Civil lawsuit blames balding and blistering issues due to Olaplex hair products.
Upon spending a sunny summer, Jessica Auriana found her hair to be unusually brittle and dry. In pursuit of rejuvenation, the 44-year-old sought advice from her hairdresser, who recommended the Olaplex hair care products as a potential answer to her hair woes.
Auriana then purchased shampoo, conditioner, and clarifying shampoo from the Olaplex brand, and after using them for two months, alleges experiencing hair loss.
“By that stage, I’d likely lost around 20% of my hair,” she shared with “Good Morning America.” “Being outdoors frequently, I began to feel the breeze and the air on parts of my scalp that were unfamiliar.”
Auriana has subsequently joined a lawsuit against Olaplex, a hair care brand favored by influencers and celebrities that pledges to rejuvenate “damaged and compromised hair by mending it from the inside out” resulting in “healthy, lustrous, silky, and touchable hair,” as per promotional content on the company’s website and social platforms.
Olaplex merchandise can be widely procured in beauty retail stores and online.
The lawsuit, filed on February 9, 2023, in California, features Auriana and over twenty other women from various parts of the nation asserting that their hair conditions deteriorated after utilizing Olaplex items.
The lawsuit alleges that the Olaplex products they used resulted, in certain instances, in bald patches, allergic outbreaks, open wounds, and hair that is “dry, brittle, frizzy, and lifeless.” One claimant alleges in the lawsuit that the treatments gave her hair an appearance akin to being “hacked with a string trimmer.”
Altogether, the claimants are seeking upwards of $75,000 in compensation.
Rachel Bentley, co-attorney for the lawsuit, stated that the financial compensation is “for the injuries endured by our clients.” In her conversation with “GMA,” Bentley revealed, “We’re after punitive damages to dissuade Olaplex from participating in any more unjust actions.”
Olaplex has not issued a recall on any of its products.
In response to the lawsuit allegations, the company issued a denial in a statement to “GMA,” stating, “Olaplex products neither cause hair loss nor hair breakage. Olaplex products are safe and effective, a fact our millions of satisfied customers can corroborate.”
The company further asserted its commitment to exceeding “industry beauty standards” by making the results of tests from “independent third-party labs” public on its website.
“We fully trust and have faith in the safety and performance of our products,” the company continued. “Hair breakage or loss can be due to various reasons, as stated by medical and scientific experts, including lifestyle, different medical conditions and drugs, post-COVID effects, skin conditions, and more. Anyone experiencing persistent hair breakage should consult their stylist and dermatologist to comprehend their unique hair and skin requirements better.”
Olaplex stated that complaints like those mentioned in this article are a common occurrence in our industry and have been lodged against other brands in the category over the years, and the company is prepared to defend itself, its brand, and its products against the “unfounded allegations.”
Specialists advise that consumers consult their stylists or dermatologists if they’re experiencing hair loss to help pinpoint the cause.
The lawyers representing the claimants in the lawsuit encourage consumers to thoroughly investigate beauty products before making a purchase.
“Carry out your research,” Amy Davis, co-attorney for the claimants, advised “GMA.” “Ensure you’ve done your homework and that you are safeguarding yourself as a consumer when purchasing beauty products.”
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