OGX & TRESemme Shampoo Lawsuit (Hair Loss) - July 2024

The marketing of shampoo and hair care products can be slick and seductive. While most of us can be quite skeptical when we see adverts for shampoo promising an unending range of benefits, our underlying expectation is that they clean and protect our hair. However, according to new  lawsuits, some popular shampoo products have done just the opposite. Lawsuits against the makers of TRESemme and OGX hair care products claim that these items have caused significant hair loss and other damage.

Specifically, these hair loss lawsuits allege that OGX and TRESemme products contained DMDM hydantoin, a preservative and antimicrobial agent sometimes found in cosmetic products. DMDM hydantoin is known as a formaldehyde donor, meaning it releases a small amount of formaldehyde to keep the products fresh. However, DMDM hydantoin and other formaldehyde donors have been linked to hair loss, rashes, scalp issues and have even been cited as possible carcinogens (cancer-causing). 

• July 1, 2024 - Dark & Lovely Shampoo Recalled Due to Infection Risk
• June 1, 2024 - 6 Shampoos and Treatments That May Cause Hair Loss: Brands and Ingredients to Avoid
• April 1, 2024 - Dry shampoo has become a staple in the beauty routines of many. Its convenience and ability to revive second-day hair have made it a popular choice for people on the go. However, a shocking revelation has sent ripples through the beauty industry and the homes of consumers: the recall of dry shampoo products containing benzene.
• March 1, 2024 - Nattura Labs Recalls Shampoo for E. Coli. Nearly 4,000 units of the shampoo were sold in several U.S. states.
• February 1, 2024 - Nattura Labs Recalls Shampoo for E. Coli.
• January 1, 2024 - How can I avoid being exposed to benzene from dry shampoos?
• May 1, 2023 - Benzene and Methanol Headline Recent Class actions and FDA alerts.
• February 1, 2023 - Multinational personal care products company. Unilever announced it was recalling some aerosol shampoos in order to protect against the risk of benzene, a chemical that can cause blood cancers like leukemia. The company made this decision, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists Unilever's alert online.
• December 1, 2022 - 19 dry shampoos recalled over potential cancer causing ingredient:
  Dove Dry Shampoo Volume and Fullness
  Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh Coconut
  Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh and Floral
  Dove Dry Shampoo Ultra Clean
  Dove Dry Shampoo Invisible
  Dove Dry Shampoo Detox and Purify
  Dove Dry Shampoo Clarifying Charcoal
  Dove Dry Shampoo Go Active
  Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist
  Nexxus Inergy Foam Shampoo
  Suave Dry Shampoo Hair Refresher
  Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Refresh and Revive
  TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Volumizing
  TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Fresh and Clean
  TRESemmé Pro Pure Dry Shampoo
  Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Dry Shampoo
  Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Volumizing Dry Shampoo
  Bed Head Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo
• November 15, 2022 - Unilever is recalling shampoo aerosol products sold nationwide because they may contain benzene, a human carcinogen. The recall is the latest of half a dozen so far this year, with carcinogen, the cancer causing chemical showing up in products including Shampoos.
• September 1, 2022 - A dermatologist reveals 5 toxic shampoo chemicals you should avoid.
• August 1, 2022 - The FDA has published a list of recalled products among them different shampoo products.

• July 1, 2022 - Proctor & Gamble recalls Pantene, Herbal Essences products due to benzene:

  • Pantene Dry Shampoo No Water Refresh, 4.9oz. (UPC:80878177042)
  • Pantene Dry Shampoo Sheer Volume, 4.9oz. (UPC:80878185276)
  • Pantene Never Tell Dry Shampoo, 4.2oz. (UPC:80878188727)
  • Pantene Smooth Talker Dry Conditioning Oil, 3.9oz. (UPC:80878192397)
  • Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioning Mist, 3.9oz. (UPC:80878190898)
  • Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioning Mist, 3.9oz. (UPC:80878188758)
  • Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioning Mist, 1.0oz. (UPC:80878188765)
  • Pantene Gold Series Instant Nourishing Spray, 4.9oz. (UPC:80878188987)
  • Pantene Sultry Bronde All in One Luxury Mist, 4.9oz. (UPC:80878188710)
• June 1, 2022 - The FDA updated the list of Phthalates in cosmetics that contains few TRESemmé products.
• May 1, 2022 - Important information about DMDM was updated: Uses & benefits, safety information & frequently asked questions.
• April, 3 20022 - USA.gov has published a list of websites with products that have been recalled. Recalls protect consumers from injuries or illnesses caused by defective products. The recall is issued by a government agency or manufacturer to inform the public about a particular action.
• February 1, 2022 - The FDA published FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) logs for 2022 regarding OGX shampoo which contains DMDM. In addition, the FDA stated that they are communicating with Johnson & Johnson or Vogue International about removing DMDM from personal care products, including conditioners and shampoos.
• January 1, 2022 - More products with benzene were recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• July 23, 2021 - An woman from Illinois has filed a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging OGX shampoo brand who is owned by J & J can caused her causes significant hair loss.

