Outraged mum slams celeb-backed shampoo after it caused her nine-year-old daughter’s hair to completely FALL OUT
Young Eliana Lawrence's red locks fell out completely after using the product last year
AN outraged mum claims her daughter's flowing red locks fell out after using a celebrity-endorsed shampoo.
Eliana Lawrence was left completely bald just before turning ten after reportedly using Wen Cleansing Conditioner to wash her hair three times.
Terrified she had cancer, the little girl asked her mum for a wig as a present for her tenth birthday and she was bullied so much she had to be home-schooled.
Two years later and only some of Eliana's hair has grown back, covering roughly 70 per cent of her scalp.
After more than 21,000 similar complaints were made, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety warning for Wen products.
However, much to the dismay of Eliana's mum Miriam, the FDA lack the authority to recall the product altogether.
Eliana, now aged 11, of Denver, Colorado, has now become the face of cosmetic safety reform.
Last week her impassioned mum visited Washington DC where she spoke to politicians about the new plans to give the FDA that power.
Miriam said: "The last two years were heart-breaking.
“We didn't know if she would ever regrow her hair again and whether she will make a full recovery is not certain, she still has significant bald spots.
"Thankfully Eliana is doing much better, and she's back at school now."
Eliana started using Wen Cleansing Conditioner, given to her by her grandma and endorsed by Brooke Shields, in 2014.
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Miriam said: "I had never heard of the product before but my mum said it was natural, gentle, and better for the hair.
"Based on their advertising, she thought it would be a good product, especially for a child.
"It boasted of all natural ingredients, no harsh chemicals."
Two days after the first wash and Miriam was puzzled to find chunks of her daughter's hair falling out.
She said: "When she came home from school I immediately noticed she had loose hair all over her clothes and her hair was matted.
"I never saw her hair in this condition before.
"She was terrified at the sight of her hair and asked me seriously if she had cancer.
"The next time I used Wen to cleanse her hair, her hair fell out in chunks in my hands."
Alarmed by her daughter's hair loss, Miriam took her to medics.
Miriam said: "I still didn't connect the hair loss to the product. We feared she might have a serious medical problem.
"The last time we used Wen nearly all of her remaining hair literally slipped off her head instantly on contact with the product.
"She was left essentially bald. It became obvious what caused the hair loss, but it was too late.
"She lost every hair on her body; even her eyebrows and eyelashes."
The new legislation would:
—Give the FDA authority to recall personal care and cosmetic products that threaten consumer safety.
—Provide the FDA with authority to collect data and information on cosmetic ingredients and requiring FDA review such ingredients to determine if they are safe for use in cosmetics.
—Mandate that cosmetic manufacturers report serious adverse events to FDA within 15 days.
—Require warnings on cosmetic products that are not appropriate for the entire population.
—Ensure all cosmetic manufacturers comply with good manufacturing practices established by FDA.
For her tenth birthday Eliana asked her mum to buy her a wig to cover her bald head but became victim to bullies at school.
The teasing become so bad that her mum pulled her out of school the following year to home-school her instead.
In 2015 Miriam learned of a class action lawsuit against the makers of Wen – more than 200 people were suing the company.
Now she is championing the proposed Personal Care and Cosmetic Safety bill that will give industry regulates more authority.
Miriam said: "I realised Eliana was not alone. That night I read several similar stories on the internet from former users of this product and I would find thousands more.
"Many of us filed reports with the FDA. We thought this would help get the product recalled.
"Little did we know the FDA does not have that authority.
"I later found out the makers of Wen had documented tens of thousands complaints of hair loss from this product.
"Even when the many lawsuits are settled, this product will still be on the market continuing to harm more consumers some suffering permanent damage.
"I was shocked to learn that the FDA has no authority to recall personal care products.
"Every day that goes by might see hundreds or thousands of new victims from this product alone because the FDA has limited authority to do anything about it."
AJC.com reported Wen representatives have said its products are safe and that the company is working with federal regulators.
In August, the FDA issued a safety alert on Wen products.
A statement from the firm said: "The WEN by Chaz Dean family cares deeply about everyone's hair health. We encourage people inquiring about hair issues to seek qualified medical assistance because it is a complex topic. We know there is a lot of incomplete and confusing information out there.
“WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners are safe to apply to the hair and scalp. Millions of bottles have been sold over the last 16 years, which we believe is testament to the quality of the product.
"There is no evidence that WEN products cause hair loss, and the ingredients and formulations meet or exceed all recommended safety and quality standards set by the industry. We stand behind them.
"We have consistently cooperated with the FDA and intend to continue to do so. We love our brand and our customers."
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