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TRESemmé keratin shampoo allegedly causes hair loss and other problems, according to a recent class action lawsuit.
Plaintiff Emily Castillo says Unilever misrepresents its TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo as safe and effective. In contrast with these representations, the TRESemmé hair products allegedly cause hair loss and scalp irritation.
Keratin is a type of protein found in the hair, skin and nails, according to Healthline. Because keratin is the building block of hair, many products include keratin ingredients with claims the protein can help improve the strength and appearance of hair. Professional keratin treatments are popular at salons, but keratin supplements and hair-care products can also be used at home.
Castillo says she purchased TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo believing the product could help improve her hair’s health and appearance. Allegedly, the products were advertised with statements that the product ingredients could “deeply nourish,” “gently cleanse” and “repair hair.”
The plaintiff claims the products do not accomplish these goals. Instead, they allegedly caused significant scalp irritation and hair loss.
According to the TRESemmé hair loss class action lawsuit, these adverse experiences can be linked to one concerning ingredient — DMDM hydantoin. DMDM hydantoin is reportedly used in Unilever products as a preservative and has been for more than a decade.
However, the chemical is also a formaldehyde donor that can leach formaldehyde when it comes into contact with water. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen that can be absorbed in the skin where it can then cause cancer and other harmful reactions.
For the decade Unilever has used DMDM hydantoin in its products, the company has allegedly been aware of the scalp irritation and hair loss it can lead to when used as a preservative in hair products.
In fact, Unilever has already faced legal action over this ingredient in connection with its Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion products. That complaint triggered a recall of the products in 2012 and a 2016 settlement worth $10.2 million.
However, despite the litigation and recalls issued over the same problems in the past, Unilever allegedly continues to use the harmful ingredient in its TRESemmé keratin products.
“Despite having public knowledge since at least 2012 that DMDM hydantoin, as a formaldehyde donor, can cause or contribute to hair loss and scalp irritation, Unilever continued to proudly include this ingredient as a preservative in its products, and even goes so far as to represent to the public that DMDM hydantoin is safe for use in its hair care products,” the TRESemmé hair loss class action lawsuit alleges.
Castillo argues that she and other consumers were not warned about the potential for scalp irritation and hair loss before purchasing the TRESemmé keratin shampoo.
Nowhere on the shampoo packaging or on Unilever’s website are consumers warned that using the TRESemmé keratin products could lead to catastrophic side effects, Castillo explains.
Unfortunately, Unilever has profited from these actions, according to the class action lawsuit. Without any warning of hair loss and scalp irritation, consumers like Castillo allegedly rely on representations that the TRESemmé shampoo products can help their hair look and feel better.
Based on the favorable representations and a lack of warning, Castillo and other buyers were reportedly deceived into purchasing the products and paying more for the shampoo than they otherwise would have had they known the truth. According to Castillo, this amounts to financial injury under consumer protection laws.
Castillo’s experience is reportedly not unique.
According to another TRESemmé class action lawsuit filed in December, two Philadelphia women experienced severe scalp burns and hair loss after only using the products for a short amount of time.
Plaintiff Shannon Kenner says she used TRESemmé Keratin shampoo and conditioner for two months and as a result “began experiencing hair loss, where clumps of hair would fall out when showering, brushing, or even touching her hair.” The 32-year-old claims she obtained medical care from her doctor and dermatologist who prescribed medicated shampoo to treat her scalp.
Likewise, plaintiff Robyn Lipetz says the chemical inside TRESemmé Keratin haircare products, which is related to formaldehyde, caused “redness, hotness and itchiness” on her scalp and created bald spots.
“Nowhere on the package labeling or on Unilever’s websites or other marketing materials did Unilever warn [consumers] that they were at risk of significant hair loss and/or scalp irritation,” Kenner’s and Lipetz’s TRESemmé class action lawsuit states.
