TRESemmé Keratin Hair Smoothing Shampoo and TRESemmé Keration Smooth Color Shampoo bear on their front labels the words “Keratin Smooth” and “Keratin Smooth Color,” respectively. But this class action brings suit against the companies that make or sell this shampoo, Unilever United States, Inc. and Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, alleging that the shampoo actually causes damage to hair.
The National Class for this action is all persons in the US who bought the shampoos. There is also a New Jersey Class for all persons in New Jersey who bought the shampoos.
The idea presented by the shampoo is that it smooths hair and coats it with keratin, which the complaint says is “a protein found naturally in hair.” The complaint alleges, “Unilever labeled, advertised, promoted and sold the Products targeting women who wanted smooth, shiny, manageable hair with no frizz.”
According to the complaint, Unilever’s labeling and marketing, along with its website and advertisements, gave the impression “that the Products contain a keratin formula intended to smooth hair, add softness and shine, and prevent frizzing and tangling; and that the Products ‘deeply nourish,’ ‘gently cleanse,’ and ‘repair hair.’”
Unfortunately, the complaint alleges that the shampoo contains at least one ingredient that can cause hair loss and scalp irritation.
This ingredient is listed on the ingredient panel for both products: DMDM hydantoin. The complaint describes it as “a formaldehyde donor known to slowly leach formaldehyde when coming into contact with water. Formaldehyde is a well-known human carcinogen that can cause cancer and other harmful reactions when absorbed into skin.”
Unilever apparently uses DMDM hydantoin as a preservative, but the complaint says this is “an entirely unnecessary risk because various safer natural alternatives exist.”
The odd thing about its use is that Unilever was previously sued over it and other ingredients in its Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion products. The 2012 case alleged that those products caused hair loss and scalp irritation. The complaint alleges that those products were also alleged to cause hair loss and scalp irritation, and that they were advertised as formaldehyde-free while actually containing DMDM hydantoin. The case resulted in a $10.2 million settlement, and Unilever recalled the products.
The complaint says, “On information and belief, despite Unilever’s current acknowledgement that it uses DMDM hydantoin as a preservative, it has recently reformulated the Products and has removed DMDM hydantoin and replaced it with several other ingredients that serve as preservatives. However, the company never warned consumers about the risks of the substance or the products that contained it.
Also included in the complaint are a number of online postings from purchasers that complain about hair loss and other effects of using the shampoo.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
TRESemmé Keratin Shampoo Hair Loss and Scalp Irritation Complaint
January 7, 2021
TRESemmé Keratin Hair Smoothing Shampoo and TRESemmé Keration Smooth Color Shampoo bear on their front labels the words “Keratin Smooth” and “Keratin Smooth Color,” respectively. But this class action brings suit against the companies that make or sell this shampoo, Unilever United States, Inc. and Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, alleging that the shampoo actually causes damage to hair.
TRESemmé Keratin Shampoo Hair Loss and Scalp Irritation ComplaintCase Event History
TRESemmé Keratin Shampoo Hair Loss and Scalp Irritation Complaint
January 7, 2021
TRESemmé Keratin Hair Smoothing Shampoo and TRESemmé Keration Smooth Color Shampoo bear on their front labels the words “Keratin Smooth” and “Keratin Smooth Color,” respectively. But this class action brings suit against the companies that make or sell this shampoo, Unilever United States, Inc. and Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, alleging that the shampoo actually causes damage to hair.
TRESemmé Keratin Shampoo Hair Loss and Scalp Irritation Complaint