This is not a normal post for me but it has got to the point where I need to warn you about the damaging effects of a product as the brand is not addressing it. The Organic Care shampoo and conditioners are causing hair loss as well as irritation, wounds and scabbing on many peoples scalps. The brand has been notified but only today have they sent out any form of acknowledgement, and only because there was a combined effort for many people to inform them of the harm their products are doing.
I first looked into the Organic Care brand because it was one of the few cheap hair care brands that was accredited by Choose Cruelty Free (who have the best accreditation as I’ve explained in previous blog posts) and vegan friendly. I would have started using the Organic Care shampoo and conditioner at the end of 2014 and finished using it at the end of 2015 when I realised that the severe hairloss and scalp irritation and scabs were to do with this product. During that period I used both Normal Balance shampoo and conditioner and the Dry Nourish shampoo and conditioner. At the time I didn’t email the company (in hindsight I should have) and instead set about trying to fix the damage that had been done. The only reason why I realised it was this product was because other people were complaining about the same problems being caused by the Organic Care range. It got to the point this year where I saw more and more complaints being posted in a vegan beauty facebook group that I thought I should email Natures Organics about the damage their products were doing to their customers. The email I received on the 7th March 2017 was not good enough. See the bulk of it below.
Like any manufacturer of household and personal care products, one of our biggest challenges is the ever-increasing number of ingredients to which people are sensitive. At the same time, our products contain very mild, predominantly plant-based ingredients. Although we do not test on animals, all our ingredients are well-researched and our products undergo thorough testing for both stability and sensitivity during the development process.
We receive a lot of positive feedback – and very rarely any negative – in relation to the high volume of products that we sell each year. Our contact details are on the pack for all our products and we hear from customers regarding far less serious issues.
I have seen emails from another customer (who wishes to remain anonymous), with Natures Organics again stating that complaints are very rare. This email was received by her on the 3rd July 2017, many months after I had told them that the Organic Care was harming many people. See below:
At the same time, this is a bit of a mystery to us as we have not changed the formula for this product since 2014 and very rarely receive any complaints about irritation: I would be grateful if you could give me the BATCH CODE of the product so that our Lab can check whether there was anything abnormal about the manufacturing. The batch code is printed in black on the back of the bottle above the label and will look something like 10:59 17123 AB.
They offered this customer a voucher for either woolworths or coles but that doesn’t address the widespread damage they have done. On the 4th July 2017 they followed up with this email to her:
Again, I am sorry that our product was not suitable: Because you have experienced a similar reaction to more than one Organic Care product, it is possible that you are sensitive to one of our base ingredients – the main difference between these products is the amount of each ingredient in the base, fragrance (if applicable) and the choice of natural plant extracts which make each product suitable for different hair types.
Because the ingredients in Organic Care are so mild (and because we have continued to sell so many bottles), like you, I would put this down to a personal sensitivity. Of course, this doesn’t help the person WITH the sensitivity – such as yourself! However, one of the biggest challenges for manufacturers of household and personal care products is the ever-increasing variety of ingredients to which people are sensitive, and I can advise that we are currently working on a product within the Organic Care range with a different base – which we hope will be suitable for more sensitive people.
In the meantime, thank you for your honest feedback … the very worst feedback for any manufacture is NONE! And I trust that you have been able to find another brand that works for you.
Natures Organics then asked another affected customer to provide them with information on the people losing hair. She posted in the vegan beauty group yesterday and had a large number of people came forward (well over 100) who had experienced hair loss, irritation, scabs and hair breakage from Organic Care shampoo and conditioner. Some people stopped using the products once they realised their hair was becoming coarse and brittle but many (like myself) didn’t believe it was the products fault until it was too late and started suffering from scalp sores, itching, flaking scalp, and eventually large amounts of hair loss, with many people experiencing bald patches. Here are just a couple of affected people who have allowed me to quote them from their comments in a facebook group:
My hair got so coarse and brittle using it. Was losing quite a bit of hair as well.
But the worst was what it did to my scalp. My entire scalp was very red, tender and itchy. It was also covered in sores. It took several months for it to get back to normal after switching products.
I have never had sensitivities to other products. – Esther Clapperton
and
I was using their dry nourishing shampoo and conditioner for a few months, would have gone through two bottles.
My hair is fine and of normal thickness, but using Organic care shampoo and conditioner made it fall out in handfuls when I washed out the conditioner. At first I didn’t think much of it until I realised that this was happening every time in the shower and when I would brush my hair out afterwards, too.
While it did make my hair feel incredible, my hair was thinning super fast and now eight or nine months later, I have a lot of wispy hair around my face from the fallout growing back. There is almost so much fine wisp that I can make a fringe with it.
I also seem to be having flakey scalp issues as well, which doesn’t seem to be dandruff but it does make me wash my hair more frequently now to get rid of it. – Katarena Savage
and
So glad I saw this post because my skin has been so irritated and sensitive lately, my hair is normally thin but it’s thinned out a lot more and falls out in chunks when I wash it. I use the earth washing liquid and organic care shampoo and conditioner so I will definitely be changing products . – Ashleigh Whyte
and
I had used it for the past year and a half and such a dry scalp, itchy and lots of dandruff. So horrible. Changed to Davroe a month ago and I’ve noticed a difference already. – Brittany Mcleod
and
It is still so ridiculous when I think about how much bloody hair I lost when I used their stuff. It was a massive ball. – Adrianna Ciaverella
and finally
I emailed them after I discovered it was the cause of my hair loss after years of investigation. They were already well aware of the issue, telling me lots of people contacted them with similar stories, and were rude and dismissive, telling me we were all wrong. – Jess Spilling
That is just that couple of people who would let me quote them. There were over 100 more affected in that facebook group alone, I can’t imagine how many there are Australia wide.
