FDA records document more than 1,400 reports of adverse events associated with cleansing conditioners by 2016, including reports of significant hair loss. Those reports prompted scrutiny, but they are not confirmed cases proving WEN caused hair loss. A later mouse study found abnormal hair-growth cycles after prolonged exposure to WEN Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner, yet the FDA said it could not establish a firm connection between the products or ingredients studied and alopecia. The WEN lawsuit ended in a negotiated class-action settlement—not a court finding of causation.
What did consumers report about WEN?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it first became aware in 2011 of adverse health effects associated with cleansing conditioners. By 2016, after outreach to constituents, the agency had received more than 1,400 adverse-event reports, including accounts of significant hair loss, or alopecia. FDA, Hair Cleansing Products
An adverse-event report records that someone experienced a problem after using a product; it does not, by itself, verify the report or establish that the product caused the problem. The number therefore describes reports received, not confirmed WEN-caused injuries. It is evidence of consumer concerns that warranted investigation, not a final scientific conclusion.
What did the FDA investigation find?
The FDA contracted with Columbia University Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology to study possible connections involving certain hair-cleansing products and ingredients. Columbia completed the study and provided its report to the FDA in 2023. FDA, study overview
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The animal-study result
Mice exposed over a prolonged period to WEN Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner or DevaCurl Low-Poo Delight Cleanser displayed abnormal hair-growth cycles. This is an animal finding, not proof that the products caused hair loss in people.
What the study could not establish
The FDA says the study could not draw a firm connection between use of certain products or ingredients and alopecia. The agency’s stated conclusion leaves the human causal question unresolved: the study raised a possible connection worth examining, but did not establish that WEN caused hair loss in users.
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What happened in the WEN hair-loss lawsuit?
In the federal case Friedman v. Guthy-Renker, plaintiffs alleged that WEN Cleansing Conditioner and other WEN hair-care products caused hair loss. They brought consumer-protection, warranty and personal-injury claims. The parties reached a class-wide settlement in April 2016 after discovery and mediation. Court order, Document 167
A settlement resolves claims under agreed terms; it is not the same as a trial verdict. The reviewed court orders do not establish that WEN caused hair loss. The plaintiffs’ allegations, consumer reports and agency study findings are distinct kinds of evidence, and none should be described as a judicial finding of product-caused injury.
Rank #3
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- BOUNCE, BODY, AND SHINE - Perfect for all hair types, our cleansing conditioner nourishes with essential botanicals, oils, and extracts for improved hair texture, volume, body, and shine
- KEY INGREDIENTS - Infused with rosemary extract to stimulate healthy hair growth, chamomile extract to soothe, and aloe vera extract to deeply hydrate, leaving your hair refreshed and nourished
- CHAZ'S TIP - For the best results, always cleanse, rinse, and repeat. For short hair use about 3 - 4 pumps, for medium length hair 6 - 8 pumps, and for long hair 9 - 12 pumps (per cleanse)
- ABOUT US - WEN by Chaz Dean offers a more holistic approach to hair, skin, & body care, reminding the world that the products we use on our bodies are just as important as what we put into our bodies
Who was included in the settlement class?
The preliminary approval order defined the class as people who purchased or used specified WEN Hair Care Products in the United States or its territories from November 1, 2007, through September 19, 2016, subject to exclusions. The covered products extended beyond Cleansing Conditioner to include masks, oils, sprays, styling products and other items. Preliminary approval order
That definition does not mean every WEN user qualified. Eligibility depended on the listed products, the specified dates, the U.S. or territorial connection and the order’s exclusions. The dates describe the settlement class’s past-use period; they are not a statement about current claims or present product availability.
Rank #4
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- BOUNCE, BODY, AND SHINE - Perfect for all hair types, our cleansing conditioner nourishes with essential botanicals, oils, and extracts for improved hair texture, volume, body, and shine
- KEY INGREDIENTS - Infused with fig for intense moisture, chamomile to calm the scalp, and marigold to strengthen and protect, this cleansing conditioner leaves your hair soft, healthy, and revitalized
- CHAZ'S TIP - For the best results, always cleanse, rinse, and repeat. For short hair use about 3 - 4 pumps, for medium length hair 6 - 8 pumps, and for long hair 9 - 12 pumps (per cleanse)
- ABOUT US - WEN by Chaz Dean offers a more holistic approach to hair, skin, & body care, reminding the world that the products we use on our bodies are just as important as what we put into our bodies
What does FDA oversight of cosmetics mean here?
Under the FDA framework described by the agency, most cosmetics and their ingredients do not require FDA approval before entering the market; color additives are an exception. Companies and individuals marketing cosmetics remain responsible for product safety and labeling. Cosmetics must not be adulterated and must be safe under labeled or customary conditions of use. FDA, Hair Cleansing Products
This general framework explains the division of responsibility; it does not establish that WEN violated the law. The reports, animal study and settlement illuminate different parts of the controversy, but the available FDA and court materials cited here do not amount to a determination that WEN caused human hair loss or broke cosmetic-safety laws.
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