Hundreds of women are suing Wen Hair Care, claiming the popular, celebrity-endorsed products caused severe scalp damage, hair breakage and even baldness.
According to a complaint filed in a California federal court against Wen and infomercial giant Guthy-Renker, Wen’s 5-in-1 sulfate-free cleansing conditioners “contain an ingredient or combination of ingredients that cause significant hair loss, damage and other injuries” even after people stop using it.
The lawsuit also claims that Wen failed to warn consumers of the potential risks from using their products, even after users complained.
Wen products are sold on QVC, Amazon and Sephora.
Created by Hollywood hairstylist Chaz Dean, the Wen hair line has been endorsed by celebrities including Brooke Shields, Angie Harmon, Alyssa Milano and Ming Na-Wen. Wen products have also received rave reviews from many consumers, but an online search quickly produces lots of complaints as well.
Many unhappy Wen customers have posted their grievances on Wen’s Facebook page. Mary Bulla writes: “Had to cut my hair short!!! Now my fragile hair is horrible. Rogaine has a new customer thanks to Wen.”
Wen and Chaz Dean refute the allegations. A statement released to PeopleStyle says:
“There is no scientific evidence to support any claim that our hair care products caused anyone to lose their hair. There are many reasons why individuals may lose their hair, all unrelated to Wen. We intend to vigorously contest the allegations made.”
Guthy-Renkers spokesman Joe Hixson added:
“With well over 10 million Wen products shipped since 2008, our customers’ overwhelmingly positive response to Wen is a testament to the benefits it can deliver for its users. These benefits are reflected in consistently high rankings from independent consumer product sites as well.”
More than 200 people in 40 states have joined the class-action lawsuit. The two parties are reportedly negotiating an out-of-court settlement.
“The parties are attempting to settle their differences and we have agreed to refrain from any extrajudicial statements in the meantime,” Amy Davis, a partner with the Christiansen Davis law firm and lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case, said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch.
If you’ve had hair loss or other scalp issues as a result of using Wen, click here to see if you can join the class-action lawsuit against Wen.
I used Wen’s cleansing conditioner for several months awhile back. I didn’t have any of the scalp irritation or hair loss described in the lawsuit, but I didn’t think the product lived up to the hype and it left my hair limp, so I quit using it.
What do you think of the lawsuit against Wen? Have you ever used a beauty product that did more harm than good? Share your experiences below or on our Facebook page.
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