Only today (after being inundated with complaints and unable to pretend this is no longer a problem), did they send an email to Jessica Riley, another affected customer. This is a snippet of the email in regards to the Organic Care Colour Shield shampoo:
At the same time, I am sorry that our hair shampoo is not providing good results for you and I would definitely suggest that you stop using it. Even though we had hair breakage tests performed during during development of the Organic Care range with excellent results, it is still possible that the product may not be suitable if its not providing enough moisture to condition your hair. Unfortunately, although we sell many bottles of our products, we realistically acknowledge that it is not possible to provide a product that is suitable for everybody.
I can honestly advise (like any manufacturer), we do hear from a few customers that a product is not suitable and we sincerely value honest feedback: Our company policy is to reimburse the cost of a product that is not suitable – and to evaluate and investigate any comments about our products.
Then a refund is offered and the email finishes with:
Thank you again for your feedback which I will forward to our marketing and product development teams for their assessment in relation to the formula.
It is true that not every product will suit every customer but this is much worse than that. The Organic Care products are causing serious harm to their customers. The only appropriate way to address this is to admit that this is a widespread issue, apologize to all those affected, immediately remove the stock from the shelves and not put it back until the formula has been changed and they can ensure that the products will not harm people.
There is speculation that so many people are being affected because they are using Methylisothiazolinone as a preservative. A 2014 report from the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reported that there has been a “dramatic rise” in cases of contact allergy to Methylisothiazolinone due to increased customer exposure. So the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety banned the use of it in leave on products in 2014 but it can still be used in rinse off products like shampoo up to a certain concentration. There is so much evidence against the use of this as an ingredient, so I hope Natures Organics replaces it, even if it isn’t the cause of all the hair loss and open sores that the Organic Care products have caused.
Whilst my main concern in this post is warning people about the Organic Care products, a few people have asked what product I’ve been using since, that has helped me to regrow my hair. I switched to using the A’kin Rice Amino & Wheat Protein Shampoo along with the A’kin Macadamia & Wheat Protein Conditioner with the occasional hair mask using either Hask products or the A’kin Ginkgo & Jojoba Intensive Moisture Hair Mask – they are by no means budget products like the Organic Care but after what I went through with those products I was willing to spend whatever to get my hair back. I will often buy up big when Priceline has the hair care sales on as 50% off is such a good deal. My scalp was the first thing to start to recover, it took my hair a few months to begin to grow back and then a few months after that I had to deal with what I refer to as a cocky’s crest as the spots where the bald patches were had such short hair. The regrowing hairs were extra coarse for a while but now they are soft and blend in with the rest of my hair – it is 18 months since I stopped using those Organic Care products though, so your results may vary. Even my doctor and hairdresser are pleased with how healthy my hair is now after going through such a bad patch with those products.
Once this blog post is published, I will send it to Natures Organics and ask for them to take responsibility for the widespread harm they have caused to their customers and ask for the product to be recalled immediately. The way they have dealt with customers previously doesn’t give me much hope that their response will be adequate but I hope it is as I don’t plan on giving up. This product is not safe for consumers and I won’t stop until it isn’t available anymore – I know many of those who were badly affected feel the same way too. Even if these products didn’t cause me harm, I still wouldn’t want to support a company that has shown a complete lack of care for the safety of their customers. If you know of anyone using the Organic Care hair products, please share this blog post and warn them about the potential risks, no one should go through significant hair loss because of these products. If you have been affected by these products, please email Natures Organics and ask for a recall on the Organic Care shampoo and conditioners.
101 Comments
I’ve been using this product for maybe about 3 years. Haven’t noticed any issues. But maybe 6 months ago I have noticed my hairline at the front is regularly itchy and little bits of skin flake up. I just thought it was me, never thought it would be because of this product. Thanks for bringing this up Alinta!
Definitely try something else and see if it goes away after a while. I know lots of cf people love davroe and de lorenzo, but they’re a lot more expensive than supermarket brands.
https://www.tga.gov.au/recalls
Perhaps we need to lodge a complaint seeing company keeps ignoring us.
Yep, that’s the plan if they don’t come back with a good plan to address the situation.
Very interesting. My hair is drastically thinner than it used to be. I only recently stopped using these shampoo and conditioner products a few months ago, after using them for years. I attributed the hair loss to stress, but I was using these at the time (I think relatively new to them).
If you start to see improvements soon then you know it wasn’t just stress related. It’s not happening to everyone but there are far too many people being affected for the product to be deemed as safe and stay on the shelves. High dose biotin can help to kickstart hair regrowth if you need an extra boost, just talk to your doc first though.
Thanks a lot for this comprehensive article on OC products. I recently came across this product and was planning to use it on my dry-frizzy hair.
I’m so glad to have come across this article at the right time. I’ll definitely buy some other brand over this now.
I have been using these prior at least a year, and have experienced shocking hair loss, that I attributed to menopause.
Sores on my scalp, and my hair is always lanky and oily after use.
I’m disgusted.
This is quite alarming! I’ve never used this brand, but I’m interested to know how you go re your email and I hope the company can fix the issue so noone else is affected.
