TRESemmé Shampoo Lawsuit Filed Over Hair Loss, Adverse Scalp Reactions
Lawsuit alleges formaldehyde in TRESemme shampoo cause hair loss, burns, scalp irritation and other injuries
Unilever faces a new TRESemme’ shampoo lawsuit, alleging the manufacturer falsely advertises the products as safe, while concealing information that consumers may be exposing themselves to formaldehyde and other ingredients linked to reports of hair loss, scalp reactions and other injuries.
The complaint (PDF) was filed by Holly Schafer in the United States District Court District of New Jersey late last month, indicating she suffered scalp irritation, burns and hair loss from TRESemme’ shampoo products that contained undisclosed levels of a dangerous ingredient called DMDM hydantoin (DMDM).
The lawsuit implicates all TRESemme’ shampoo products, which Schafer claims contain DMDM hydantoin as a cheap and unnecessarily dangerous preservative.
DMDM hydantoin is a chemical that releases formaldehyde which has been shown to cause cancer and other harmful reactions when applied to the skin including itchiness, red rashes on the skin brittle hair, loss of hair and even dermatitis.
TRESemme’ Shampoo Hair Loss Lawsuit
Schafer claims Unilever TRESemme’ shampoo products are marketed nationwide with false and misleading marketing and labeling claims, specifically touting on the product labeling the TREsemme’ products “deeply nourish”, “gently cleanse” and “repair hair”. However, the lawsuit claims customers are 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.
Specifically, the lawsuit states the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen, and the National Toxicology Program of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) named formaldehyde as a known and definite carcinogen to humans.
Schafer claims she began using TRESemme’ shampoo products and began to experience hair loss, thinning hair, and scalp irritation during and after washing her hair. By 2021, Schafer claims she began losing abnormal amounts of her hair, with clumps of hair falling out after using TRESemme’ shampoo products, prompting her to stop using the products.
The lawsuit claims Unilever has failed to warn customers or provide adequate warning about the use of DMDM in its products, despite knowing about the side effects of DMDM and how the products have caused hair loss and scalp irritation risks to consumers for more than a decade.
The TRESemme’ shampoo lawsuit presents claims of manufacturing defects, design defects, failure to provide adequate warning and negligence against Unilever, requesting a jury trial to determine the award of both compensatory and punitive damages.
Hair Relaxer Formaldehyde Lawsuits
The lawsuit comes amid growing concerns about risks associated with chemicals in a number of widely used hair care products, following the publication of recent research that found undisclosed endocrine disrupting chemicals in hair relaxer may cause uterine cancer.
HAIR RELAXER COMPENSATION
Uterine cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer may be caused by chemicals in hair relaxer. See if you are eligible for benefits.
Learn More About This Lawsuit See If You Qualify For CompensationIn October, researchers published findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which warned about the chemical hair relaxer cancer risks, finding that the rate of uterine cancer was nearly three times greater among women who frequently used hair relaxer chemicals, compared to women who never used the products.
The findings have ignited a series of hair relaxer uterine cancer lawsuits and ovarian cancer lawsuits to be filed by women across the U.S., claiming decades of using hair relaxers with undisclosed chemical ingredients have caused them to develop hormone sensitive cancers.
Given similar questions of fact and law raised in a growing number of complaints filed throughout the federal court system, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) recently determined that all hair relaxer and perm cancer lawsuits will be centralized before one judge for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings in the federal court system. However, if the parties fail to reach settlements to resolve large numbers of lcaims, each case may be remanded back to the U.S. District Court where it was originally filed for a separate trial date in the future.
Find Out If You Qualify for Hair Relaxer Compensation
30 Comments
FrancesOctober 25, 2024 at 11:47 pm
I have been using Tresemme used by professionals Revitalized Color Hibiscus Essence Shampoo and Conditioner for the past 12 or so months . My hair is falling out so much that not only you can see through it, but the entire facial borders are gone. I have a new hair stylist and she mentioned to change to another brand.
