Popular Haircare Brand Sued by Customers for Hair Loss

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Popular haircare brand, Olaplex, is being sued for negligence and false advertising by 28 women who claim its products cause hair loss, scalp blisters and other conditions.¹ Some plaintiffs also reported hives and face, scalp and neck rashes. The complaint states that some Olaplex products contain lilial, which is a chemical compound that was used as a scent booster in cosmetics until March 2022, when the European Union mandated the ingredient be taken out of products due to a potential impact on fertility.²

The current suit was filed on February 9, 2023, in Los Angeles, California and states that the popular company made false statements about its products' abilities to restore hair and accuses the brand of including harmful and irritating ingredients in its product line. The Olaplex products mentioned in the lawsuit include Olaplex No. 0, Olaplex No. 1, Olaplex No. 2, Olaplex No. 3, Olaplex No. 4, Olaplex No. 5, Olaplex No. 6, Olaplex No. 7, Olaplex No. 8 and Olaplex No. 9.

On its website, Olaplex describes its patented bond building technology as one that works on a molecular level to repair broken bonds and rejuvenate hair, increase tensile strength, restore elasticity, and protect the hair follicle from further breakage.

The lawsuit is Albahae et al v Olaplex Holdings, 2:23-cv-00982, US District Court, Central District of California (Los Angeles). There is currently no information from the court on motions or a trial date.

A representative from Olaplex gave this comment to Dermatology Times®, “Olaplex products do not cause hair loss or hair breakage. Olaplex products are safe and effective, as millions of our customers can happily attest. We have publicly released test results from independent third-party laboratories, going above and beyond industry standards, to demonstrate this. We have full confidence and believe in the safety and efficacy of our products.

There are a wide variety of reasons for hair breakage or hair loss, as medical and scientific experts have publicly stated, including lifestyle, various medical conditions and medications, the aftereffects of COVID, skin conditions and more. Anyone experiencing consistent hair breakage should consult their stylist and dermatologist to best understand their unique hair and skin needs.

Complaints like this are sadly a fact of life in our industry, and have been made against other brands in the category for years. We are prepared to vigorously defend our Company, our brand, and our products against these baseless accusations."

Dermatology Times® wants to hear from you. Are you concerned? What news are you sharing with your patients? Email us at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.

References

1. Archie A. Nearly 30 women are suing Olaplex, alleging products caused hair loss. NPR .https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1157398619/olaplex-lawsuit-hair-loss. Published February 16, 2023. Accessed February 23, 2023

2. Lilial and fertility: EU bans toxic fragrance ingredient from personal care products. https://ew.org. https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2022/03/lilial-and-fertility-eu-bans-toxic-fragrance-ingredient-personal. Published March 2022. Accessed February 23, 2023.

3. Olaplex. https://olaplex.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=Brand&utm_campaign=10220961494&utm_content=&utm_term=439747471858&gclid=Cj0KCQiAutyfBhCMARIsAMgcRJR1xZ6g_H_VpXlJuI-fa1ciOilHvj6DF5wpmtSHp-Je_p02WaY2WRMaAvr9EALw_wcB. Accessed February 23, 2023.