The Food and Drug Administration is investigating reports that a popular line of hair care products could lead to bad reactions, including hair loss.
WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner products are the focus of the investigation.
Do WEN by Chaz Dean products cause hair loss?
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According to the FDA, it has received 127 reports from customers about problems with the products, as of July 7. In addition, there have been more than 21,000 complaints made directly to the company.
According to Guthy-Renker, at least 66% of all reports about hair loss since 2011 have named the Sweet Almond Mint variety.
A real customer with a real review of Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner – 3 https://t.co/i2ZDvHgSyV via @yotpo
— WEN® by Chaz Dean (@wenbychazdean) June 25, 2016
Here’s a snapshot of the varieties most often named in complaints:
- Sweet Almond Mint- 5,689 complaints
- Lavender- 2,537 complaints
- Pomegranate – 1,542 complaints
And it’s not just hair loss. People who’ve used the products have also reported hair breakage, balding, itching and rashes.
In a YouTube video, Dean describes the benefits of his cleansing conditioners over the traditional shampoo you’re probably using. One 32 ounce bottle of his cleansing conditioner sells for $58 on his website.
Here’s how Dean’s website markets the products:
WEN® Cleansing Conditioners are a revolutionary concept in cleansing your hair, developed as a healthy alternative to the way people are used to caring for their hair. Eliminating the use of shampoo and its harsh detergents and chemicals, WEN® Cleansing Conditioners replace shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner – giving you five products in one bottle.
So far, there is no official explanation as to why people are having bad reactions. In the meantime, the FDA is urging anyone who experiences a reaction to stop using the product immediately and visit a health care provider.
If you’ve had a bad reaction, report a complaint with the FDA online or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
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