JoanieAugust 25, 2024 at 10:52 am
My hair started falling out and I thought it was menopause I now know it's because of TRESemme
KellyAugust 4, 2024 at 1:58 pm
I used Tresemme products a couple tmuears ago amd noticed my hair thin ing and falling out. Well at the time i had no idea what was causing it. Until recently I started using it and noticed my hair getting thinner and it was coming out in clumps I have really long hair I have documented video of what it has done now I'm using something else and baby hairs are coming in barley it's has cau[Show More]I used Tresemme products a couple tmuears ago amd noticed my hair thin ing and falling out. Well at the time i had no idea what was causing it. Until recently I started using it and noticed my hair getting thinner and it was coming out in clumps I have really long hair I have documented video of what it has done now I'm using something else and baby hairs are coming in barley it's has cause me alot of anxiety
MartieMay 19, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Using Tresemme Aerosol hairspray for over Two years and having skin issues on scalp and onto back of neck. I would like to be contacted about lawsuit I have previously given a full explanation and as I comptroller contact info I hope my info was not depleted.
MarieFebruary 18, 2024 at 12:55 am
I've been using Tresemme well over 8-10 years, changing or using another product here and there in between. I've had thick and a head full of hair. The past 2 years my hair has started to fall out more and more, but more excessively the past 6 months. I'm horrified by how thin my hair became in such a short period.. my hair is alarming thin at this point, and only now that I've been doing res[Show More]I've been using Tresemme well over 8-10 years, changing or using another product here and there in between. I've had thick and a head full of hair. The past 2 years my hair has started to fall out more and more, but more excessively the past 6 months. I'm horrified by how thin my hair became in such a short period.. my hair is alarming thin at this point, and only now that I've been doing research and reading up, I came across various people having the same problem.. this is shocking!!! I will sue Tresemme if my hair doesn't grow back soon with other shampoo's.
KeyahnaFebruary 4, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Started using tresseme a month ago and my head has been itching sooo sooo sooo badly like it never did before. I wash my hair once a week and it itches soo much it’s irritated and flaky which it wasn’t this way until switched over to this shampoo. Also my hair has been soooo dry like hay which it wasn’t before. I thought I was tripping but something told me to Google if others have similar issues [Show More]Started using tresseme a month ago and my head has been itching sooo sooo sooo badly like it never did before. I wash my hair once a week and it itches soo much it’s irritated and flaky which it wasn’t this way until switched over to this shampoo. Also my hair has been soooo dry like hay which it wasn’t before. I thought I was tripping but something told me to Google if others have similar issues and low and beyond they do. No longer gonna use any products from this brand.
ShamikaJanuary 30, 2024 at 5:18 pm
I THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A THYROID ISSUE UNTIL I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SHAMPOO I WAS USING AND NOW MY HAIR IS THIN AND COMES OUT BY THE HANDFUL.THIS IS CRAZY I ALSO NOTICED THAT I HAVE SORES ON MY SCALP
DorisDecember 18, 2023 at 11:22 pm
I was severely burned on my for head by chemical it took my the skin of my for head and burned my for head also I was so imbarressed.Im so glad someone Is taking action No One Should have to suffer that
HeatherSeptember 4, 2023 at 3:39 pm
OMG! This is horrible. My head, face and neck are blistered and burning. I used the hairspray. I’m on my third antihistamine today and I’m not getting any relief. I keep rinsing my hair and it’s not helping!! I’m
CristenaAugust 20, 2023 at 1:15 pm
I've used tresemme for many years. 5 yrs ago I had beautiful thick hair. I've used tresemme this whole time and now I've experienced hair loss and scalp irritation to where it hurts so bad when I itch. Can anyone suggest a good shampoo and conditioner to use that doesn't cause these issues but makes your hair beautiful and healthy?
ConnieAugust 4, 2023 at 7:06 pm
I have used Tresseme for years and just found out the reason for my hair loss. I used to have very thick hair ,and now my hair is very thin. My scalp is always blistered. It's painful. I will stop using it now. Any recommendations as to what shampoo I should use now?
MarionJuly 27, 2023 at 7:53 pm
I was using Tressemme shampoo and conditioner and my hair started falling out by the hand falls in the shower and when I would brushing it ..It would come out also and the same thing happened to my daughter she was using all TRESSemme products moose hairspray shampoo and conditioner
JoyceJuly 21, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Used Tresemme Revitalize color for a year and my hair started falling out and I didn’t know what it was until I ran across this lawsuit and I quit using it and my hair has started coming back.