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Read more about other related lawsuits: Hair Straighteners & Cancer Lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson acquired Vogue International LLC in 2016. That acquisition meant that J&J now owned the OGX range of hair care products. However, in 2012, Johnson & Johnson promised to no longer make hair care products containing DMDM hydantoin, setting a target date of 2015 for the changes to be implemented. On J&J’s website, the company writes of potential issues caused by DMDM hydantoin, claiming that it will not use the preservative in any baby products nor any adult hair care product unless “alternative preservatives are incompatible.”. The problem, according to the Johnson & Johnson shampoo lawsuit, is that the company did not take such action when acquiring Vogue and its OGX range, which still contained DMDM hydantoin up until September 2021. A statement on the OGX website confirms this action. But for those who have suffered hair loss or scalp damage due to OGX products, this promise to no longer produce DMDM hydantoin products is too little too late.

In July 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Johnson & Johnson, the huge multinational corporation that manufactures, among many other things, hair care products. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that shampoos in the OGX range have caused hair loss and other types of injury to those who use them. The case was filed in Illinois by Larissa Whipple, whose lawyers claimed that there might be thousands of other people out there who have also had similar devastating experiences with these products.

OGX products that have known to include DMDM Hydantoin are:

• OGX Anti-Breakage and Keratin Oil Conditioner
• OGX Anti-Breakage and Keratin Oil Shampoo
• OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner
• OGX Biotin + Collagen Conditioner
• OGX Biotin + Collagen Shampoo
• OGX Detox + Pomegranate & Ginger Conditioner
• OGX Detox + Pomegranate & Ginger Shampoo
• OGX Ever Straightening and Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner
• OGX Ever Straightening and Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo
• OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair
• OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair and Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
• OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair and Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
• OGX Hydrate + Defrizz and Kukui Oil Conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Candy Gumdrop Conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Candy Gumdrop Shampoo
• OGX Kandee Johnson Frosted Sugar Cookie Conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Frosted Sugar Cookie Shampoo
• OGX Kandee Johnson Sparkling Cider Conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Sparkling Cider Shampoo
• OGX Marula Oil Conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Ice Berry Queen Conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Ice Berry Queen Shampoo
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Midnight Kisses Conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Midnight Kisses Shampoo
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Mistletoe Wishes Conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Mistletoe Wishes Shampoo
• OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Conditioner
• OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo
• OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
• OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
• OGX Youth Enhancing + Sake Essence Conditioner

In March 2021, two class-action lawsuits were filed against Unilever, the maker of the TRESemme keratin shampoo and conditioner range. The lawsuits, filed in New Jersey and Illinois, allege that the products contained DMDM hydantoin, which led to hair loss and scalp burns. These 2021 shampoo hair loss lawsuits joined an earlier suit against Unilever (and TRESemme’s distributor, Conopco Inc) filed in Pennsylvania. There is also a DMDM hydantoin compensation case ongoing in Canada.

TRESemme Products that have known to include DMDM Hydantoin are:

• TRESemme 24 Hour Body Conditioner
• TRESemme 24 Hour Volume Shampoo
• TRESemme Clean & Natural Conditioner
• TRESemme Clean & Natural Shampoo
• TRESemme Expert Keratin Smooth Conditioner
• TRESemme Expert Keratin Smooth Conditioner
• TRESemme Expert Keratin Smooth Shampoo
• TRESemme Moisture Rich Shampoo

In the simplest terms, the hair product lawsuits allege that an ingredient (DMDM hydantoin) found in some TRESemme and OGX shampoos and conditioners can cause hair loss and other damage. As the manufacturers were aware of the linkage between DMDM hydantoin and hair loss yet continued to produce and market these products, the lawsuits now focus on three areas:

Defective Design

That the haircare products were defective, and the manufacturers had at least some knowledge that an ingredient contained within could lead to hair loss but continued to produce and market these shampoos and conditioners.

Failure to Warn

Not everyone who uses DMDM hydantoin shampoos and conditioners will suffer hair loss. But the manufacturers have a duty to warn customers that this could happen. The lawsuits state that Unilever/Conopco and J&J should have had warning labels on the shampoo bottles and information for consumers on their websites.

False Advertising

Most of these hair products claim to be beneficial, promising to “nourish”, “cleanse”, and “repair” hair. The DMDM hydantoin lawsuits allege this is false advertising when potentially 1000s of customers have suffered hair loss and other issues when using these products.

Lawyers in both the Unilever and J&J class-action lawsuits believe that many more people will have been affected by DMDM hydantoin in shampoos and other hair care products like conditioner. It’s believed that thousands of claimants could join the legal actions against TRESemme and OGX. If you have suffered hair damage after using these products, you should get in touch with a hair loss lawyer to see if you can secure financial compensation.