Nothing yet from them. I expected to wake up to a legal email from them telling me to take the post down, but there aren’t any lies in the post, it’s all just plain truth. I really hope they get back to me with a good plan of action to address the situation or I will have to take it higher. Too many people have affected for me to just leave it alone now.
I love this stuff. I’ve been using it for years. It’s probaby just your hair/skin type. I bleach my hair like a madman, wash it every other day with Organic Care and it’s wonderfully soft and healthy. Even if I skip the conditioner. Please don’t try to harm the company because you had a bad reaction.
I personally can’t wear lipstick or lipgloss or use bandaids because I have sensitive skin, but I’m not asking companies to recall their products – I know my skin well enough to know it’s not their fault. Just use a different brand. They’re right, it could just be one of their ingredients causing you irritation, but there are ingredients in other things that cause other people irritations, while this product is fine for them.
Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean you need to bash them, bully them and attempt to damage their reputation. Not every brand will be the same. Again, simply find one that works for you.
– A devoted Organic Care consumer 💜
Hi,
Being a beauty blogger, I try a lot of products and many don’t work for me, but none of them have caused serious harm to me. There’s a big difference between a product not working for someone and a product hurting them. I experienced extreme hair loss and open wounds on my scalp and that is a very common symptom for those who have been affected. There are people who haven’t been affected but there are a huge amount of people who have been, far too many to call this product safe. We need to think about the future people who will buy this product and also suffer because of it. I can’t with good conscience let this product stay on the shelves and find out that more people were hurt because of my inaction. I have now had hundreds of people contact me who have been harmed by these products, and only very few who haven’t been affected. Even then, those I have spoken with who weren’t affected have all supported me in getting this product taken down, even if they like it, because they too do not want to see more people harmed when it is avoidable. Any decent company would have taken the product off the shelves as soon as they were inundated with complaints. This has nothing to do with me not liking a product, and everything to do with me not wanting people to be hurt by a product that shouldn’t even be available for them to buy.
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, TAREE. For anyone else reading this, let me share some invaluable advice:
DO: Discontinue use of a product if your hair, skin, eyes etc react negatively and constant signs of irritation are present
DON’T: Just keep on trying it for months (or years) and then demand the company takes it off the shelves because you’re reacting poorly to it
DO: Shop around, experiment, and find the best product suited for your skin and hair
DON’T: Get mad because a product or brand you’re using doesn’t accommodate for you specifically
DO: Share, review and discuss experiences to enlighten others with similar cosmetic preferences and affinities to you
DON’T: Confuse anecdotal experience from a Facebook group with actual dermatological testing and scientific approval
DO: Warn others of the dangers of *persistently* using a product that aggravates or irritates your skin or hair
DON’T: *Persistently* use a product that aggravates or irritates your skin or hair
👍
Handsome : many of us did not realize this product was causing g hair irritation and hair loss.
I really fail to see how your comments help
assist and inform at all.
I deeply appreciate the OP for bringing this to my attention.
I’ve also been using this product for years and instead, it improves my hair quality; increases in volume and smooths it. My cousin, who has really thin hair began using organic care shampoos and her hair started growing really fast and is no longer thin. In addition, many of my classmates often ask me what shampoo I use and often comment on how nice my hair is, so I think the people who experienced problems with organic care products just simply have hair and scalp that do not react well with the ingredients they use. For some people, this may not work well for them, but for others it works just fine. The manufacturer’s didnt mean to harm people. Just use another product. Don’t blame the manufacturers for releasing a product that doesn’t match with your condition-it isn’t their fault. Imagine how the creators feel too, after working so hard to finally create a product, it turns out SOME people don’t do well with it and now wants them to shut down, while others want them to keep running. The point is, just don’t hate or blame companies when their product doesnt match with you- it wont solve your problem.
All you have said is true!
I have b been using organic care for a long time now too and my hair is so much better,my hair Was falling out but found that it was not the shampoo and conditioner but my Thyroid being the cause so perhaps some of these people should see their GP before baling out the product but on the other hand not all products suit everybody just as not all perfumes can be worn by everyone.😊
I too have liked using this product. I was just finding a way to order it online because a different product I have been using was giving me symptoms very similar to what’s described in this article..ironically. Just came across this post out of curiosity and that it came up on a search. I suppose everyone has their own experiences as we’re all quite unique.
well said Taree, i have used this product for many years with no problems. I agree if it doesn’t suit you of try something else. I have tried a lot of expensive hair shampoos and conditi oners that were totaly wrong for me, but I didn’t blame them. so-called influencers are a pain in the neck,
I have never had a problem with a dry or itchy scalp until using these products. I have recently stopped and my scalp is starting to feel a bit better. Great post Atlinta
Thanks lovely, I hope you find a new product that works for you xx
Thanks also Alinta. I appreciate the information.
After just three months of organic care my hair was dry, brittle and breaking and I had open sores on my scalp. The amount of hair loss was INSANE! I’m glad I found this blog to see it’s not just me. I have NEVER reacted to a product like this before.
I’ve never reacted to a product like that before either. There’s certainly something wrong with it. Sorry that you lost hair too, I hope you have found something to help with the regrowth period x
I bought the green one of this product and since I started using it my head has been extremely itchy and I have gotten lots of small pimples and scabs on my scalp. I cannot stop scratching my head!!! After reading about others having similar reactions I realised it was the shampoo and conditioner causing it, and asked my daughter how her head felt, to which she replied it was very itchy (she is 9). I checked for headline just in case, and all clear. Throwing it away and purchasing something else immediately!!!
