Unilever Suave Shampoo Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Formaldehyde Problems

A class action lawsuit have been filed over Unilever Suave shampoos and conditions, alleging the manufacturer falsely advertised its professional hair products as safe, while concealing information that Suave shampoos and conditions may contain formaldehyde, which is a known human carcinogen.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Deanna Lewakowski in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on June 18, seeking class action status to pursue damages on behalf of all consumers nationwide who purchased variations of Suave Professionals Shampoo and Conditioners, based on misleading and false benefits purportedly offered by the products, and without warning of being exposed to cancer causing ingredients.

The lawsuit involves Suave Professionals Shampoo and/or Conditioner products which contain the ingredient DMDM hydantoin.

Hair-Dye-Cancer-Lawsuits
Hair-Dye-Cancer-Lawsuits

Lewakowski claims Unilever advertises its Suave products nationwide with false and misleading marketing and labeling claims ,indicating the products provide smoothing, repairing, or restoring benefits, and hails them as a superior product for preventing hair loss, compared to alternatives.

The plaintiff alleges Suave professional hair products are marketed as working “just as well as premium brands,” and asks consumers to “trust [they]’ve got the good stuff.”, when in fact, customers are unknowingly being exposed to DMDM hydantoin ingredients, which may cause consumers to suffer hair loss, allergic reactions, or skin and scalp irritation.

While formaldehyde-releasers are common in shampoo and conditioner to prevent microbes from growing in water-based products, the lawsuit claims there are safer alternatives than DMDM hydantoin. DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde known to cause reactions including itchiness, red rashes on the skin brittle hair, loss of hair and even dermatitis.

Lewakowski’s lawsuit indicates that within two months of using the Suave products, her hair became dry, brittle and began breaking easily. Plaintiff also claims she suffered scalp irritation, yet when she stopped using the Suave products, the symptoms slowly dissipated.

The Suave shampoo and Conditioner class action lawsuit alleges Unilever knew, or should have known, DMDM hydantoin would cause thousands of consumers to experience hair loss and/or scalp irritation, yet concealed the information while marketing their “Professionals” line of products as superior.

The lawsuit further cites the United States National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have both recognized DMDM hydantoin as a known human carcinogen, yet the chemical has been used in Unilever products, including the Suave Products, for more than a decade.

Lewakowski presents claims of Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, state consumer fraud acts, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

The lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class of individuals who purchased one of the Suave Professional products and has either suffered, or will suffer economic losses in repairing and restoring damage caused by the products. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages against Unilever for its alleged malice, motive and reckless disregard for consumer safety.

In 2014, Unilever agreed to pay $10.2 million to settle a Suave class action lawsuit filed by consumers over hair loss from its formaldehyde-containing Suave Keratin Infusion treatments. The lawsuit claimed the manufacturer engaged in deceptive advertising by claiming the Keratin Infusion hair product was formaldehyde free, even though it contained a chemical which released formaldehyde when used.


62 Comments


  1. Kesha

    I wish I could just take a photo and show you how my hair and my daughter’s hair looked last year compared to now after months of using this product. Our hair has been falling out by the handfuls, I hate I didn’t connect it to this product sooner. I have to rely on wigs and weaves when I love my natural hair.


  2. Kesha

    I can’t believe this product is still marketed after this many complaints, this is horrible for us all and could’ve been avoided for us now if they had pulled this product line. It isn’t fair that I have to wear wigs and braids along with my kids because of this. I loved our natural hair but now it has fallen out so badly we can’t wear it out or can barely fit in a ponytail. This company should go out of business expeditiously


  3. Lajuana

    Used suave has falling hair and patches


  4. Maria

    I have used suave products throughout my life. Today, i learned about issues with Suave products and decided to investigate on it. I have been dealing with hair loss throughout and currently I am receiving treatment with a dermatologist. Dealing with hair loss and thin hair.


  5. Julie

    I’ve used Suave hair and dandruff products for a couple decades and I’ve experienced sebborheic dermatitis the entire time, so I’ve always had to use dandruff shampoo a few times a week along side it…related? I’m willing to bet. I’ve also used Tresemmé mousse for years, which is a different story.

    My hair has been drastically falling out for the past year or so. At first, I thought it was one of those cycles when you loose hair, then get regrowth, but it never grew back! It’s to the point that I barely have any left on the sides of my head and I have bald patches. My hair was always so long and thick that hair ties would break if I tried to wrap them around 3 times. I have less than 3/4 of hair left and it won’t grow past my shoulders. It’s devastating.
    Today, while reading up on reasons why I’m going bald, I found articles about the MMDA formaldehyde in Suave and Tresemme products. I remembered that I purchased a 3 piece gift set of Suave hair products off of Amazon in September of 2021. I liked it so much that when I found the conditioner at my local Dollar General store, I was so happy, and continued buying and using it.
    By January of 2022, I had significantly lost a lot of hair and talked to my PCP about it who finally sent me to a dermatologist, in October. Without getting to the “root” of the problem, he prescribed me finasteride, which scares me, since it’s actually a medicine for SHRINKING MALE PROSTATES…who knows the weird side affects of that medication on women (though they claim there are none).

    What can this about do about my hair loss? Will it grow back eventually or will it continue to get worse until my worst fear happens… Looking like Gollum from The Hobbit?
    Does formaldehyde cause permanent damage? I’m not a person to participate in lawsuits, but this is affecting my life. I have sensory issues and can’t tolerate wigs or anything else in my head! If the affects are permanent, I’m going to need hair implants, which I can’t afford on a single mother budget and a teacher’s salary…the reason I have to buy cheap hair products in the first place. The “poor” have so many disadvantages and are targets through false advertising.
    I have proof of purchase and also witnesses who I (ignorantly) recommended the products to since they made my hair soft and manageable and were affordable. The only reason I stopped using them (thank God) was because I started using other products that were designed for hair loss. Now, I’m going to stop using their deodorant! I wonder if the lumps found in my breasts this past year we’re caused by Suave products, as well. This is my punishment for being frugal! Damn cheap, nice smelling Suave products! Who knows what other health issues are caused by these chemicals. Is it affecting my brain and causing the worsening brain fog and ADHD symptoms I’ve experienced the past year or so, too??? Help! I know it seems that I’m taking it lightly, but I must use humor to diffuse a very serious issue that is having adverse affects on my life.


  6. Jennifer

    Ive been using suave for probably my life now. Ive noticed hair loss recently with no health issues.

    After talking with a friend ive learned this is all because of the ingredients and there is a law suit .

    How dare our country allow this in our products.

    No longer a user.


  7. Marianne

    I’ve been using suave collagen since March, I’ve been wondering why my hair is falling out and handfuls. The itch in my scalp is insane. I want to pull my hair out. I just read this about suave. They didn’t tell you the carcinogenic‘s well guess what I have metastatic melanoma. This is effed up


  8. Sara

    I just used the coconut oil infused conditioner 2 times and already have red spots on scalp with blisters and a ton of hair came out!


  9. Eduardo

    I used Suave deep clean product and noticed a lot of hair loss.Not only in my head but in my arms and legs too.


  10. Tracy

    I have used Suave with the keratin in it, and the conditioner. MY HAIR was middle of my back. Has broke at the shoulders. I have bald spot at my temples.


  11. Angelica

    Would it include Suave Professionals Slik Protein Infusion Shampoo & Conditioner, Sleek and Smooth


  12. Diara

    I used suave shampoo hair products and my hair fell out


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