DMDM hydantoin is a preservative often found in cosmetic products. Its function in shampoos and conditioners is to stop those products from going moldy when in contact with water, i.e. when you keep it in the shower. The shampoo lawsuits allege that DMDM hydantoin in these products causes hair loss and damage for some people who regularly use them. One issue, however, is that DMDM hydantoin is also a formaldehyde donor (sometimes known as formaldehyde releaser). This means it releases a small amount of formaldehyde over time. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogenic (can lead to cancer) and can cause other issues, although there is no evidence that these shampoos could cause cancer. Nevertheless, the lawsuits allege that at least one ingredient, most likely DMDM hydantoin, in certain TRESemme and OGX hair care products has led to hair loss and other types of scalp issues for some customers.

While the FDA has not directly responded to the OGX lawsuit or TRESemme lawsuit, it did update its advice on hair smoothing products that release formaldehyde in March 2021. In addition, the FDA’s guidance on harmful shampoo ingredients is clear and unequivocal. It states:

“It’s against the law for a cosmetic to contain any ingredient that makes the product harmful when consumers use it according to directions on the label, or in the customary or expected way. This is true whether or not there is a regulation that specifically prohibits or restricts the use of the ingredient in cosmetics.”

There has not been an OGX shampoo recall as of yet. However, a statement on the company’s website claimed that, effective from September 2021, it would no longer produce shampoo and conditioner products containing DMDM hydantoin.

There has not been a TRESemme recall yet. Unlike OGX, the company has made no statement about whether it will ban the production of hair care products containing DMDM hydantoin. TRESemme maintains that its products are safe and do not cause hair loss.

Have You Experienced Hair Loss or Other Side Effects After Using TRESemme or OGX Shampoos?

Lawyers representing the people who have filed lawsuits against OGX and TRESemme’s producers claim that thousands – maybe hundreds of thousands according to one lawyer – will eventually join the shampoo legal cases. If you have experienced shampoo side effects like hair loss, you can use our free evaluation form to see if you qualify to pursue compensation from Unilever and Johnson & Johnson. Such lawsuits are not frivolous, and lawyers have been successful in securing compensation in similar cases before. In 2012, for example, Unilever agreed to pay a $10.2 million out-of-court settlement to users of its Suave keratin range who had suffered hair loss.

There are several products sold under the OGX and TRESemme brands that contain – or used to contain – DMDM hydantoin. These products include TRESemme Keratin Hair Smoothing Shampoo and TRESemme Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo, as well as dozens of OGX products like OGX Biotin + Collagen Shampoo and OGX Biotin + Collagen Conditioner. If you have used any of these products and suffered hair damage, you are urged to contact a hair loss compensation lawyer to join one of the lawsuits.

As it stands, the cases against OGX and TRESemme makers are class-action lawsuits and have been filed in several states. A class action means that the case will be tried on behalf of an individual claimant, who will represent the others seeking compensation. If a shampoo hair loss payout is secured, the settlement amount would be shared equally among all claimants.

Shampoo Lawsuit FAQs

Who makes TRESemme shampoo?

TRESemme shampoo is made by Unilever and distributed in the United States by Conopco Inc.

Who makes OGX shampoo?

OGX shampoo and hair care products are made by Johnson & Johnson. J&J took ownership of the range when acquiring Vogue in 2016.

Does TRESemme cause hair loss?

Lawyers allege that some TRESemme products containing DMDM hydantoin have caused hair loss among (potentially) thousands of people. 

Does OGX cause hair loss?

As with the TRESemme class-action lawsuit, lawyers allege that OGX products containing DMDM hydantoin can cause hair loss in some people.

Does DMDM hydantoin cause hair loss?

It’s not fully clear whether DMDM hydantoin causes hair loss. However, many people who use or have used shampoos and conditioners containing DMDM hydantoin believe that it has damaged their hair, their scalp and caused hair loss.

How does DMDM hydantoin work?

DMDM hydantoin is a preservative that slowly releases formaldehyde in order to stop certain bacteria from growing when a product comes into contact with water. It is used to stop the shampoos and conditioners that contain it from getting moldy in the shower.

What’s wrong with TRESemme shampoo?

Claimants in the TRESemme lawsuit believe that shampoo products containing DMDM hydantoin can cause hair loss and other types of damage to the hair and scalp. TRESemme has yet to recall these types of shampoos.

What ingredient in TRESemme causes hair loss?

It is alleged that DMDM hydantoin in TRESemme shampoo can lead to hair loss and damage. Other shampoo companies, including Johnson & Johnson, have promised to no longer create hair products with this substance.

What should you do if you have OGX or TRESemme shampoos & conditioners at home?

You should not panic. If you are worried about hair loss or other side effects, contact your healthcare provider for advice.