The Dove dry shampoo lawsuit is a proposed class action alleging that Unilever’s aerosol dry shampoos, including several Dove varieties, were contaminated with benzene, a chemical linked to cancer. The case seeks refunds, not compensation for illness. As of early 2026, a $3.625 million settlement has been proposed but rejected by the court, so consumers cannot yet file a claim.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The primary case is Little et al. v. Unilever United States, Inc., Case No. 3:22-cv-01189, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. It names Unilever along with Aeropres Corporation and Voyant Beauty LLC, which had roles in manufacturing or supplying the aerosol products.1ClassAction.org. $3.6 Million Unilever Dry Shampoo Settlement Aims to Resolve Lawsuit Over Alleged Benzene Contamination A separate suit, Rullo v. Unilever United States Inc. (Case No. 2:22-cv-06422), was filed in November 2022 in New Jersey and alleged that Unilever knew about the benzene risk as early as July 2021 but did not act until October 2022.2Top Class Actions. Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI, TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Contains Benzene, Class Action Claims
The claims are economic. Plaintiffs allege breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and violations of state consumer protection laws, arguing they paid for products they would not have bought had they known about the contamination.3Top Class Actions. Unilever Settlement to Resolve Dry Shampoo Benzene Class Action This is a refund case. It is not the same as a personal injury lawsuit, which would require an individual plaintiff to prove they developed cancer or another illness because of the product.4Lawsuit Information Center. Dry Shampoo Lawsuits
How the Benzene Was Found
In late 2022, the independent laboratory Valisure tested 148 batches of dry shampoo from 34 brands and reported that 70% contained detectable benzene, a chemical classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.5Valisure. Valisure Detects Benzene in Dry Shampoo The FDA caps benzene at 2 parts per million in drug products under limited conditions but has no specific limit for cosmetics.6Time. Dry Shampoo Benzene Cancer
Weeks before Valisure petitioned the FDA, on October 18, 2022, Unilever issued a voluntary U.S. recall covering 19 aerosol dry shampoo products made before October 2021 across five brands: Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemmé, and TIGI. Unilever traced the benzene to isobutane and propane propellants in the aerosol cans, and it said its own health evaluation concluded that daily exposure at the detected levels “would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.”7U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unilever Issues Voluntary US Recall of Select Dry Shampoos Due to Potential Presence of Benzene
Which Dove Products Were Recalled
Eight Dove dry shampoo varieties were pulled from shelves, including versions labeled Volume and Fullness, Fresh Coconut, Ultra Clean, and Invisible, among others.8ABC7 New York. Dry Shampoo Recall: Benzene Shampoos Recalled by Unilever The recall only applies to aerosol dry shampoos manufactured before October 2021. Non-aerosol Dove products and later production dates were not part of the recall.
The Proposed $3.625 Million Settlement
In February 2025, the parties in Little told the court they had reached an agreement in principle.3Top Class Actions. Unilever Settlement to Resolve Dry Shampoo Benzene Class Action The proposed $3,625,000 deal would have covered anyone in the United States who bought Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemmé, or TIGI dry shampoos for personal use between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2022.
Under the proposal:
- Claimants with receipts could receive a full refund for each covered product.
- Claimants without proof of purchase could recover $3 per product, up to four products per household.
- Roughly $1.2 million was earmarked for attorney fees.
- Any money already refunded through Unilever’s recall program would be subtracted from a claimant’s payout.9Legal Newsline. Judge Finds Problems With $3.6M Dry Shampoo Settlement
Why the Court Rejected the Settlement
On February 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea denied preliminary approval. He identified two problems. The class period reaching back to 2014 was, in his view, “impermissibly broad,” because the third-party testing did not support treating products from that far back as contaminated. And most of the named plaintiffs had not offered enough factual detail about what they bought and when to establish Article III standing.1ClassAction.org. $3.6 Million Unilever Dry Shampoo Settlement Aims to Resolve Lawsuit Over Alleged Benzene Contamination The judge did find that one named plaintiff, identified as Barnette, had standing to represent a settlement class.10HarrisMartin. Conn. Court Denies Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Settlement in Unilever Dry Shampoo Settlement
The denial was without prejudice. That means the plaintiffs can narrow the class definition, fix the standing issues, and file a revised motion. The court ordered a status report by March 3, 2026.
Can You File a Claim Right Now?
No. Because preliminary approval was denied, there is no active settlement website, no claims form, and no filing deadline. A claims process will only exist if the parties revise the deal and the court approves it.1ClassAction.org. $3.6 Million Unilever Dry Shampoo Settlement Aims to Resolve Lawsuit Over Alleged Benzene Contamination
Unilever’s recall reimbursement program is separate from the lawsuit and is already running. If you still have a recalled can, stop using it and visit UnileverRecall.com for refund information.11AARP. Dry Shampoo Recall Cancer Risk Money received through that program would later reduce any class action payout you might qualify for.
How Much of a Health Risk Does the Benzene Pose?
Benzene has been linked to leukemia and other blood cancers, but most of that evidence comes from workers exposed to high concentrations over many years.12Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dry Shampoo and Cancer Risk: What You Need to Know The National Poison Control Center has said “there is no evidence that occasional use of dry shampoo is harmful.”13Poison Control. Does Dry Shampoo Contain Benzene Concern focuses on frequent, repeated inhalation, since many people use dry shampoo several times a week.
The FDA has not issued a final response to Valisure’s citizen petition on dry shampoo. In 2025, when the agency tested a related category of products, it found that more than 90% had undetectable or extremely low benzene levels, and it warned that “unvalidated testing methods by third-party laboratories can produce inaccurate results.”14Skadden. FDA Contradicts Benzene Class Actions
A Note on Dove and Hair Loss Claims
The Dove dry shampoo case is about benzene and refunds. It is not a hair loss case. Separate lawsuits alleging hair loss from DMDM hydantoin, a preservative that releases small amounts of formaldehyde, have targeted TRESemmé’s Keratin Smooth line rather than Dove.15TRESemmé. TRESemmé DMDM Hydantoin Hair Loss Lawsuit Dove itself has said it is phasing out formaldehyde-donor ingredients, including DMDM hydantoin, from its products.16Dove. Rethinking Our Ingredients
What to Watch For
The case remains open in Connecticut federal court against Unilever, Aeropres, and Voyant Beauty. Plaintiffs need to narrow the class period and cure the standing problems before submitting a revised settlement.9Legal Newsline. Judge Finds Problems With $3.6M Dry Shampoo Settlement Keep your receipts if you have them. If a revised settlement is approved, proof of purchase will produce a larger refund than an unverified claim.