Published: February 3, 2026 · Updated: March 2026

Which Hair Relaxer Brands Are Named in the Lawsuit?

One of the most common questions we receive is: "I used hair relaxers for years — but are my specific products involved in the lawsuit?" The answer for many women is yes. The hair relaxer cancer MDL (MDL 3060) names some of the most popular and widely marketed relaxer brands in the country as defendants.

Here is a complete guide to the brands and manufacturers named in the hair relaxer cancer lawsuit, and what you need to know about each.

The Defendant Manufacturers and Their Brands

L'Oréal USA / SoftSheen-Carson

L'Oréal is the world's largest cosmetics company and one of the primary defendants in the hair relaxer MDL. Through its SoftSheen-Carson subsidiary (acquired in 1998), L'Oréal manufactures and markets:

• Dark & Lovely — one of the most recognized hair relaxer brands in the US, marketed primarily to Black women
• Optimum Care — a premium relaxer line from SoftSheen-Carson

Namaste Laboratories LLC

Namaste Laboratories manufactures the Just for Me brand — perhaps the most controversial product in this litigation because it was specifically designed and marketed for children, including girls as young as five years old. The "Just for Me" brand name and child-targeted marketing materials are central to claims about failure to warn and targeting of vulnerable consumers.

Strength of Nature Global LLC

Strength of Nature is one of the largest dedicated ethnic hair care companies. Their brands include:

• Soft & Beautiful — a widely distributed relaxer brand
• Elasta QP — another Strength of Nature relaxer line used by millions of Black women

Dabur International / ORS Consumer Products

Dabur International manufactures the ORS (Organic Root Stimulator) Olive Oil line. The use of "Organic" and "Olive Oil" in the branding has been cited in litigation as misleading, given the presence of synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals in these products.

Unilever (formerly Alberto-Culver)

Unilever, through its acquisition of Alberto-Culver, manufactures several relaxer lines including:

• Motions — a long-running professional and consumer relaxer brand
• TCB Naturals — a classic relaxer brand marketed for decades

Godrej Consumer Products

Godrej manufactures the African Pride brand. The "African Pride" name and branding are significant — critics have noted that using African cultural pride as a marketing tool while selling products with potential health hazards to the African American community represents a particular form of harm.

Revlon Inc.

Revlon has been named as a defendant in connection with its ethnic hair care line, including Revlon Realistic. Note: Revlon filed for bankruptcy in 2022, which creates a more complex legal process for claims against this specific defendant.

What If I Used a Brand Not on This List?

The brands listed above are those most prominently named in MDL 3060 as of early 2026. However, the litigation is ongoing and the list of named products continues to evolve. More importantly:

If you used any chemical hair relaxer or straightener — regardless of brand — and have been diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids, you should submit a free case evaluation. The core issue is the use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals common across many brands, not just the specific brands listed here.