They claim in the lawsuit that Olaplex hair products they used left them, in some cases, with bald spots, allergic reactions, open sores and hair that is "dry, brittle, frizzy and dull." One . This is why I dont recommend Olaplex products. Disclaimer: HairLossGeeks is independent and reader-supported. 6, Olaplex No. The EU has famously banned or limited more than 1,600 chemicals from personal care products, but if you ask cosmetic chemists, theyll tell you that ingredients alone cant tell you everything you need to know about the safety of a product. The 61-page lawsuit says that although Olaplex touts the products over and over in advertisements as scientifically proven, free from harsh chemicals and safe for all hair, the items are, in fact, none of these things.. BeautyMatter spoke with experts in cosmetic chemistry and consumer protection laws to understand what this lawsuit is really about and what the future may look like for Olaplex. 1st Fl, Ste 2268A Landmeier Rd Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. It is free of many common irritants and undesirable ingredients. "Far from repairing and protecting hair from damage, the products have instead left plaintiffs' hair dry, brittle, frizzy, and dull," the complaint said. Olaplex customers are suing the popular hair care brand and claiming that the company's products caused them "serious injury" to their hair.. The consumer lawsuit in Canada highlights its "No. Customers were complaining that overusing the products was causing serious damage to their hair. Olaplex a.k.a. Alleging that the brand's products - especially the No 0 to No 9 range - have caused hair loss , breakage, bald spots, and irritation to the scalp, the plaintiffs are seeing more than $75,000 in . David Williams/Bloomberg via Getty Images 3 Hair Repair Perfector, which was sold at Sephora, contains butylphenyl methylpropional (lilial). Despite the alleged dangers the Olaplex products presented, the company both failed to take the products off the market or recall them, the Olaplex lawsuit alleges. Top Class Actions posted an article about Olaplex in April . 4, Olaplex No. Olaplex has also publicly addressed claims of hair loss on Twitter and TikTok, saying its products are independently tested and "results do not indicate that using our products can lead to hair loss.". . Why? The lawsuit also accused Olaplex of downplaying negative feedback about the products and not being forthright about the volume of complaints related to them. 3 Hair Perfector once contained lilial, a known sensitizer and allergen linked to infertility. Have you tried Olaplex hair loss products? Olaplex was not immediately available for comment. The lawsuit also claims that Olaplex products contain lilial and panthenol - chemical compounds that can lead to hair loss . In the lawsuit, filed on Feb. 9 in California, Auriana and more than two dozen women across the country claim they have been left with hair that is worse off than before they used Olaplex products. 5, Olaplex No. Consumers, editors, and the general public need to understand [that] when it comes to products, ingredients are just part of the story, says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. At the top, it is summed up that Sephora is being sued for selling Olaplex. The plaintiffs also accuse Olaplex of using celebrities and influencers to market their products, but failing to disclose that they have been paid, and that the company claims their products have been tested, but has not publicized those tests, which is "highly suspect," the complaint says. "We are prepared to vigorously defend our Company, our brand, and our products against these baseless accusations.". Contact Sindhu Sundar at ssundar@insider.com or on the encrypted messaging app Signal at (984)-377-3887. Have you tried @Olaplex? Revolution Beauty 'don't deliberately copy anyone', Ariana Grande claims Forever 21 'stole' name, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. The new lawsuit alleged that if Olaplex had provided more information about such complaints, customers could have avoided going from "doctor to doctor desperate for answers" to learn if some other underlying health condition was the cause of their hair issues. Olaplex says that they started using it before it was removed from hair care products around the globe due to its side effects. Olaplex products are safe and effective, as millions of our customers can happily attest.". "We are prepared to vigorously defend our company, our brand, and our products against these baseless accusations," it said in a statement on Instagram. Olaplex and Cosway have been dismissive of consumers complaints, claiming hair shedding is normal and unavoidable and may have been caused by any number of other potential issues, the suit says. We have publicly released test results from independent third-party laboratories, going above and beyond industry standards, to demonstrate this. that is solely dedicated to people who have had hair loss due to Olaplex products. Sign up for ClassAction.orgs free weekly newsletter here. On Trustpilot, one customer wrote: 'I wish I could put 0 stars but I can't.. Olaplex is the worst thing you can put on ur hair mine got sooo fragile and thin. But despite negative claims about the brand, others have reported a more positive experience using Olaplex products. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. In addition, Olaplexs marketing which includes the use of celebrity photos is misleading given that many of these celebrities do not regularly use the Products, much less sponsor or endorse them in any way, the filing claims. Top Class Actions is a legal site that handles public lawsuits. Several of the products have won beauty awards and are sold on the Olaplex website, as well as in Sephora and Ulta from $30 to $96. I started to feel the wind and air on my scalp in places that I've never felt it.". 