L’Oréal Faces Expanding Legal Battle Over Hair Relaxers and Talc

L’Oréal is facing an expanding legal challenge in the United States over allegations that some of its cosmetic products may have exposed consumers to serious health risks.

The company is currently dealing with hundreds of cases concerning alleged asbestos contamination in talc-based products, while thousands of additional claims accuse its hair-relaxer products of contributing to cancers including uterine and ovarian cancer. L’Oréal strongly disputes the allegations and maintains that its products are safe.

The hair-relaxer litigation has been consolidated in federal court in Illinois under multidistrict litigation, allowing related claims against L’Oréal and other manufacturers to be managed together. New individual cases against L’Oréal defendants continue to enter the litigation in 2026.

At the heart of the legal dispute are questions of product liability and the duty to warn. Plaintiffs allege that manufacturers knew or should have known about potential health risks and failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers. Arizona has separately accused L’Oréal of violating state consumer-protection laws by failing to disclose alleged cancer risks associated with hair relaxers.

The latest development goes beyond individual claims. L’Oréal has reportedly brought in restructuring advisers to explore ways of managing its growing U.S. legal liabilities.

With the company contesting the allegations, the litigation has yet to establish liability. But the cases could have significant implications for cosmetic safety, corporate disclosure and manufacturers’ legal responsibilities to consumers.