THE WHAT? Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against L’Oréal and its subsidiaries, alleging the company misled Black women and girls about potential cancer risks associated with its chemical hair relaxer products.
THE DETAILS Filed on 23 October 2026, the lawsuit concerns products marketed under the Dark and Lovely, Optimum and Mizani brands. The complaint alleges that L’Oréal failed to disclose potential health risks despite being aware of epidemiological studies linking frequent chemical hair relaxer use to increased risks of certain cancers, including uterine and ovarian cancer. The Attorney General claims the company violated three Minnesota consumer protection laws through misleading safety claims and inadequate risk disclosures. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, consumer restitution and an injunction preventing continued sales without appropriate health warnings. The allegations have not been established by a court.
THE WHY? The lawsuit highlights increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny of ingredient safety, product claims and consumer risk disclosures within the cosmetics industry. For hair care manufacturers, the case reinforces the importance of toxicological assessments, transparent product communication and regulatory compliance, particularly where emerging scientific evidence raises questions about long-term product safety.
Source: Red Lake Nation News
