A high-profile lawsuit has been filed against several major cosmetic companies, alleging that their hair relaxer products have caused severe health issues, including cancer. On November 21, 2025, Lana Akinola filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Godrej SON Holdings, Inc., L’Oréal USA, Inc., and other defendants.
The case revolves around allegations that hair relaxer products marketed and sold by these companies have led to serious injuries for the plaintiff. Lana Akinola claims that she began using these products in 1980 and continued until 2014. According to the complaint, she believes that her use of these products directly contributed to her diagnosis of uterine cancer in 2024. The complaint highlights various product lines from different manufacturers such as Hawaiian Silky, Vitale, Affirm, Africa’s Best Originals, Dark and Lovely, and others under brands like SoftSheen-Carson LLC and Namaste Laboratories LLC.
Akinola’s legal team argues that the defendants are guilty of negligence and gross negligence due to their failure to adequately warn consumers about the potential risks associated with their products. The lawsuit accuses the companies of negligent misrepresentation and fraud by concealing information about the dangers of their hair relaxers. It further claims breaches of implied warranty of merchantability and express warranty under state law and federal statutes like the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
In addition to seeking compensatory damages for her injuries, Akinola is also pursuing punitive damages against the defendants. Her legal team argues that these companies engaged in deceptive trade practices by failing to disclose known risks associated with their products. The plaintiff demands a jury trial to address these grievances comprehensively.
Representing Lana Akinola are attorneys Mark Abramowitz and Nicholas Horattas from DiCello Levitt LLP’s Ohio office, along with Diandra Debrosse, Eli Hare, and Elton Darby from their Alabama office. The case is presided over by Honorable Mary M. Rowland under Case ID: 1:25-cv-14287.
Source: 125cv14287_Lana_Akinola_v_Godrej_Son_Holdings_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