Kenner and Lipetz want to represent a Class of consumers who purchased TRESemmé Keratin shampoo and/or conditioner and experienced hair damage. While, Castillo seeks to represent several Classes of similar situated consumers.
One proposed Class includes nationwide purchasers of TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo. Castillo also seeks to represent a Class of the same consumers from Illinois and a multistate Class of consumers from California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Washington.
On behalf of herself and the proposed Class, Castillo seeks several forms of monetary relief, including disgorgement, restitution, statutory damages, punitive damages, civil penalties, interest, court costs and attorneys’ fees.
Castillo also asks the court for injunctive relief preventing Unilever from continuing with its allegedly misleading advertisements and requiring the company to recall the products.
Did you experience hair loss after using TRESemmé shampoo or other products? Share your experiences in the comment section below.
Castillo and the proposed Class are represented by Jonathan Shub and Kevin Laukaitis of Shub Law Firm LLC; Andrew J. Sciolla of Sciolla Law Firm LLC; and Daniel K. Byson, Harper T. Segui and Caroline Ramsey Taylor of Whitfield Bryson LLP.
The TRESemmé Keratin Hair Loss Class Action Lawsuit is Emily Castillo v. Unilever United States Inc., et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-06786, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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3,912 thoughts onTRESemmé Keratin Hair-Smoothing Shampoo Leads to Hair Loss, Class Action Lawsuit Claims
Been using tressame for years and my hair is super thinning.
I cant believe they are still selling this stuff. I thought my hair loss was all in my head when it first started but now that it has gotten much worse and my hairdresser asked what happened I know that it is not! My daughter saw the shampoo in my shower and told me about the law suit. I am dumbfounded! I want my hair back!
Well as I can see, I am NOT the only one experiencing hair loss with Tresemme Expert Collection shampoo/conditioner. I am losing hands full of hair every time I wash my hair. I already have fine thin hair and cannot afford to lose anymore. Why are they still aloud to sell these products? Please send me information about this lawsuit and how I can submit a claim….
I have been using TRESemme Keratin Smooth Color Conditioner and have drastic hair loss. I thought these bad TRESemme products had been pulled from shelves. I was clueless that this isn’t so. I have blotches of hair loss. Please notify me how I can become involved with this Class Action Suit
I was using TRESemme and half really bad hair loss that were blotches, like a spot here a spot there a spot here etc…. They were fairly decent size bald spots that caused alot of mental health issues to come to arise because of anxiety issues had resurfaced after almost 15 years of no issues, I isolated myself for everyone, always put a tuque or baseball cap on or sometimes BOTH to hide the areas. It put me into a pretty deep depression because ALL the doctors I had seen had NO CLUE what could be causing it, there was multiple blood test, urine tests etc, it baffled all the doctors because of the way it was happening and the areas and blotching here and there. Then recently I was told about this lawsuit because of what it’s been causing and my wife immediately ran upstairs to see which brand we had and sure enough!! Just our luck, seen my wife was getting it too but didn’t think anything of her hair loss cause she has really long hair (down here back to just below her belt line) so she thought it was just normal or stress. Please let me know how to sign up for this lawsuit PLEASE 🙏
We’re from Ontario Canada
I’ve experienced significant hair loss since using the shampoo listed. I have receipt, test results, dermatologist records, and telling before and after pictures. Please contact me.
I loved TreSemme until blisters formed on my scalp, severe itchiness and hair on my human hair wigs began shedding like crazy.
I’m beyond sad
Sign me up for this class action lawsuit!
I used this product for barely 2 months before throwing it away. My scalp was so itchy, I began seeing sores in my scalp. One sore lasted weeks after. My hair fall began after the first week of issuing the product. I thought I was just sensitive to Keratin, boy was I wrong!!!Makes me never want to trust this company again!!!! What a shame!
YES, just recently ive bought the product and now my hair is very thinned and severe hair loss. i’m ready to file a lawsuit. hair irritation.
I used product for quite awhile and yes my hair was falling out. Please add me as well.