At least your daughter is ok, some have been left unaffected but lots started having problems after a long period of use, so better to try something else for her anyway. I’ve not heard of this happening with any other product on the marke. Hopefully your scalp heals asap.
I just face timed my sister in Melbourne, I’m in Perth, and told her “I’m going bald” and that I just had blood tests done yesterday to see what is going on with my hair loss. I had a baby 5 months ago and thought when I started loosing chunks of hair that it was just hormones, but thought it was odd that it started falling out by the bucket load around 3 months and not earlier.
My sister was using this brand and asked me what shampoo are you using to which I replied the one you use, Organic Care. She said straight away to stop using it and that she had just read a post yesterday on a vegan page, I’m guessing it was this post, and that she had gone out and bought a different brand.
After reading this blog I am feeling really upset and pissed off that this product has been making my hair fall out. And I’m talking shit loads of hair!
I had been telling my best friend who is a hair dresser that my hair was falling out and when she saw me two days ago she said do you realise how bad your hair is? Its really thin and you have all this new whispy grown at the front.
I will be contacting Organic Care Monday morning and telling them how unhappy I am, understatement! Shit, I might even contact Today Tonight if there’s that many people who have had this problem and the Company is still not taking responsibility!
This product needs to be taken off the market asap.
I’m so sorry you have had bad hair loss too. I had to wear my hair in a pony tail for such a long time as the bald patches were obvious on the crown of my head. I’m giving them a couple of days to reply and I am hoping they do the right thing but if the don’t get back to me or their reply is crappy then I’ll report them and take it to the media. It can’t stay on shelves for more people to buy and react to.
i have never tried this brand before but i am happy that i read this! Thank you for sharing ! This is quite alarming!
http://www.clairetalksbeauty.com/
Hopefully it can be sorted out so no one else is affected in future
Ive used this for years and noticed a huge hair loss, will be switching to see if there’s a difference. Thanks for the info!!
No worries, I hope you find a product that works for you and you regain your hair. It’s a slow process, but mine has thankfully grown back.
Hi Alinta,
My name is Maree Gauci, I’m the General Manager at Natures Organics, we produce the Organic Care range above. I am very keen to discuss your issues personally, if you could email me your phone number at enq@naturesorganics.com.au I would be very happy to give you a call.
Maree
Hi Maree,
Thank you for getting in touch with me, I was hoping my email would be forwarded to someone who could do something about it. Unfortunately, I just had general anesthetic today so I’m out of it. I will however send you an email now so that you have my details and can call me later in the week when I am a bit more coherent – I should be able to talk on Wednesday at this rate. I am hopeful that we can resolve this issue for all those who have been affected. I will send an update to the people who have asked me to keep them updated, so that they know you have contacted me. I’ll head over to my email now to get that email sent.
Kind regards,
Alinta
I’m sorry to hear of your experience. These side effects really are quite alarming. My husband has been using their shampoo for years but luckily he hasn’t experienced any issues. Good on you for taking a stand on something you strongly believe in ♥
Thank you, I’m glad your husband hasn’t been affected.
I have just asked a large group on facebook and have so far gotten over 80+ replies from people with the same side-effects as described… definitely something wrong here 🙁
So many people have been impacted. I’m still trying to get clarification on the regulations around hair care in Aus but I have been hand balled between agencies so many times already.
Hello from Vietnam, Alinta –
I recently found Organic Care color shield shampoo and conditioner at a local Hanoi supermarket, and was sold on it’s “free” from many additives/chemicals labeling.
I’ve only used Organic Care for a couple of months, but recently sought medical attention from both a GP and a dermatologist for a mysterious onset of irritated scalp and significant hair fallout. The dermatologist firmly stated my scalp irritation was due to an allergic reaction.
I told her I had started using organic hair care products, not thinking the allergy could be from these, but she told me to change my shampoo nonetheless.
Once home from this visit, I got online to look for reviews of Organic Care, only to come across your blog and discover many sharing the exact same symptoms I’ve been experiencing.
I’m very thankful to have found this post, and absolutely agree that these products need to be pulled since such reactions are far from the healthy, care-free, hair care experience, any of us might hope for!
I’m so sorry it has happened to you too. Many of those impacted also sought professional help and were told the same thing. I’m still looking in to the regulations around hair care in Aus, but that won’t impact what is available in Vietnam. The one positive is that you have found the problem so now you can at least fix it. My hair did grow back fully, it just took a while. Extra deep conditioning treatments helped to keep the regrowing hair healthy. Hopefully your hair regrows quickly x
Oh no! I bought the green one just 3 days back, both the shampoo and conditioner. I’ve used it twice now and somehow my hair felt really soft after the wash. But, reading your review has set me on panic mode. If only I could return it; I’m having serious concerns about continuing using the product. I have extremely thin hair and can’t afford to go bald!!
It isn’t every person who is being impacted but many people thought it worked well at the beginning but over the long term started having hair loss. So it’s really up to you if you want to take the risk or not.
Hey,
Thanks for the blog post. I used this brand over 2 years ago and I had hair loss and itching/irritation around my hair line. I stopped using it and all the problems went away. But my partner has been using it for the past 2-3 months and now has irritated, flakey, dry, scabbing red skin on his scalp and hair loss.
Definitely never using these products again. Wish they would do something about it!
Ugh so sorry it happened to the two of you as well. I am hoping they will change the product but I don’t think it will happen without pressure. I’m looking to to the regulations around shampoo to see if there’s any way of getting the product tested 🙂
Hi, I came across this blog after googling this product. I have been using it for a number of months I’m Cambodia and I have significant hair loss. I also believe it is responsible for a slight bleaching of my hair and other facial sensitivities. Please do not buy this product and if it is banned in Australia, please make sure the company cannot export excess stock to the Asian market.