IrmaJuly 6, 2023 at 8:49 pm
Used products for years. Suffered for a long time from irritated scalp..Hair was falling out in large clumps as was my sons and I couldn't figure out why. My older boys used it as well all had beautiful thick hair now both of them have suffer severe thinning and no longer have the thick beautiful hair as before. My hair was always super thick and now it's extra thin thought I could be thyroid iss[Show More]Used products for years. Suffered for a long time from irritated scalp..Hair was falling out in large clumps as was my sons and I couldn't figure out why. My older boys used it as well all had beautiful thick hair now both of them have suffer severe thinning and no longer have the thick beautiful hair as before. My hair was always super thick and now it's extra thin thought I could be thyroid issues but when I had it checked I had no thyroid problems. My youngest stopped using it and his hair is no longer falling out in large clumps.
KathyJune 27, 2023 at 4:59 pm
Started losing hair, a lot of hair and couldn't figure out why. I loved Tresseme and used it a couple years before reading an article on Tresseme being the cause of hair loss. I quit using it after I read that it could be the cause of my hair loss.
JenJune 22, 2023 at 12:52 pm
I have been using Tresseme for almost a year now. I have a third of the hair I did have and my scalp is showing all over my head. I am devastated. I hope now that I quit using it, my hair will grow back. The irritation and itching has stopped. My shower drain was plugged and when I used a snake, I found most of my hair in the drain. So depressing and frustrating.
RebeccaJune 7, 2023 at 1:34 pm
I used ogx products for only a couple months and immediately started loosing tons of hair. I switched to Tresseme only to continue to loose hair and I developed large bumps on my scalp that itch. One got so big I had to have it cut out. I still have pain and more bumps. I'm devastated to find out it's the shampoo and conditioner I've been using. 😭😥
DonnaJune 4, 2023 at 7:57 pm
I started to lose 20 to 40 strands of my hair when I took a shower and many more in my hairbrush. At first I thought it was because I was getting older or my overactive thyroid. I tested my thyroid which showed a normal result. I, then, realized it was because of the Tresemme shampoo and conditioner I had been using for a little over a year. When I bought another brand and used it for only a wee[Show More]I started to lose 20 to 40 strands of my hair when I took a shower and many more in my hairbrush. At first I thought it was because I was getting older or my overactive thyroid. I tested my thyroid which showed a normal result. I, then, realized it was because of the Tresemme shampoo and conditioner I had been using for a little over a year. When I bought another brand and used it for only a week, my hair quit falling out. I only lose 2 to 4 strands after washing my hair ever since I STOPPED using Tresemme. My hair now is just as thick, soft and full as it was before using Tresemme. I threw away the shampoo and conditioner, along with a Tresemme gel that was giving me headaches. I strongly advise to NOT use any Tresemme products.
CindyMay 25, 2023 at 11:58 pm
I use the TRESemme shampoo n conditioner for a year or so in the shower my hair has been falling out in clumps n I have scalp irritation now I know why.
ToniMay 16, 2023 at 8:52 pm
I have been using Tresemme hair products since 2000. My hair was always so healthy with the products I used. I noticed throughout the years that my hair has been falling out and my sculp was getting irritated. I would of never guessed it was the product, cause I am allergic to sulfates of any kind.
KatieApril 18, 2023 at 6:47 am
For a long while I’ve been concerned that my hair was thinning and I used TRESSemme for years. Clumps of my hair fall out in the shower.
AylaMarch 29, 2023 at 6:47 pm
I have been using these products for years and I have developed alopecia . 😢
MelindaMarch 10, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Yes i use tresemme I wonder why my hair was getting thinner
HeatherFebruary 22, 2023 at 12:08 am
Now I understand why my hair has been falling out in clumps
SonjaFebruary 13, 2023 at 4:52 am
My mother has had significant hair loss over the last year and she is a regular user of tre semme shampoo and conditioner. She has been devastated by her hair loss. This is horrible.
JFebruary 12, 2023 at 9:37 pm
Used TRESemme for years, last year had skin cancer by my left ear. Nice to know after the fact. ,
PatriciaFebruary 11, 2023 at 6:58 pm
I use the shampoo and conditioner for several months. I have losi hair and scalp irritationand also rash on my face
GaryFebruary 11, 2023 at 4:20 pm
I have been using Tresemme for over 17 years shampoo and conditioner
GloriaFebruary 11, 2023 at 2:49 pm
I have been using TRESemme revitalized color which states 0% DMDM. No problem s. Are they lies??
PamelaFebruary 11, 2023 at 1:20 pm
I use the shampoo and my hair come out