1, Olaplex No. Damage and excessive hair loss, buyer beware!!! Learn all the details in this week's episode of #WhatsUpInMakeup on my YouTube. The case has not ended as of this article, but they seek $10 million in punitive damages. There are thousands of people all saying the same thing. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. ", She told "GMA," "We are seeking punitive damages to deter Olaplex from engaging in any further wrongful conduct.". The lawsuit, filed last week in a Californian district court, claims the plaintiffs "have lost their hair - in some cases more than half and leaving bald spots in others". This case is being fought not only in the court system but also in the court of public opinion. Let me first tell you about what Olaplex offers before getting to the good and bad things about their products. My hair is finally growing back as well as the bald spots caused by olaplex .. i don't know what they put inside to make it this bad!'. "Do your due diligence and make sure that you are protecting yourself as a consumer when you're buying beauty products. This is a painful and emotional topic, however for our products this is not true. Personally, I strongly believe the current legal action is a nuisance suit motivated by financial motives. Per the case, many of the Olaplex products at issue contain sodium benzoate and ascorbic and/or citric acid chemicals that, when combined, create the known carcinogen benzene. These people used a combination of Olaplex products, and it helped their hair immensely. The chemical in question is butylphenyl methylpropional (lilial). ", "Complaints like the ones referenced in this article are, sadly, a fact of life in our industry, and have been made against other brands in the category for years," Olaplex said. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Those claims are false, states the lawsuit, which was filed last week in the U.S. District Court Central District of California. Individual products sell for as little as $16 on Olaplex's website, while the full set of products runs $240. Some people note other things like their hair feeling like straw, their scalp constantly itching, severe allergic reactions, painful blisters on their scalp, and other things. In many ways, this Olaplex suit feels a bit like . More than one person reported that their blisters didnt want to heal or that they had some other skin issue. Olaplex and Cosway have instead implemented what is essentially a voluntary and entirely self-serving partial recall, merely allowing customers to return Olaplex products with no questions asked for a full refund, regardless of the date of original purchase or amount of product left in the bottle, the case relays. 3, Olaplex No. . Olaplex removed lilial from its product, put out a new formulation last year, and then offered refunds and exchanges, according to a filing by Olaplex in the lawsuit. On Feb. 9, Olaplex was sued by a group of 28 customers in California who said they suffered hair loss and damage after using the brand's products. Top Class Actions posted an article about Olaplex in April 2022. The brand, a staple in TikTok hair care routines, posted "third-party" test records on its website. Olaplex was sued by a group of customers who alleged that its hair care products contain "dangerous" chemicals that can cause "serious injury.". There is even a Facebook group titled Olaplex and Hair Loss? The company's filing also noted that it had "proactively" devised a new version of the product that didn't contain lilial, which Olaplex said in a February social media post it had previously used "in small amounts as a fragrance.". Live from New York and Hong Kong, bringing you the essential stories from the close of the U.S. markets to the open of trading across Asia. Want to stay in the loop on class actions that matter to you? In many salons around the world it is offered - at an additional price - as a treatment for those getting their hair coloured. Auriana is now part of a lawsuit against Olaplex, a hair care line popular with influencers and some celebrities that promises to restore "damaged and compromised hair by repairing from the inside out" leaving users with "healthy, beautiful, shiny, touchable hair," according to marketing materials on the company's website and social media. 3 Hair Perfector" product, alleging that Olaplex did not disclose risks linked to the ingredient, which the European Union directed cosmetics companies to stop using after March 2022. The suit adds that the Olaplex products also contain non-water-soluble substances that can cause users to develop clogged, inflamed, impacted and infected hair follicles. This condition, known as seborrheic dermatitis, is characterized by red, itchy, inflamed, blistered, flaking or scaling skin and hair loss, the suit says. It is becoming both a PR and legal nightmare, from what I can see, says Sparks. The Olaplex brand, widely available in popular beauty stores and online, is marketed to restore damaged hair and protect against breakage. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages and an injunction to stop Olaplex from making false claims about its products. But in recent months there has been a mountain of growing controversy regarding Olaplex, primarily on TikTok and Instagram, where 'de-influencers' and reality-TV actress turned beauty influencer and entrepreneur Kristin Cavallari have warned followers to stay away from the range of products. Katherine Lawton It is the final formulation that determines efficacy and performance. