Revlon's Hair Relaxer Products
Revlon Inc. manufactures Creme of Nature and Revlon Realistic hair relaxer products, which were widely marketed to Black women. These products, like competing brands, contain EDCs including phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde-releasing agents that were not fully disclosed on labels.
Revlon Bankruptcy and Claims
Revlon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2022 and emerged from bankruptcy in late 2023. Despite the bankruptcy, Revlon maintains insurance coverage for hair relaxer claims. The reorganization plan allocated approximately $44 million specifically for hair relaxer victim compensation.
Filing Against Revlon
Claims against Revlon follow the bankruptcy court's procedures but can still be pursued through the MDL. The Plaintiffs' Steering Committee filed a claim in the Revlon bankruptcy proceeding on behalf of all potential hair relaxer plaintiffs who used Revlon products. If you used Creme of Nature or Revlon Realistic, your claim is preserved through this process.
Insurance Coverage
Revlon's insurance coverage is critical because it ensures that compensation is available regardless of the company's financial condition. The $44 million allocation and insurance reserves mean that claimants can recover damages even from a bankrupt defendant.
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.
L'Oréal Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
L'Oréal is the primary defendant in the hair relaxer MDL through its subsidiary SoftSheen-Carson, maker of Dark & Lovely and Optimum Care. L'Oréal is the world's largest beauty company with €38+ billion in annual revenue.
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