These Are the Worst Hair Products on the Market, According To Recalls and Class Action Lawsuits

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Worst Hair Care Products Class Action Lawsuits Overview: 

• Who: Class action lawsuits have been filed against a number of hair care product manufacturers, including Procter & Gamble, Madison Reed. Johnson & Johnson, OGX and TREsemmé. 
• Why: Claims often revolve around the ingredients the hair care products contain.
• Where: Class action lawsuits have been filed against hair product manufacturers nationwide.

If there is one thing consumers are careful about, it’s what they put in their hair. Using the right product can make all the difference between having hair that is frizzy or fabulous. 

Consumers also have to be cautious that what they put in their hair isn’t going to damage it whether because of a negative individual reaction or an identifiable problem with the product itself. 

Last month, a class action lawsuit was filed against Madison Reed by consumers who claim its hair coloring products contain harsh ingredients that can cause adverse reactions, including hair loss. 

The complaint against Madison Reed is just one that has been filed against hair care companies, however, and, according to class action lawsuits and the consumers who filed them, make these the worst hair care products on the market: 

P&G, Juice Organics, Others Face Claims Over Ingredients In Their Hair Products

When it comes to hair care products, ingredients matter. 

In January, a class action lawsuit was filed against Procter & Gamble by a consumer claiming the company sold certain aerosol dry shampoo and conditioner products containing the cancer-causing chemical benzene. 

Keratin is another ingredient which, while often touted as being good for hair health, may actually cause an increase in hair loss. 

While it is a naturally occurring protein in the human body, the keratin included in cosmetics and hair products is often sourced from the parts of animals, such as their hooves, feathers, hair or horns, and may contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen which can cause a number of adverse effects, including hair loss, burning and skin damage. 

In January 2021, a class action lawsuit was filed against Unilever by a consumer claiming the company’s TREsemmé keratin shampoo contains a controversial preservative. 

The plaintiff in that case, Iris Arroyo, argued Unilever concealed the dangers of the shampoo by claiming that it was safe despite the fact it contained DMDM hydantoin, a preservative which she said can cause hair loss and scalp irritation. 

Going back to October 2018, Sexy Hair Concepts agreed to pay $2.3 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming the companies mislabeled their shampoos as being sulfate-free. 

Despite bearing a representation on the front of its shampoo bottles that they were free of sulfates, a scan of the ingredients list showed the Sexy Hair products contained sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride and salts sodium chloride, Plaintiff Molly Crane argued. 

The complaint against Sexy Hair was reminiscent of one revolving around the possible presence of sodium sulfate in WEN hair products that was filed in April 2016. 

In that case, plaintiff Waverly Robinson claimed WEN hair products caused her to have adverse effects, including significant hair loss, an irritated scalp, thinning hair and dryness. 

Johnson & Johnson is another company that came under fire, when, in August 2021, it was accused of using a preservative in its OGX shampoo products that was known to cause hair loss. 

Consumers argued, similarly to the complaint against Unilever, that OGX shampoo contained DMDM hydantoin, which they claim J&J has known for as long as a decade can cause hair loss. 

Not being able to perform as believed or advertised was at the center of a class action lawsuit filed against Juice Organics in 2017 by consumers claiming the company falsely advertised that its hair care products could repair damaged hair. 

BrushX, P&G Issue Hair Care Recalls 

A number of hair care products were also recalled recently over concerns they could damage hair and/or cause adverse health effects. 

In February, around 100,000 BrushX hot air hair brushes were recalled over concerns they could pose an electrocution risk to users if they were dropped into water while plugged into an outlet. 

The recall was initiated after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determined the products did not contain an immersive protection device needed to protect users against electrocution risks. 

Also last month, 32 different P&G dry shampoo and conditioner products were recalled due to the presence of benzene. 

The recall, which was first posted on P&G’s website in December, included the brands Pantene, Aussie, Hair Food, Old Spice, Herbal Essences and Waterl<ss. 

Plaintiff Nancy Martinez filed a class action lawsuit against P&G over the benzene contamination.

Have you used any of the hair care products that faced a class action lawsuit or recall? Let us know in the comments! 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Multiple Hand Sanitizer Brands Contaminated With Benzene, Warns Lab
• Procter & Gamble Sold Old Spice, Secret Antiperspirant Sprays Containing Benzene, New Class Action Claims
• Costco, Johnson & Johnson Reach Class Action Settlement Over Carcinogenic Sunscreen Accusations
• Benzene Contamination Found in Sunscreen, Antifungal, Antiperspirant Spray Products