More than 200 women in 40 states who used WEN Hair Care have filed a class action law suit against the conditioning hair care system and its creator, celebrity stylist Chaz Dean. The women who joined the class action suit in November 2015 experienced rashes, irritation, hair breakage, and extreme hair loss after using the infomercial-driven product.
Mediation between the parties began just before Christmas 2015, with both sides sitting down in an effort to resolve the claims.Severe and permanent damage to hair
Chaz Dean gained notoriety due to his high-profile clientele (including model Brooke Shields, singer Alyssa Milano and model Nicollette Sheridan), and built a massive empire around the hair care line he developed: WEN. The women 200 who filed against infomercial giant Guthy-Renker and the brand claim, “Wen products can cause severe and possibly permanent damage to hair, including significant hair loss to the point of visible bald spots, hair breakage, scalp irritation, and rash.”
Left with anything but red carpet-ready hair, the plaintiffs also claim the brand failed to warn consumers of the risks and dangers associated with the products quickly enough once consumers began complaining of the hazards. The plaintiffs further alleged that the brand was more concerned with protecting itself, removing negative reviews on social media instead of addressing them.
The lawsuit is charging WEN (which is based in California) with violating the California false advertising law, violating the Florida Unfair and Deceptive trade Practices Act, negligence and failure to warn among other things. The lawsuit also claims that Guthy-Renker had “knowledge of a material design defect [and did not] disclose and/or warn plaintiff and other consumers that Wen Cleansing Conditioner can and does cause substantial hair loss [and that] Guthy-Renker concealed customers’ comments concerning hair loss, by blocking and/or erasing such comments from the WEN Facebook page.”
Years of Complaints
This is not the first year the hair care system has received serious complaints. Wen-related hair loss complaints on consumer websites date back at least five years. The lawsuit provides online reviews, however, showing that user complaints dated back to 2012. One claimed her hair “was healthy, now it’s like straw and brittle.” Another said, “Almost immediately after using the product I noticed huge amounts of hair caught in the drain.” Yet another said, “I can’t leave my house. I’m depressed. WEN hair products is [sic] responsible for my hair loss.”
More recently, complaints have been taken to Facebook and Twitter, and they also pop up in product reviews on sites like Sephora.com and Amazon. Smaller suits with similar claims have also been filed against WEN dating back to 2014.
Despite the allegations, some consumers continue to rave about the WEN product line, which is said to be natural and formulated to improve both the health and appearance of hair. Dean’s high-profile celebrity endorsers have not commented on the subject. Dermatologists agree that the causes of hair loss are hard to pin down specifically and will be difficult to prove in court.
WEN continues to stand by their products and has issued the following statement:
“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. There is no scientific evidence to support any claim that out 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.”
READ MORE CONSUMER FRAUD LEGAL NEWS
The class action suit also points out that the WEN website clearly states “that these results are not typical,” referencing the cleansing conditioner. Friedman and her fellow plaintiffs, then, are asking a relevant question in their filing: “If the results are not typical, what purpose does this information serve, other than to mislead potential consumers into purchasing defendant’s defective product?”
The WEN Cleansing Conditioner Class Action Lawsuit is Amy Friedman v. Guthy-Renker LLC, Case No. 2:14-cv-MRP-AGR, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
READER COMMENTS
Layla
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Wendy G
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Tiffany Hohmann Jacobsen
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Anna Pressler
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brenda lee walters
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Antoinette
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Sandy Graves
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Cheryl Goodwin
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First I loved it, then after approximately 6 months, I realized that the hair falling out was not normal at all. I had never had my hair fall out. I saw mass amounts of hair in tub and in the drain. My brush was excessive. It is still falling out hope it stops before I have no hair. My long hair is everywhere I have to vacuum every day still.
Please include me in the class action law suit. They never even reimbursed me for all the auto orders by (Guthey Ranky) they should be ashamed of their automatic reorder. It is impossible.
Thank you for bringing a spot light on this. Thank You Again
Stop them from making women lose their hair.
Nikki
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Consuella Connie D Hamilton
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Kimberly michelle Fox
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Connie Sanders
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Karen Bryan
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Barbra
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After completely stopping using the product. Both our scalps were back to normal. We both feel very strongly that this product needs to be pulled off of the market. We are both in Canada and give our support to all of those in the lawsuit and are sad that they have had to go through such a terrible experience.
