer can review your individual circumstances and determine whether your potential claim satisfies applicable legal requirements. Therefore, consult Uptown Injury Law, PLLC, attorneys to examine your medical records, product-use history, potential exposure evidence, diagnosis, and other facts. We handle complex scientific and legal issues of litigation. Our experienced lawyers have secured over $100 million in settlements and verdicts and have years of experience in mass-tort or product-liability litigation. However, your settlement amount may depend on the severity of your injuries and the outcomes of the trial.

Additionally, we evaluate scientific studies and expert opinions relevant to your particular condition and exposure history. This matters because proving product use and proving that an alleged exposure caused a particular condition requires separate evidence. Reach out today and let our team evaluate the circumstances of your hair relaxer case.

Can I File a Hair Relaxer Class Action Lawsuit?

No, the personal injury cases are part of a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), not a traditional class action. The MDL coordinates common pretrial proceedings, while each woman keeps her individual lawsuit, evidence, injuries, and potential damages claim. Therefore, an eligible plaintiff generally pursues an individual hair relaxer lawsuit rather than joining a class action.

Moreover, MDL No. 3060, formally In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, is pending in the U.S. District Court before Judge Rowland. The court has also established procedures specifically for plaintiffs seeking compensation for medical expenses and lost wages through this MDL.

The MDL allows the court and the parties to handle common issues efficiently, including discovery, expert evidence, and other pretrial matters. However, each plaintiff keeps their individual claim separate. They must provide information about her own hair relaxer use, medical history, diagnosis, and alleged injuries.

Could Hair Relaxer Companies Settle Before the First 2027 Trial?

Yes, hair relaxer companies could settle before the first 2027 trials, as many mass-tort and MDL cases resolve through negotiated settlements before reaching a courtroom verdict. However, no global settlement or payout has been officially announced in the federal hair relaxer MDL. If the court issues rulings favorable to the plaintiffs, companies may become much more willing to negotiate a settlement before the 2027 trials commence.

Will Every Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Go to Trial?

No, not every hair relaxer lawsuit will go to trial. Some plaintiffs may settle their cases, while courts may dismiss or remand others for trial. The court may also select certain cases as bellwethers. These first trials help the parties evaluate evidence, defenses, damages, and potential outcomes in later cases.

Moreover, a plaintiff’s case may proceed to trial if it survives motions to dismiss and summary judgment and remains suitable for individual adjudication. The court may also consider whether the plaintiff can present sufficient evidence linking exposure to chemical hair relaxers to the alleged health condition.

Other cases may end earlier through negotiated settlements or court rulings. The outcome can depend on medical evidence, product-use history, expert testimony, evidence of exposure, applicable defenses, and the specific facts of the individual claim.

Discuss Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit With Uptown Injury Law, PLLC Lawyers 

If you developed a serious health condition after using hair relaxers, you may be facing ongoing medical treatment, mounting expenses, and uncertainty about your legal rights. However, you do not have to go through these challenges alone. Our lawyers at Uptown Injury Law, PLLC can review your medical history and hair relaxer use, explain how your case may fit into the ongoing MDL, and help you pursue the compensation you may deserve. Contact us at 917-540-8728 or visit our office at 2417 Third Ave., Suite 505, Bronx, New York 10451 to file a strong MDL claim.

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