Stylists’ Corner: Addressing the Olaplex Lawsuit
If you haven’t heard the news already, it has been reported that product company, Olaplex, is being sued by a group of consumers for $75K in damages. According to CBS News, a group of roughly 30 consumers are alleging that Olaplex products damaged their hair and scalps, which resulted in bald spots along with other injuries.
As we often say, products are tools and like any other tool, we must learn how to use them properly. This blog post will discuss five reasons as to what may have caused a single product line to cause such severe reactions.
How Did Olaplex First Gain Popularity?
Before we begin discussing what could have possibly happened, let’s first talk about how Olaplex gained popularity within the beauty sector.
Olaplex emerged on the professional hair scene in 2014, with its bond repairing products which allowed professionals to push the limits on their hair color services.
When Olaplex initially launched there was only 3 products: Olaplex No 1. Bond Multiplier, Olaplex No. 2 Bond Perfector, and Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector. Since their initial launch in 2014, the product line has grown exponentially and they have put a great amount of time and money into marketing directly to consumers via social platforms such as Instagram for the past 4 years or so.
So much so that I, (Aishia), can’t personally tell you there isn’t a week that goes by both online in our educational spaces and in the salon where clients are asking if it’s something they should invest in for their hair.
So What’s Happening, Exactly?
Professional stylists have been using Olaplex in the salon for years. I (Aishia) cannot recall one incident that I have personally experienced or any of my stylist colleagues have shared with me that align with the symptoms that these group of consumers are alleging.
One of our Cut It Kinky Mentor Stylists, Sonnie, has 15+ years of behind the chair experience and is also a colorist. When asked about her thoughts about the recent Olaplex lawsuit she replied:
“I have used Olaplex on my clients with and without color for years and I have never seen or have received reports in regards to hair loss. Until a study has been administered a board certified dermatologist, I’m having a hard time sitting with the information provided in the lawsuit.”
So what would cause a group of people to have such a bad reaction to a product? Listed below are five reasons that could result in an adverse reaction to a product.
#1: User Error
Products are tools. If you don’t know the purpose of the tool or how to properly use it, it makes no difference how many tools you amass in your arsenal. Yes, there are specific instructions included on the Olaplex bottle but if they’re not carefully followed, this can result in adverse reactions.
We always recommend following the advice of a professional stylist for proper product usage, versus the advice of non-professionals via social platforms. Your hair will only thank you in the end.
#2: Using Products You Don’t Need
We recognize that within the natural hair community, we have the tendency to want to try every single product on the market that’s trending or popular. However, we must constantly ask ourselves how is our hair behaving that would warrant this particular product, or what is our desired finish/end result?
#3: Leaving Product In For Too Long
There’s a common belief that the longer a particular product is left in, the better it’ll work, and this couldn’t be the furthest thing from the truth. The manufacturer instructions listed on the bottles are oftentimes the best recommended way to use a particular product. We recommend following the label instructions, unless instructed otherwise by a professional stylist for your individual hair care plan.
#4: Not Properly Washing Out Product
As professional stylists, we know that consumers do the best they can with what they have. However, all product should always be thoroughly rinsed out. When product is left behind on the hair, this can result in buildup which can result to a waxy like coating on the hair, flakes, and itching.
We also always recommend that you properly shampoo your hair every 7 to 10 days (with an average lifestyle) to remove any dirt, debris, oil and buildup from your hair.
#5: An Ignored Allergic Reaction
Like the skin on our bodies, the skin on our scalp needs care and attention too. You all wouldn’t believe the amount of times as professional stylists we’ve had to explain to clients about when they’re experiencing discomfort or inflammation (such as itching or burning) to discontinue use of that product.
A common scalp care concern in black women is itching and flaking which can be related to dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, tinea capitis (fungal infection of the scalp), allergic contact dermatitis, psoriasis, or other conditions.
If you are experiencing issues with your scalp, DO NOT ignore it or move on to the next product! We highly recommend reaching out to your primary care provider and/or a board certified dermatologist to identify and treat the issue. Some resources include skinofcolorsociety.org (find a doctor page), docs4hair.com, blackdermdirectory.com, and huedco.com.
Want to learn how to properly use products to achieve a desired result? We cover all the natural hair fundamentals and more in our digital consumer education platform, The SeeSomeCurls Visual Library.
Our 1.1K+ course community of tight curl + naturals are shaving more than 50% of time off their wash day, being showered left and right with hair compliments, and are receiving direct support of a very encouraging community of tight curlies + naturals who have been exactly where you are.
