Its infomercials include actress Alyssa Milano gushing about the product, claiming her hair is “soft and shiny with TONS of volume” after using WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner. Celebrity stylist Chaz Dean claims Wen Cleansing Conditioner is a 5-in-1 formula, completely replacing the need for shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, and leave-in conditioner. But some consumers disagree. The hair care line is now being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after WEN users began claiming the product causes breakage, itching, and worse. The investigation comes after 200 women filed a class-action lawsuit last year, alleging the products completely ruined their hair.
As of July 7, 2016, 127 complaints had been filed with the FDA stating WEN caused hair loss, breakage, itching, balding, and rash. According to the FDA, this constitutes the largest number of filed reports for any cosmetic hair cleansing product. Furthermore, the agency says it is investigating 21,000+ complaints that have been directly reported to Chaz Dean, Inc. and Guthy Renker, LLC, which markets the product. While the FDA is still investigating these claims, it advises consumers to “be aware of reactions reported in association with the use of WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner products” and to discontinue use if a negative reaction occurs.
Chaz Dean says his Wen product line includes natural botanicals and herbs without harsh chemicals or sulfates. The company has provided statements indicating there is no scientific evidence supporting the claims against the company and that hair loss can be attributed to a number of different causes. As the FDA’s investigation is ongoing, it has not yet determined a possible cause for any adverse effects and says it will provide consumers with updated information as soon as it’s available.
If you believe you have experienced adverse side effects due to the use of Wen products, you may choose to file an online report with the FDA.
