Just for Men Lawsuit

Just for Men lawsuits in the United States allege that the widely-used men hair dye product caused severe skin problems and allergic reactions. Many consumers experienced skin discoloration, burns, and other serious complications after using the hair and beard dye. 

The Just for Men lawsuits allege that Combe Inc, the manufacturer of the popular men’s hair dye, didn’t inform consumers about the potential skin reactions and permanent injuries associated with using the toxic product. The skin irritation and allergic reactions experienced by users are often attributed to p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), an ingredient found in the hair and beard dye. 

While PPD is a common component in hair dyes, it is recognized by the American Contact Dermatitis Society as a known allergen. In an article published by Consumer Affairs, between January 2014 and March 2019 the United States Food and Drug Administration received more complaints about Just for Men-related injuries than it did in the previous decade.

African American Men More Vulnerable to Injuries from Just for Men 

In January 2019, David Collier from Orange County, Florida, initiated a Just for Men lawsuit, alleging that using the men hair dye resulted in “severe skin reactions.”

Being African-American, Collier referenced a 2001 study from the Cleveland Clinic in his lawsuit. This study suggested that more than 20% of African American men could have a reaction to PPD, which is nearly five times more than Caucasian men. Collier’s lawsuit emphasized that Combe Inc, the company that manufactures Just for Men, targeted advertising towards the African American community, even while knowing the potential risks.

Despite conducting a skin patch test, Collier claims he experienced permanent scarring after using the Just for Men beard dye

Though Collier’s case reached the Florida district court, it never proceeded to trial. By June 2019, all parties mutually agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. Collier had initially sought compensation from Combe Inc and Walmart, the retailer from which he purchased the hair dye product.

p-Phenylenediamine Side Effects

Combe Inc has yet to issue a recall the Just for Men product, and while most reactions linked to the hair dye are mild, there have been severe reactions reported to the FDA. The root cause of most of these serious side effects is believed to be p-Phenylenediamine (also known as PPD).

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most serious reactions associated with PPD include asthma, anaphylaxis, kidney failure, tremors, convulsions, and coma.

While most of these reactions arise from skin contact with the product, the EPA’s hazard summary of PPD notes that it could take several days before a reaction manifests.

Frequent PPD side effects include skin irritation, swelling, itching, contact dermatitis, hair loss, chemical burn, lasting skin discoloration, and disfiguration.

Just for Men Class Action Lawsuit

In 2016, a men class action lawsuit was initiated in an Illinois district court, naming 249 men who claimed they were injured after using Just for Men hair dye. As reported by the Madison-St. Clair Record, this number eventually exceeded 500 men filing claims.

By January 2019, two efforts to resolve the class action lawsuit failed to yield a settlement, and the judge responsible for the case stepped down.

As of September 2023, there has been no further progress on the case.

Just for Men Class Action Lawsuit Beard Injuries 

On July 2, 2019, three men initiated a class action lawsuit in a New York district court, alleging that the Just for Men hair dye led to skin reactions after use.

This class action lawsuit aimed to represent all U.S. residents who bought Just for Men hair dye for personal use and experienced an allergic reaction or skin irritation within 96 hours of applying it.

Lawsuit Claimants

Izell McCloud

Izell McCloud from Palatka, Florida, mentioned he had used the Just for Men hair dye several times without any skin reactions. However, in 2015, he conducted a patch test by applying a small amount of beard dye and waiting 48 hours to see if it caused a reaction. After the patch test caused no skin reaction, he proceeded to use the product on his beard and mustache.

Soon after application, he experienced skin irritation, which included itching, burning, cracking, and peeling, as described in his complaint. 

McCloud asserted that due to his adverse reaction to the men hair dye, his chin and lower lip now show permanent skin discoloration.

Ray Du Boc Ali

Ray Du Boc Ali from Bossier City, Louisiana, says that he used the Just for Men product on his beard. After performing a skin test with no adverse reactions, he proceeded to apply the beard dye to his facial hair. However, Du Boc Ali claims he experienced severe facial skin irritation, including burning, stinging, and swelling.

In the days following his use of Just for Men, Du Boc Ali reported that the skin on his face became hard and formed scabs. This adverse reaction left him with lasting skin discoloration.

Clemon Williams 

Clemon Williams from Wake Forest, North Carolina, stated that after using Just for Men hair dye in 2016, he needed medical treatment. Even though he conducted a 48-hour skin test without observing any adverse reactions, he faced complications after applying the dye to his beard.

Within the subsequent six days, he experienced skin irritation and itching, coupled with swelling and oozing from his face. This severe reaction prompted an emergency room visit.

Williams’ complaint detailed that he was administered antibiotics, painkillers, and antihistamines during his four-day hospital stay. He claimed to have sustained permanent injuries, most notably skin discoloration and significant scarring.

However, in October 2019, the men class action lawsuit that addressed these issues was dismissed, as the court believed the lawsuit lacked sufficient grounds for relief. Disagreeing with this decision, the three men filed a new motion in November 2019, looking to revive the case.

Problems with Just for Men Patch Testing

In his lawsuit filed in a Florida district court, David Collier argued that the patch test instructions provided with Just for Men hair dye were inadequate, failing to alert users about the more severe skin reactions.

The guidelines direct users to apply a small amount of the dye to a coin-sized section on the inner elbow. They are advised to wait 48 hours, keeping the test area dry and uncovered—which implies no washing or showering. If a skin rash appears, users should avoid using the dye.

The root of Collier’s lawsuit was that Combe Inc. either knew or should have known that consumers would struggle to correctly perform the patch test, leading to inaccurate results. 

In the Collier v. Combe, Incorporated case, seven Just for Men patch test flaws were identified:

1. An at-home test isn’t equivalent to a medically supervised one.
2. The potential of performing the test on the wrong part of the body.
3. Risk of misuse of the Just for Men product.
4. The elbow isn’t an optimal site for testing allergic reactions.
5. Elevated chances of receiving false positive or false negative results.
6. The test area remains uncovered during the Just for Men patch test
7. There’s a high likelihood of the test patch being affected by clothing or daily actions.

The lawsuit also cited a 2007 report by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Products. This EU panel deduced that the self-administered tests could produce false negatives, possibly leading allergic consumers to proceed with using the dye. Additionally, the report highlighted that patch tests could make the skin more susceptible, causing users to develop an allergic reaction.

What’s Going on With the Just for Men Lawsuits? 

Law firms in the United States are reviewing personal injury claims related to the Just for Men lawsuit, suggesting that the men’s hair dye products caused lasting injuries, including skin discoloration, burns, and scarring. 

Several users, especially in the New York district court, have even alleged that the severity of their reactions necessitated emergency room visits and hospital stays. 

As of September 2023, there are no significant public settlements in regards to the Just for Men class action lawsuit.

References