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Olaplex has a history of digging in and fighting legal battles. "I think by that point I had probably lost 20% of my hair," Auriana told "Good Morning America." As the suit tells it, Los Angeles-based Olaplex and co-defendant Cosway Co.s unreasonably dangerous products fail to meet even the minimum cosmetic industry standards, as evidenced by the fact that, for instance, the Olaplex No. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Some people have successfully grown their hair with Olaplex products. New cases and investigations, settlement deadlines, and news straight to your inbox. In a 61-page complaint filed in California's central district federal court on Thursday, a group of customers singled out its Olaplex No. She said she also experienced redness and swelling around her face and hairline. Now more than ever, players rightly see themselves as multi-faceted entrepreneurs, and seek ways to leverage their brands in everything from real estate to venture capital. Olaplex's image troubles come at the heels of the company's declining streak since going public in 2021. Nor have Defendants issued any new warnings or otherwise disclosed the defects and dangers associated with the Products., As the case tells it, the defendants seemingly half-hearted recall amounts to an attempt to appease injured consumers and sweep under the rug the dangers presented by the Products.. Olaplex has strongly denied the allegations, insisting its range does "not cause hair loss or hair breakage". Further still, many of the before-and-after photos on Olaplexs website that show how the average person can attain celebrity hair feature paid models who do not regularly use the Products as recommended by the defendants and whose hair, unbeknownst to consumers, has been styled by professionals, the case claims. According to the lawsuit, each variety of Olaplex products contains known skin irritants and sensitizers, which can cause allergic contact dermatitis and, consequently, extreme diffuse hair loss. In more serious cases, exposure to the allergens in Olaplex items can trigger an auto-immune response, such as alopecia areata, the suit adds. For those wanting to learn how to remedy their hair and scalp. According to the lawsuit, each variety of Olaplex products contains "known skin irritants and sensitizers," which can cause allergic contact dermatitis and, consequently, "extreme diffuse hair loss.". It is a sign that they pored time and money into making their products. It helps minimize the damage caused by protein-eating molecules, as well as preventing hair loss. You have entered an incorrect email address! Be sure to let me know! Updated February 16, 2023 at 12:38 PM ET Nearly 30 women are suing hair care brand Olaplex for negligence and false advertising, claiming their products contain allergens and irritants that caused them hair loss and dry, brittle hair. The latest lawsuit adds to a mountain of claims from customers warning that chunks of hair have fallen out and their scalp has broken out into a painful rash. Please look out for the groups on Facebook just to see the damage this product has caused. Many people buy used Olaplex on sites like Mercari and it is something else filling an Olaplex bottle. This is also known as their patented single ingredient: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. This browser does not support PDFs. Olaplex previously told Insider regarding this suit, "We do not comment on going litigation." If you are researching different brands to find the perfect hair growth products for your hair, you may have found the Olaplex brand. Olaplex Holdings is being sued by nearly 30 consumers who claim that some of the popular hair care products caused hair loss, hair damage and scalp injuries. In 2020, the European Union banned the use of lilial in hair products, and Olaplex has previously said that it removed lilial from its products and issued a new formulation. The complaint filed Thursday . Some users seeking refunds said their hair was damaged or fell out after using the product. Sign up for notifications from Insider! It is particularly marketed towards people who bleach their hair, and while it is widely available to the public, several products are only sold to trained hair professionals. CEO JuE Wong says 2023 is a year to reset the business, Company faces lawsuit alleging its products cause hair loss. By March, Genute said her hair had turned dry and brittle with strands breaking in half, and she spotted flaky red spots on her scalp all issues she had never experienced before. According to the Olaplex class action lawsuit, the Olaplex No. Insider spoke to two people who have received refunds and another who has requested a refund from Olaplex. Olaplex is a company that sells a variety of hair products. In response to questions about the refunds and the safety of its products, Olaplex said: "We are proud to help our millions of customers achieve their best hair possible and every customer inquiry is important to us. A lawsuit claims Olaplex products contain allergens and irritants that cause hair loss and dry, brittle hair. The subsequent social media fallout prompted Olaplex CEO . Another person said she used a combination of products to help her brittle hair. By Insider has previously reported on Olaplex customers who said they experienced hair loss and got refunds. There are many reviews for Olaplex No.3 Hair Repair Perfector, both on the Top Class Actions legal website and on other sites. 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