In October, a potential class action lawsuit was filed against Zotos International Inc. and Innovative Styling Options Inc. for allegedly falsely marketing the ISO Maintamer Straightening System.
Plaintiff Gina Kilpela has alleged that the companies have engaged in misleading advertising the hair straightening product as “Damage-Free.” She has alleged that not only did the product not perform as advertised, it actually caused damage to her hair and to the hair of many consumers.
“As a result of Defendants’ deceptive representations, consumers – including Plaintiff and members of the proposed Class – have purchased products that do not perform as advertised,” the Maintamer class action lawsuit says. “Plaintiff and members of the proposed Class also have suffered hair loss and damage to their hair and scalp as a result of Defendants’ deceptive representations.”
Kilpela claims that she has thick, coarse and frizzy hair and has never colored her hair. She says the product is specifically marketed to people with similar hair type, as the companies’ website claims Maintamer is “[i]deal for smoothing coarse hair, taming unruly curls and waves, unperming ends and controlling frizzy hair.”
In October 2013, Kilpela accessed the services of a stylist to have the product professionally applied to her hair, the Maintamer class action lawsuit alleges. Two days later, she claims that her scalp felt tight and she felt mild tingling. She washed her hair and dried it only a little, fearing potential damage.
That evening, the plaintiff allegedly began to feel stubble along her hairline and for the next several days, she felt increased stubble at her scalp. Her hair had also begun to fall out, Kilpela alleges in the Maintamer class action lawsuit. She returned to the stylist who contacted ISO customer service to try to seek a solution.
Three weeks after the application, Kilpela claims she had lost more than half the hair at the crown on her head and had stubble and short hair in many patches on her head.
Many complaints similar to Kilpela’s can be found on various hair product websites, according to the Maintamer class action lawsuit. Consumers allegedly report their hair “is falling out in chunks” and “falling out by the handfuls.” Like Kilpela, many women say they had a professional stylist apply the product and claimed they later had major damage and breakage.
Kilpela hopes to represent herself and a Class of plaintiffs who have also experienced hair damage and hair loss from the Maintamer straightening product. She is seeking injunctive relief to end the allegedly false advertising, a corrective advertising campaign to be launched by the companies and seeks to obtain restitution and consequential damages as a result of the damage allegedly caused by the product.
The Maintamer class action lawsuit alleges breaches of express and implied warranties, violations of California Consumer Protection Statutes and the Moss-Magnuson Warranty Act, negligence, gross negligence, strict liability and restitution based on Quasi-Contract.
“Plaintiff’s experience, along with the experiences of numerous other consumers clearly demonstrate that Defendants’ product is not safe for use in thick, uncolored hair and that the Product is not ‘Damage-Free’ as represented,” the Maintamer class action lawsuit says.
Kilpela is represented by Todd D. Carpenter of Carpenter Law Group.
The Maintamer Class Action Lawsuit is Gina Kilpela v. Innovative Styling Options Inc. and Zotos International Inc., Case No. 1-15-cv-2464, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
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45 thoughts onClass Action: Maintamer Straightening System Causes Hair Damage
Can we start a petition to bring the product back? Is Is Maintamer still available in other countries?
Damage is caused by user error. I applied this treatment myself for 20 years. The directions are very specific if the stylist reads them and is knowledgeable about chemical straightening. I have had stubble and breakage and severe damage from every other professionally applied straightener.
Maintamer is the safest and most effective.
Please contact me if anyone has info or finds an alternative treatment. Thanks Dawn – [email protected]
Please. Please. Bring this product back
I believe almost 3O years for me. It honestly changed my life and I search for it weekly. I’d give anything, even if I could find it in another country. I was told to try the Matrix Optic or something like that. Terrible, terrible idea.
I have used this product for years and never had a problem. I have clients that are missing it because I can’t find it anywhere. I only had an issue once on a client, who had done some other chemical processes to her hair and never let me know. But I knew as soon as I put it on her that she had been doing other things. Then she fessed up. Other than that, I’ve had nothing but happy (and now not so happy) clients. This product is the same chemical and process used for permanent waves. A permanent wave can cause damage too, lots of damage. Should we all stop doing permanent waves too? Manetamer was the best when used properly!
I used this product for years and it was the best thing I’ve ever used! It made my hair manageable and shiny and soft. If I wanted to curl it I could. I’m so sad that I can’t find a place to buy it anymore!!!
I have used the product for years and then all of the sudden, I had breakage in the hair and my scalp and ears got a chemical burn. That then turn into my entire scalp itching all the time
Was this applied by a professional in a salon?
I have been using this product for 10+ years and have never had a problem. This product is the only one that has done what it said it would do. I have had numerous compliments on my hair especially on how naturally shiny it is and how healthy my hair looks. I started off using it every 6 months and then once a year, usually in May or June when the hot, humid summer weather begins (I live in New Jersey). I was scheduled to have my hairdresser do the relaxer, only to find out it is no longer available due the class action lawsuit. I am so very dissapointed and frustrated. I have no idea what to do now. Is there anyway I can get this product, or you can recommend another product that would give me the same results as Manetamer?
I’ve used this product for years and I’ve never had any issues. It’s so hard to locate the product now. I really hope the company doesn’t discontinue it.
I agree, and can’t find it anywhere. I literally had decades of bad hair until I found this product, and I am going crazy without it.
Did you ever find anyone an alternative?!
It’s always the operator error NOT the product!
I agree I have to used this product for years and nothing compares to it now I am left with frizzy hair all summer long! I don’t know where to turn
Without this product just call me Rosan Rosanna Danna