An ingredient in Olaplex has been linked to infertility, as well as being potentially harmful to foetuses.
One of the brand’s best selling hair products, Olaplex No.3, is said to contain an ingredient that is due to be banned under EU legislation for being “reprotoxic”.
This means the product could have adverse effects on the reproductive system and on the development of unborn babies.
Olaplex is an at-home and in-salon rinse-off treatment which works to repair and strengthen bonds in the hair structure.
It's widely considered a “miracle” product for its ability to revive damaged, coloured and bleached hair.
The “Hair Perfector”, which the brand suggests users should use between one and three times a week, still contains “butylphenyl methylpropional” or “lilial” in recently-purchased bottles - a “reprotoxic” fragrance.
The ingredient is also present in Olaplex No.2, commonly used in hair salons alongside colour treatments.
Because of this new classification, all products containing lilial must be removed from shelves by 1st March 2022 in EU countries and Northern Ireland, while the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) has confirmed that a ban in Great Britain is expected to follow suit.
Although it’s understood that the ingredient will be removed from the product in time for the March legislation to come into effect in the EU and Northern Ireland, the product is still being sold in the UK with the EU-banned ingredient still included.
Tyla found that the fragrance is still listed on many online beauty stores including Beauty Bay, ASOS, Feel Unique and Space NK, as the ingredient is still yet to be made illegal in Britain.
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Users of the brand have since taken to social media to urge fellow Olaplex stans to “check their bottles” if they’re worried about the product.
Dr Gareth Nye, a lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology at Chester Medical School has told LADbible that any affects which this product has had on users' fertility tend to go unnoticed "until you attempt to conceive".
"Unfortunately for women, any changes in fertility won't be present until you attempt to conceive," the pregnancy and endocrinology expert said.
"You may notice changes to your menstrual cycle or usual bleeding. In any case if a women does notice a change, it should be checked by a doctor regardless of whether you've used this product or not as it may be a sign of other conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome or cancer."
A hairstylist has also weighed in on the situation, telling LADbible that they’ve “never had any problems” with the product.
Bana Chowdhury at The Cutting Room in Surrey told LADbible: “Hair salons mainly use Olaplex one and two and number two has got the same ingredient which is mentioned [as being “reprotoxic”] but to be fair, we’ve never had any problems.
“I’m very pleased with Olaplex, personally as a hairdresser, we can see the differences and the clients who are using 1 and 2, they’ve never had any problems.”
But in terms of “home-use” with Olaplex No.3, Bana thinks the issues could arise “depending” on “how they’re using it”.
OLAPLEX have said in a statement: “While lilial was previously used as a fragrance in the OLAPLEX No. 3 Hair Perfector, it was never an active or functional ingredient.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we proactively removed lillial from our No.3 Hair Protector globally and have not sold products using this ingredient in the UK or EU since January of 2022.”
Ingredient In Olaplex Linked To Infertility And Harmful To Foetuses - LADbible
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