L'Oréal and SoftSheen-Carson
L'Oréal USA Inc. and its subsidiary SoftSheen-Carson LLC are the primary defendants in MDL 3060. SoftSheen-Carson manufactures Dark & Lovely — one of the best-known hair relaxer brands — as well as Optimum Care and Optimum Salon Haircare. L'Oréal is the world's largest beauty company with approximately €38.26 billion in global revenue (2022).
The Marketing to Black Women
Dark & Lovely has been marketed to Black women for decades through television advertising, print media, and celebrity endorsements. The brand name itself — "Dark & Lovely" — explicitly targets women of color. SoftSheen-Carson's advertising appeared extensively in Black-targeted media including Essence, Ebony, and BET.
The Failure-to-Warn Case Against L'Oréal
Testing found that EDCs in Dark & Lovely and other SoftSheen-Carson products were not disclosed on labels. L'Oréal allegedly knew or should have known that its products contained endocrine-disrupting chemicals that could increase cancer risk — yet continued marketing them without warnings. The 84% unlabeled EDC rate is central to this argument.
L'Oréal's Resources and Litigation Exposure
As the world's largest beauty company, L'Oréal has the financial resources to defend the litigation aggressively — but also the ability to fund meaningful settlements. The company's extensive marketing reach amplifies its liability: the more effectively it marketed these products to Black women, the greater its responsibility for the resulting harm.
Brand Names & Products
Scientific Evidence
Hair Relaxer Use and Risk of Uterine Cancer in the Black Women's Health Study
Bertrand KA, Coogan PF, Palmer JR (2023). Environmental Research
View on PubMed→Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer
Chang CJ, O'Brien KM, Keil AP, Gaston SA, Jackson CL, Sandler DP, White AJ (2022). Journal of the National Cancer Institute
View on PubMed→Use of Hair Products in Relation to Ovarian Cancer Risk
White AJ, Sandler DP, et al. (2021). Carcinogenesis
View on PubMed→Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer is the primary injury in the hair relaxer litigation. The NIH Sister Study found a 155% increased risk (HR 2.55) for frequent users. Approximately 67,000 Americans are diagnosed with uterine cancer annually.
Hair Relaxer Ovarian Cancer
The Sister Study found hair relaxer users face a 2.19x increased risk of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is often called the "silent killer" because symptoms are vague until advanced stages, making early detection difficult.
Hair Relaxer Endometriosis
Chemical hair relaxers contain EDCs linked to endometriosis — a painful condition where uterine-like tissue grows outside the uterus. Phthalates and parabens in relaxers promote endometrial implant growth through estrogen mimicry.
Hair Relaxer Settlement Amounts
No hair relaxer cases have settled or gone to trial yet. Attorney estimates project $90,000–$1,000,000+ depending on injury type and severity. Bellwether trials expected in 2027 will establish actual case values.
Revlon Dark and Lovely Lawsuit
Revlon is a defendant in the hair relaxer MDL despite filing bankruptcy in 2022. Revlon maintains insurance coverage and allocated ~$44 million for hair relaxer claims in its reorganization plan. Products include Creme of Nature and Revlon Realistic.
Hair Relaxer Chemical Exposure
Hair relaxers contain at least 45 endocrine-disrupting chemicals across 10 chemical classes. 84% of these chemicals are NOT listed on product labels. The chemicals enter the body through the scalp, whose protective barrier is compromised by the relaxing process itself.
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Black Women
Hair relaxer lawsuits disproportionately affect Black women, who were the primary marketing target, comprise 60% of affected users, and face twice the uterine cancer mortality rate of white women. This is both a product liability and a racial justice case.
Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuits Lawsuit
Chemical hair relaxers and straighteners contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — including phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, and cyclosiloxanes — that mimic estrogen and disrupt the hormonal system. The NIH/NIEHS Sister Study (2022) found that women who frequently used these products faced more than double the risk of uterine cancer. Over 14,700 lawsuits are consolidated in MDL 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois, with bellwether trials expected in 2027. The litigation disproportionately affects Black women, who were the primary marketing target and comprise approximately 60% of affected users.
View full case overview