I used the Organic Care shampoo and conditioner for about a year then late in 2016 they introduced an ‘umproved’ formula and new packaging. Within a week my scalp suddenly became covered in scabs and cradle cap. It was so itchy and flaked all the time. My GP prescribed a medicated shampoo. It was incredibly embarrassing and stressful and took about 9 monthsto come right. It’s made it hard for me to trust accreditation when you get this sort of reaction. Great work getting the message out there!
Did anything come of your email with Maree from Organic Care?
Hi! I’ve been getting bad eczema on my fingers since using the product and just thinking about it now it may correspond to when I first started using the products! have you heard of similar from other people? 🙂
I have been using the pink Organic Care shampoo and conditioner for about a year now and haven’t had any problems at all with it. Must depend on skin type? My scalp has never really been sensitive, so maybe that why it hasn’t affected me? Strange.
I have been enjoying the organic hair products so far. It leaves my hair with vollume and lots of bounce. I love the smell and how my hair feels. My only question is how it lathers so much by using plant based ingredients.
Thank you so much for this article. I’ve just started using this over the last month and only recently have broken out on red bumps on my scalp, neck and chest area. I had my suspicions it was this shampoo and conditioner but now am convinced and will cease using it immediately. Great article, thank you very much. I wish you all the best.
Thank you, I hope you have found a better replacement.
Hi Alinta,
I just use this product twice, so far still ok 🙂
But i am curious on the result of your discussion with the GM of Natures Organic?
Please share it with us here 🙂
Thank You
I had an hour long phone call with her on the phone just a couple of weeks after this post. They won’t be recalling the product because they make too much money off of it.
Hi , thanks for posting this about this product as it helped me realising what happened to my damaged hair and very itsy scaly scalp . I’ve used the organic care shampoo for dry hair and already after the first time of using it developed this condition. I didn’t understand at first what happened to my scalp and thought maybe sweat crystals or hair lice but nothing helped. I asked my sister to have a look at my scalp and she couldn’t find lice but saw redness and scaring from scratching and asked the important question if I changed shampoo!! I told yes I just got a new product. Then she looked it up on the Internet and found your blog!! I couldn’t believe it at first that this was something more people had experienced. So glad I found out and threw shampoo in the bin. I am going to warn my community about this product and the supermarket I bought it from. This is NOT okay. I’ve NEVER had problems with sensitivity or shampoo. I am still dealing with the itsy scalp and try to get my damaged hair back to normal. It is already months like this. Thanks for posting this and helping me to stop using this terrible stuff. Elvira
I’m so sorry it happened to you too. Yes, warn everyone you can so that no one else has to go through it x
I started using organic care products 2 weeks ago (dry nourish shampoo and conditioner). After the 2nd day I began to experience severe hair loss when washing my hair. It came out in clumps and was very distressing. Now I have researched the company and came across your webpage. I wish I’d seen it before I purchased the products. I would never buy them again and am glad everyone is raising awareness of its harmful effects!
I’m so sorry it happened to you too. I hope your hair grows back quickly.
Hi Alinta,
Thank you for your post and for campaigning the company to take some responsibility. I had used the Organic Care hair care range for many years and I too developed dry, itchy, irritated scalp (which after itching) became scabs and sores on the crown part of my head. I also noticed a lot more hair was coming out when washing and brushing. I didnt even think to put two and two together to realise it would have been this product causing these scalp issues. Prior to all of this I had ALWAYS had the most healthy scalp, never experienced dandruff or irritation and my hair was also very healthy, shiny and soft. Now I feel as though my hair is weaker and dull (along with the scalp issues). Not long before I saw your post I had already switched products to A’kin Sensitive Scalp shampoo and conditioner. I feel like it has helped slightly so far, but still have lumps and bumps on my scalp and still get itchy every now and then. I appreciate your advice on what hair care products you now use and will definitely give them a try. I also feel like I have finally been able to narrow down the reason for all the scalp/hair issues I have been having, which is a good.
I also just wanted to say to all those who have posted on here saying that everyone just needs to switch products, stop using the Organic Care hair care range and to stop demanding the company takes it off the shelves etc; I dont believe it is Alinta’s aim in any way to be malicious to the company or to discredit them as an Australian brand. I believe that yes, everyone reacts differently to different products and once you realise what it is then most people are aware enough to make the changes they need to. However, (like myself) there are people out there who would never think that a completely organic, natural product could cause such damage (hence the longevity in use). I think it is whole-heartedly correct that the company be held accountable for the afflictions their product has caused. And the sheer numbers that this particular product has caused injury to, speaks for itself. You dont often hear of many other products having HUNDREDS of customers complaining about adverse affects and nothing is done by the company. Perhaps it could be as simple as a review of their ingredients? I think this information needs to be more widely spread and action of some sorts needs to occur.
Thank you for bringing light to this issue Alinta.
Regards,
Kate
Thank you for the lovely comment. I’m so sorry it happened to you too Kate. I had never had scalp issues before using this either. Unfortunately it took a long time for my scalp to heal and I’m still left with scarring that has made the area sensitive. It also took about a year before my hair started to grow through as healthy again. For a long time my hair was growing through with a crimped feel in the areas where the reaction was the worst. The company have no intention of taking the product off the shelves or changing the formula to take out the Methylisothiazolinone, which has enough studies behind it to prove that it isn’t a safe product to use – so spreading this information is really the only way more people won’t go through the same thing.
