First Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit Set for Bellwether Trial on Sept. 7, 2027

Court has scheduled the first hair relaxer cancer bellwether trial for September 2027, but has not yet selected which lawsuit will go before a jury.

In less than a year, a jury is expected to hear the first hair relaxer cancer lawsuit selected for a bellwether trial, providing the first courtroom test of allegations being raised across tens of thousands of similar claims against cosmetic manufacturers.

The lawsuits target companies including L’Oreal, Revlon and Soft-Sheen, alleging they failed to adequately warn women about reproductive cancer risks associated with chemicals used in popular hair relaxers and chemical straighteners, including Dark & Lovely, Optimum and Just For Me.

More than 32,000 claims have been filed by women who say years of hair relaxer use contributed to uterine, ovarian or endometrial cancer.

Hair relaxer cancer lawsuits began to mount in late 2022, after a National Institutes of Health study found that frequent use of chemical hair straighteners was associated with a substantially higher risk of uterine cancer. Women who used the products more than four times per year faced a 156% increased risk, while those who used them between one and four times annually had a 56% increased risk, according to the findings.

As the number of lawsuits increased, the federal claims were centralized in 2023 in the Northern District of Illinois before U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland. The consolidated proceedings are intended to streamline discovery and resolve common issues raised throughout the litigation, while also preparing a small group of representative cases for early trial dates.

Hair Relaxer Cancer Bellwether Trials

Judge Rowland and the parties initially began with a pool of 32 potential bellwether hair relaxer cancer lawsuits, which has since been narrowed to 10 possible selections. Those cases were filed by Bridget Boatwright, Carrie Chattman, Charlene Fennell, Gloria Ford, Areecia Jackson, Joanne Jones, Rosa Robinson, Karla Smith, Roxanna Wade and Janette Wallace.

Plaintiffs and defendants originally proposed 12 claims for the final bellwether pool, but Judge Rowland rejected those selections and chose 10 cases herself. She limited the pool to lawsuits involving at least three defendants and excluded claims involving plaintiffs with memory loss, certain mental health or learning conditions, as well as women simultaneously pursuing talcum powder cancer lawsuits involving similar reproductive cancers.

On September 24, a notification of docket entry (PDF) announced that the first hair relaxer cancer bellwether trial will begin on September 7, 2027. Judge Rowland has not yet announced which of the remaining cases will be presented to the jury.

The order also establishes a series of case management conferences leading up to the trial, with hearings scheduled for January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, July 29 and August 26, 2027. Those conferences will allow the court and parties to address discovery disputes, expert issues, motions and other trial preparations as the first bellwether approaches.

“By 10/16/26, parties shall meet and confer, file on the docket, and submit to the Court’s proposed order box, a list of proposed dates for next year’s court call hearings, each of which should fall on the Wednesday immediately preceding a case management conference.”

— U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland, Northern District of Illinois

The September 2027 trial will provide the first opportunity for a jury to consider evidence about whether hair relaxer manufacturers adequately disclosed potential cancer risks and whether the products contributed to an individual plaintiff’s diagnosis.

Additional bellwether trials are expected to follow, giving both sides a clearer picture of how juries may respond to common evidence and arguments raised throughout the litigation. Although the outcomes will not be binding on other plaintiffs, the verdicts could influence how the parties approach future trials and any potential efforts to resolve large numbers of claims.

Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawyers Reviewing Claims

Hair relaxer cancer lawyers are continuing to pursue claims for women who regularly used chemical hair straighteners and were later diagnosed with serious reproductive cancers, including:

• Uterine cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine sarcoma and other uterine malignancies

Attorneys are reviewing the length and frequency of hair relaxer use, the specific products used, the timing of the cancer diagnosis and other medical and exposure history to determine whether an individual may qualify to pursue a claim.

Free consultations are available for women and families seeking to determine whether they may be eligible for compensation. Hair relaxer cancer lawyers handle these claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees or expenses, and attorneys only receive a fee if they obtain a settlement or verdict.

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