Dorothy K
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Lisa Stewart
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DAFFAINE d SHANNON
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Carol Magadia
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Fran Pedigo
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Tressie H. Brooker
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Shenika Thomas
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Tamara L Stepien
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Bonnie
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"crime" what was done to me.
Lori hoffman
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You can now see my scalp thru my hair
What can I do?
Kimberly L Robinson
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Tina Turner
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Nani
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Crystal
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Roz
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madalyn
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that is why i want to be part of this class action law suit.
Valerie J Smith
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Melanie Miller
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Lorraine
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Tressie H. Brooker
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Sue
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Is it too late for her to join the lawsuit?
Bridget Otte
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Danielle
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virginia thomas
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charlotte
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Melinda Bashen
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Laura
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Liz
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Patricia
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Helen
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Alisa Grant
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Mary
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I only heard about the issues with WEN the other day and I have stopped using the product and I am hoping that my hair will grow back.
Angelita
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NICOLE
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Annette
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Pam T
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Crystal D
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Teresa
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Brenda
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Cathi
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My sister gave me 3 bottles of Wen cleansing conditioner a couple of years ago. My hair is to my waist but luckily for me I do not wash it very often because it is not good for your hair.
My hairdresser always told me that my hair in fine but I have a lot of it. Well, not any more! The most noticeable area is the top or crown area. The rest is thinning also, but to others it is not as noticeable. Mainly because they do not know the density my hair always was.
In fact, I was just talking to someone the other day about going to a dermatologist about my problem and have my scalp analyzed.
I still have a full bottle and one that is half full but I will never use them again!
Donna bartruff
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Jacalyn Robinson
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Michele Whaylen
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Sabrina
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Beverly Poole
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Katrina
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Shaskya
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Lovella
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Linda
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Amanda Johnson
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Judith V.
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OMG I wish I knew this.
How do I get on the CLASS ACTION LIST????
Kelly
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Angela
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I thought it was just something that happened to get ride of hair that wasn't strong..
I continued useing Wen and my hair smelled musty as if my hair pores were plugged.
I used Wen for at least 4-5 months before I said to myself- this is enough! My already fine, Limp hair had gotten thin and lifeless.
I will never use this again.
Therese Gallagher
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Susan Barandun
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Tabi
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Virginia M.
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At first I attributed it to my age. Then, thank God, I saw the news release that others were experiencing these same issues. I immediately stopped using WEN and within a few washings, the "fallout" actually stopped. Fortunately for me I was blessed with lots of hair, and while I may have quit using the product before any large bald spots occurred, I still can feel the difference in my hair even today. The strands feel thinner, especially around the face and at the crown even after five months of stopping using WEN. It is my belief that WEN clogs the hair follicles which is the cause of all the problems we are experiencing.
One good thing I will say about the WEN organization is that they were very polite and professional when I called and told them of my experiences with their product. They refunded me for any unopened bottles I returned to them. That was fair of them, but a refund will never return my hair back to its original condition. What are they going to do about that??
Robin Leach
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Honestly, I had heard 1 news broadcast about a lawsuit against Wen for hair loss but I thought 'this could not happen to me, I have always had healthy hair (maybe thin, but healthy)'. Now I wish I had stopped using this product then.
I don't know how a 'class action lawsuit' works but this is not fair to me and I want my voice heard that this product is not as good as it is presented.
I would like to hear from someone as to what I can do now. This is very upsetting to me but I don't know what to do.
Thank you for listing to me.
Millie
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Robert
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My wife however continued to use the product. Normally I shower after the wife and would find huge globs of hair gathered at the front of the shower. When I asked the wife about this she said she thought it was old dead hair falling out to allow new healthy hair to come in. After about six weeks she asked me if she was going bald in the front of her hair or she was going bald. I informed her that there was some gray but her hairline was getting deeper to the back of her forehead. I recommended that she discontinue using it and stop purchasing the product, which she did.
It has been months since she stopped using the Wen and her hairline is coming back in slowly. I now get into the shower after her to find no more globs of hair. My wife is only 52 years old so I am confident that it was changing to Wen that caused her hair loss. I believe that like most products sold on television, Wen is just another high over priced product that has no advantage to using and actually destroys your hair. I strongly urge people to steer clear of over priced Wen products.
Carmen Campbell
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We all stopped 6-8 months ago, after we realized are hair was falling out and thinning.