I hope you start to see more improvements soon.
Found this on 2021. I’m dissapointed when i just found your blog as i should see them earlier. The shampoo and conditioner really make my hairfalls worst. Only use like a month, i noticed my hair getting thinner and hairloss at hairline. Gonna ditch them and try something else. Thank you for this.
after I used non sls shampoo, I find out that I have severe allergies. Nature organic shampoo is in my budget and my life never been easier. Then I try another non sls brand shampoo contain citrus oil, and it cause eczema on my scalp and back neck. It turn out that my skin is too sensitive to used citrus oil. Now I’m using Organic care shampoo, and my eczema is getting better.
It’s totally fine of you didn’t like some products, but I think its better if you use more friendly approach. perhaps you and some people are having sensitive skin, plus with recent quick, extreme weather change, its make your skin easily irritated. If you are disappointed with the product, simply share your experience and thought will be enough. I’m sorry, but your title is way too strong.
I have been using this product for about 3 years (I have chemical sensitivities to soaps, shampoos, makeup, dishwashing liquid etc- some brands causing eyes to swell and severe fatigue). Organic care has been an amazing product-I have never reacted to it and have stockpiled it in case they stopped producing it. My hair is shiny, has a great smell and my hair dresser is always amazed at how much hair I have! (So no hair loss here). I am starting to panic as I can’t see the brand on our shelves here in NZ and have emailed both the organic care company and our supermarket to make sure the product is available (am waiting eagerly for a reply). I’m so sorry to hear that it has caused reactions to a number of people (being affected by a product is awful!) and am glad you have found alternatives – something that I’m afraid I won’t be able to find if this product disappears (cos trust me I’ve tried many natural organic brands).
Omg I just started googling this company as clumps of my hair has started falling and my scalp is so itchy I can’t sleep at night. I have used this for years and I never thought it was my “Organic” shampoo. I threw it out straight away. This stuff is needs to be taken off the shelves. If you go to the supermarket the shelves are packed with this stuff. So angry we all have to go through this. Has anyone taken it further, say to ACA?
Thanks for this article. I have been struggling with an awful allergic recation on my eyes, scalp and face for the last five weeks and had recently started using these products. Even though I have since stopped and started using a sensative skin shampoo and conditioner, it is good to know what was the likely culprit! I will make sure I check for Methylisothiazolinone in any product I use from now on..
Thanks for your review and warning, I will stop using the shampoo. Do you have any review on the kids 2 in 1 bath and shampoo? I have just bought it. Is it fine to just use it on body and avoid on hair? Didnt Australia goverment perform investigation on this company?
I haven’t used the product – check the ingredients for Methylisothiazolinone. I know people who reacted who have gone on to use the hair products as a body product and haven’t had issues, but I personally threw it away as the more you’re exposed to it, the more likely you are to react.
[…] and New Zealand Facebook group that this stuff is shocking for your hair. Lots of people have reported hair loss, amongst other issues – and here I was worrying that my hair just didn’t seem as healthy because of my diet […]
I’ve never had issues with my hair until I started to use this organic conditioner. I thought to myself to try organic care conditioner thinking it would be heaps good for my hair and try it out. I’ve only used it for a week and I’ve noticed I’m getting itchy scalp (so itchy!) and my hair was falling off. I was also getting itchy skin on my back and it was so annoying. I knew it was this conditioner so today I thought to stop using it and went online to see if anyone else was having this problem. I cant believe that they are still selling this product after reading so many complaints here back from last year. I see that it works for very few people that commented on this page but if more than 100 people are complaining about it then there’s seriously something wrong there. I will send them an email about my complaint.
I still get emails from people harmed by this product, so it’s very frustrating that it’s still on the market. Check anything you buy for Methylisothiazolinone, as you will react to any product with it.
Hi, I had this exact issue, my hair was usually very very thick, and after using the product for 5 months my hair was then thin and embarrassing. But I am finding I now constantly have an itchy scalp even 6 months on and still losing a little hair?
Has anyone else had this issue?
My hair was so much better as soon as I stopped scalp didn’t regulate until about a year after I stopped using it. I didn’t have all the open sores and scabbing but it was still extra sensitive for a while. Make sure you aren’t using anything else with Methylisothiazolinone in it and try to find really scalp soothing products. I’m many years out now and my scalp and hair are better than ever, so it does get better eventually.
Thanks for this article. I’ve been using organic care for 6 months and just recently started experiencing the irritation. It started on my forehead as peeling and now is all over my scalp With irritation. I’ve only had this response with typically super cheap brands so i was surprised for its median supermarket price point it could cause this. Now I have to find something to stop the irritation 🙁
Check every label for Methylisothiazolinone as you will react to any product with it in it. I hope you have found something to help your scalp.
I am very very surprised at all the reactions people have to these products. For 7 years, I have used all the organic care range, and there has been not 1 single reaction on me, no itching, scabs, hair loss etc. Nothing. But everyone else is, so that tells me this product is not good at all. I’ll finish my bottles and opt to something less aggressive.
I would be devastated if this product was removed from sale. All 5 of us in my family have been using it for more than 5 years (possibly closer to 10… I haven’t kept track). My kids have been using it exclusively since they were babies as it seemed more gently on their skin than baby products (my middle child always had eczema and this product was the best – we often used the shampoo as soap!).
