L’Oreal Fights Back After Multiple Customers Reported Scalp Burns and Massive Hair Loss

A group of women filed a lawsuit earlier this year, in September, after they felt a burning sensation on the scalp and later on developed bald spots from using L’Oreal hair products. The enraged customers accused L’Oreal of promoting harmful products in a way that downplays the risks. According to the women, the company promoted the hair relaxers as highly beneficial, containing amla oil, a special ingredient derived for an Indian superfruit.

In light of these events, L’Oreal is fighting back in court, dismissing any claims that would suggest customers have been misled by advertisement pieces in relation to the safety of the SoftSheen-Carson line. The company claims via a court filing submitted on Thursday, December 15^th, that the products’ packaging does not claim the hair relaxers to be less injurious or any safer than other chemical products for hair straightening available on the market.

Furthermore, L’Oreal argues that the packaging displayed numerous warnings about the product’s capacity to cause injuries among which extensive burns, permanent hair loss, and even blindness were highlighted. Moreover, the company says that if the customers would have used the hair products accordingly, they wouldn’t have experienced any inconveniences.

Nevertheless, earlier this week, on Monday, December 19^th, the law firm representing 2,500 women who claim to have developed bald spots and experienced scalp burns called for a product recall. Also, the prosecution wants federal authorities to launch an investigation into the matter with investigators focusing on L’Oreal’s chemical testing, in particular.

A spokesperson for the company told reporters that the line of hair relaxers in question are technical products, safe for humans, as long as the customers follow the instructions. The spokesperson ended the official statement by saying no more details can be released due to the pending litigation.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Ben Meiselas accuses L’Oreal of selling “poison in a box” and pointed to the company’s response. The latter states that consumers are aware of the risks and should not use the product if they know they are going to suffer from injuries inflicted by the hair relaxer.

Image Source: Vimeo