My hair 'was' my greatest asset. It 'was' thick, so much so I could not get a comb through it at times. Now my beautiful hair has thinned dramatically. I can see through my hair.
I want my hair back, but I think it is gone for good now. I could cry!
How can I get on this class action suite? Who do I contact.
These products should not be used on African American women.
Tracy Cummins
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I almost choked...literally. I had noticed in the last 6 Mos that I was losing more hair than ever before in my life. I had hair down to below my buttocks and a few months back I had it all cut off hoping to stop the weight ,thinking that could be potentiating the issue. I continue to loose hair. In fact I am now losing more hair than EVER. I too tried to attribute it to age but when my hair was VERY long I NEVER had a clogged drain. I don't typically con my hair a lot. I run my fingers through it. I brush it before showering then run my fingers through it during my shower and then after it dries. I have nto used blow dryers, hair color, chemicals of any sort in it since 2000 as I wanted it to be completely healthy and natural. It used to look beautiful. I got tons of complements from EVERYWHERE. Men and women. Now, cut short, when I brush it before showering I leave a ton in the sink. RHEN Running MY FINGERS through it in the shower I find myself having to clean the drain and the handfuls of hair are larger than BEFORE I cut off better than 24 inches of hair! My head itches and all this I made excuses for. I am throwing out the last FULL 16 oz bottle of the product that cost me $25 and going to a different brand and I just pray the loss of hair stops. My hair was the only thing about me that ever made me feel beautiful and that is completely ruined now.I just pray it isn't too late.
One last thing...I had noticed that my hair had lost at least a third of its thickness and was devastated but never in a million years thought this could be why. I would really appreciate all my money back and compensated for the loss of that ONE beautiful thing I had going for me. I just can't believe I never put two and two together. THANKS son....I just hope it isn't too late.
Wendy Peters
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Michelle C
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Joann Johnson
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I made excuses for it and blamed my age. I did not think it was the product. Then, developed pimply scalp spots. Before I stopped using it, I had itchy areas on my scalp. My hair fell out in clumps. I fear the product is destroyed the hair follicles. I have tried many natural hair growth remedies to try to regrow my hair and nothing so far has worked.
I am embarrassed about my appearance now. If I wear my hair in a pony tail, I have to be careful to 'comb-over' certain areas on the sides and in back near the crown. I cannot part my hair on either side without revealing big bald spots. And if I leave my hair down and style it, it does not look right because of super thinness, and big bald spots being exposed.
This has truly been terrible and devastating for me and my career. I am in the entertainment business and my appearance is important to me. I really feel terrible about this happening to me. Losing my hair has been very traumatic for me. Wearing wigs is extremely uncomfortable and itchy.
I don't think they should get away with this damage they've caused my appearance, and the stress and insecurity it's created and caused me to miss many career opportunities. I don't feel like myself anymore and don't feel attractive at all.
Judy
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Lisa Donahue
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Suzanne Woodman
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I'll just be sitting down & all of a sudden I can feel my hair falling on my face. I'm shedding more than my cat!!!!!.
How do I get on this list for this Class action suit! I need help with this! Please someone contact me. He should be stopped from selling this product!
Shawn
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Kelley
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I thought it was me, my age, so I did not think it was the product. But now I have pimples and itchy rash areas on my scalp. My hair is falling out in clumps and I notice a build up of residue on my scalp. I fear the product is suffocating the skin and hair follicles.
I am embarrassed about my appearance now. If I wear my hair in a pony tail, I have to be careful to 'comb-over' certain areas on the sides. This is clearly not a baldness pattern. And if I leave my hair down and style it, it does not look right because it is far too thin.
I recently cut off three inches hoping that might give me more volume, bit it did not work. I also thought it would serve to cut off the brittle ends. But, my entire length of hair is brittle.
I will discontinue using Wen today and seek out a therapeutic shampoo. I thank the women who are getting the word out. Hopefully, now I won't go completely bald.
Paulette
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Joanne
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phyllis lipscomb
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Patti lombardo
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Kristina
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Sue miller
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6-8 times and was OK with it until a friend of mine informed me about loss of hair. I am losing more hair than I feel is normal after just brushing it. More hair than I can recall seeing in my brush prior to reading abouth the product. I have thrown all the product out. I am afraid to continue using it and I would never recommend it to anyone
Lucy
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andante dorough
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