Before using this, my hair was in terrible condition, no matter what product I tried. This is the only one in decades that has improved my hair condition (no matter how much money I’ve spent). All 5 of us benefit from this product.
I’m really sorry to hear the poor outcomes that others have had from this product, but I’d be devastated as mentioned if somehow this product was sabotaged to the extent that I could never be able to buy it again.
I hope you all find a positive outcome that can suit everyone involved.
Hi. I wish to discontinue this brand too… did you ever find an affordable brand without ALL the nasties?? Please ad thank you
Sorry, I haven’t been checking the comments on this post. I still use Akin and Natural Instinct hair products as they’re free from SLS, Silcones and Methylisothiazolinone. There’s a new brand at priceline from the UK called Noughty that I want to try, but none of these brands are particularly affordable. I buy at them at the priceline sales. Most cheap hair products have Methylisothiazolinone as its a cheap filler.
Unfortunately this is still being sold in Mauritius and people are still buying it for the simple reason it says Organic.
OMG thank you so much for this informative blog post. A friend of mine A few days ago told me that organic care shampoo was making people‘s hair fall out. I freaked out and thought maybe that was the reason why I’ve had such a dry flaky sore Scalp too… for many years. I decided to make my own shampoo because then I knew exactly what was in it. I won’t be going back to organic care and I can’t wait to see if my scalp gets back to normal. It would get so flaky and oily that I would shampoo my hair more! I also noticed chunks of hair would fall out in the shower, but for some reason I thought that was normal for someone with a lot of hair.
I don’t understand why people would keep using the same shampoo and conditioner after they start getting noticeable scabs on their scalp, severe itching, and their hair starts falling out in clumps! If you’re having such a severe allergic reaction over months, why would you keep using the same products? I can believe that some people are allergic to some item in their formulas but I’ve been using these for years and haven’t had a problem.
Hello Alinta, Thanks a lot for this post. I purchased this shampoo and conditioner back in February this year for my family, before traveling to them. I have been a user of Husk before this, but this was the first time I happened to spot this brand in Carrefoure here in Dubai, and I thought it was better based on the labeling and what was written on the bottles.
I used it a few times myself after that and to be honest didn’t really feel anything different except there was something different about my hair, and my head started feeling itchy, though being a guy I won’t notice or know what actually was different as a whole or if the cause of itch was this product. Then I returned to Dubai and bought another set of shampoo and conditioner for myself, and the first thing I noticed even before using the new set was my head was shedding way too much dandruff which I hadn’t seen in years. And it was more itchy than normal. But I didn’t notice anything else, nor I can be very sure if this product was indeed the cause of those symptoms but then again nothing else had ever cause these before…
Anyways, so I happened to try searching for the brand one day out of curiosity tbh, and not really because of the issues as I wasn’t really relating them to the product until this point. But then I came across this article, and everything made sense.
I wrote an email to Carrefoure customer support, explaining them the risk the product might be posing for the general user, and the behavior of the company when dealing with the feedback of the customers as listed here, and added a link to this page.
Two days, and a few calls from Carrefoure Customer Service later, and I must really appreciate them for actually taking up the issue and looking at it very seriously.
I received a call from the distributor who first said she had been selling this here for 12 years and even using it herself, and she will take it up with the manufacturer. Later she called again, and requested me if I could contact Carrefoure and help her because they were removing all of the stock from their stores. And now, even got another call from the manager of the distributing company, requesting the same.
Though I feel sorry for the distributing company and any loss they might incur, but I guess this is better for the general user. And I guess the product might not be harmful for everyone but it definitely does pose a threat for some, and that’s enough of a risk which the manufacturer should’ve already taken care of and addressed.
This will definitely push the manufacturer to wake up and look at what they are doing and how they are dealing with the feedback of their consumers.
Thanks for writing this article, and thanks for providing me and others with the information.
This might just prove to be the turning point on how this manufacturer does things from here on.
Hello..which shampoo do you use now?
Hi,
I use the A’kin wheat protein shampoo and conditioner, Natural Instinct Moisture Surge shampoo and conditioner or the Noughty To The Rescue Moisture Surge shampoo and conditioner.
What do you recommend using in place of this?! I have oily and thin hair and I struggle so much finding a good shampoo
Different people have different needs so what works for one person not necessarily will work for another one! If things dont work for you – simply stop using them and look for ones that do 😉
Personally I’ve been using organic care shampoo and conditioner for a long time now and I absolutely love it – finally Im able to brush my hair without pulling bunches of it, its smoother, looks better and smells amazing.
Besides that Im happy I finally found cruelty free cosmetics in a good price, unfortunately most of them are pretty pricey and in certain countries hard to find.
I was using this product for 4 years before I noticed !!!!
Every shower I would have handfuls and handfuls of hair come out, at the time my hair was long blonde and more than half way down my back. I had perfect hair, every hairdresser I went to would complain to me how easy it was to look after (I only let it dry naturally).
Then one day, I noticed myself in the reflection, I had a 50c BALD PATCH in the front centre of my hair! I’m not sure how I didn’t notice it before then, maybe because it was so gradual????
A quick google and fortunately other ladies have voiced their concerns. So grateful! Otherwise I probably would have waved it off like you too.
But I’ve been off it now for 4 years and my hair is STILL growing back, the bald patch is about 80% back, but my hair is thin and wispy (dramatic change from what it was). I’m devastated.
Thank you for sharing.
Yeah, I used it for a long time before realising and there has been permanent damage done to the areas of my scalp that were effected the most. There is a product from Can Gro called Hero Hair that I have seen people have success with. I reviewed the long lashes and bold brows products from them and I’m test out the hero hair one in the new year. That could be an option for you. I hope you find something that helps.
PS. I LOVVVVVVE shampoo with purpose.
It’s a bar shampoo, vegan, cruelty free and a shampoo & conditioner in one for $15! It leaves your hair luscious and never oily. It’s amazing. Seriously recommend!
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll look it up 🙂
Did you see they changed the formula without the MIT?
“ Apart from the move to clear recyclable packaging and new design, Recently we have changed the formulas for the Organic Care range, we have made it a more premium range that will go further, the ingredients used are more powerful in cleansing and conditioning which means you need to use less. (so your bottles will last you longer for the same price) the formulations changes are:
Shampoos:
• Clear formulation, thinner gel
• Higher organic natural extract content
• Creamier and Richer foam
• Reduced the amount of potential irritants
• Less silicon build-up, with water soluble silicon
• Improved preservative system without using MIT/CMIT
• A more stable formulation.
Conditioners:
• Higher organic natural extract content
• Thicker and Richer consistency
• More concentrated (use less for the same conditioning effect)
• Better and longer lasting hair conditioning
• Improvement in hair softness with less unruly hair flyaways
• Improved preservative system without using MIT/CMIT.”
”
Hi..really as u say..this organic care shampoo is crap..I had thick lovely hair..I started using this shampoo and my hair started dropping so much..and develop itchy scalp.. like u say the company has to be stopped and sued..
And many people have to be made aware of this horrible product..just today I realized.. I have been losing hair due to this product
I’ve been using their hair, shower wash & hand wash for years l’ve never had any problems at all with their hair products, or any of the others I have thick soft long glossy hair & I’m in my 60s.
I bought normal balance last weekend. Used twice this week, my scalp started to become irritating and itching. I felt much better after washing with other brand shampoos. I did give a try yesterday as well to see if gets better. But still the same. Not happy.
I absolutely love Organic Care products and have never experienced any issues in the many, many years I have been using their shampoo and conditioners. It leaves my hair super soft, glossy, easy to manage and my ends conditioned. I am sad they stopped making the volumising one as that was the bomb for my hair type.
People have different experiences with products, as evident from the comments on this blog. While some people have had a negative experience this doesn’t mean the Organic Care products should be discontinued, some people may be more sensitive to certain ingredients and for others Organic Care is perfect for them.
What I really don’t understand is why people would continue using the products for months or years when experiencing hair loss or scalp issues.
To Jayden B,
I have used twice – shampoo with normal balance ( aloe Vera Ginseng). both time caused my head scalp itching. It gradually got better after washed with other branded shampoos and also Called my doctor and took recommended meds to stop the itchiness and soreness. I am definitely not impressed!
I have incredibly sensitive skin, to the point that even Lush and Sukin products cause redness, itchiness and pain to my skin. I know a lot of people swear by these brands and often suggest these to me for sensitive skin.
Organic Care shampoo has caused no irritation to my scalp in over 5 years. It’s one of the few hair care products my skin can tolerate and I personally do not want to see these removed from the shelves as it severely limits my options, and I’m sure I may not be the only one.
Some products affect people in varying degrees, doesn’t mean you go after the company. I never went after Sukin or Lush as I know a lot of people are content with these brands and I’m an exception. Just let them know your issue, avoid the product(s) and seek medical advice if the problem persists. It could be contact dermatitis from nut oils or even aloe vera. Just need to investigate to see what ingredients you cannot tolerate. Just because something is natural does not mean you won’t react to it, my being sensitive to Lush and Sukin being a good example.
All the best!
I am using Sukin right now and couple years back I did use Sukin shampoo and other organic shampoos as well, had never had any problems so far. But I used this organic care shampoo (normal balance), It did cause my scalp itching and very itching . I did ask help from doctor and took medication. If the company did get feedback from customers about complaining about the problems, then should put a label of reminding so when people buy it, they know it may cause some issues on skin. If I knew it, I won’t touch it either!
I’m so glad I‘ve came across this post. I’ve been using this product for the past 6 months and started to notice something straight away. My hair thinned out, I lost a lot hair and my scalp was also sore from my hair roots. I didn’t know why or what’s going on. So, funny enough the universe brought me across to this page. Thank you for your post. Definitely have stopped using this product and will spread the word.
Now I need to focus on repairing the damage this product has caused.
OH MY GOSH. I lost so much hair – like tons of it. It would billow on my shoulders and get in my food when I ate. I had sores all over my head. I thought it was a delayed reaction to adult chicken pox 3 months prior. I never made the connection. In fact I was googling where I could find some as I hadn’t seen it in Coles when I saw this article. It just didn’t occur to me at all that it would be my shampoo. Just goes to show. Thank you for the article.
wowzers, the same product must still be on the shelf. about 1 year ago i moved into a unit and when i moved in i bought this product and used it for about 6 months probably say couple months in noticed hair falling out and my scalp was itchy. didnt connect it to the shampoo…was getting so bad tho just running my fingers through my hair and like 5-10 strands of hair would come out every time. my hairline receded at the speed of light. i put it all down to stress and the situation i was in. moved out of the place i was in and threw the shampoo in the bin on the way out. my hairs been repairing itself since, been using my normal shampoo that ive used since i was a kid (modere) and my hair isnt falling out anymore. i seriously cannot believe how destructive it was. they need to be stopped. its only the other day i was able to connect the dots that it was this shampoo that was the only thing different in my life at that time.