DevaCurl Product Update

To any of our guests or customers who are wondering about the recent DevaCurl product reviews circulating online, check out their company statement below:

 

To our Devoted Deva Community,

Over two decades ago, DevaCurl was born from conversations with people like you and from our salons and stylists about what you wanted and needed to embrace your curls. As a result, our community has grown to include millions of Devas around the world who use our products every day. When that conversation includes product and safety discussions, we are as engaged as you are. We are committed to providing the information you need to continue to use DevaCurl with confidence.

From the beginning, all of our formulas are subject to rigorous and thorough testing such as stability, microbiological testing and repeat patch testing before DevaCurl allows any product to be manufactured. During manufacturing, a variety of testing is conducted on each batch of a DevaCurl product before it is sent out to salons and customers. This includes testing for pH, viscosity, fragrance, appearance and microbiological testing to ensure our products meet strict internal quality assurance standards and regulatory requirements before they reach the market.

Because some of our community have recently asked more questions about some of our products we have conducted additional testing at the manufacturer and warehouse level. In addition, we worked with an independent third-party toxicologist to verify the safety of these formulas. All these tests verified there are no safety issues with our products.

We don’t speculate on why some people are attributing the challenges with their curls to our products. As part of our ongoing commitment to product safety and the satisfaction of our Deva Community, we are conducting additional testing with an independent party. Please share your experiences with us at customercare@devacurl.com.

We will go above and beyond to help anyone on their curl journey.

Your DevaCurl Family

Deva FAQ

General

What could cause problems with hair and scalp health?

As with any haircare product, every situation is unique. No two people have the same hair or scalp, and different individuals may have different experiences with the same products or ingredients. If you have a negative reaction we advise you to immediately discontinue use and consult a physician.

Many factors may determine hair and scalp health.

The FDA has acknowledged that “cosmetic products can provoke allergic reactions in some people. Many people suffer from allergies and anyone at any age can develop allergies.” https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/allergens-cosmetics

In addition, the American Academy of Dermatology Association identifies many health conditions that could lead to hair loss. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/causes/18-causes

 

What should I do if I experience hair or scalp problems?

As with any cosmetic or personal care product, if you have a negative experience (such as itchy scalp) that you think may be related to use of DevaCurl products, you should immediately stop using it. If you experience hair loss, you should contact your healthcare provider or dermatologist.

 

Where can I learn more about hair and scalp health?

Many factors determine hair and scalp health. Please find below resources which may be helpful:

American Academy of Dermatology here: www.aad.org

Find a board-certified dermatologist near you here: https://find-a-derm.aad.org

 

If you are outside of the US or Canada, please contact your local health care provider to learn more about hair and scalp health.

 

Should I stop using your products?

All of our products are safe to use and you can continue to use them with confidence. As with any cosmetic or personal care product, if you have a negative experience (such as itchy scalp) that you think may be related to use of DevaCurl products, you should immediately stop using it. If you experience hair loss, you should contact your healthcare provider or dermatologist.

 

Are you considering a recall?

No. Based on all the evidence we have – which includes independent testing of our products – we stand by the quality and safety of our products.

Formula

Have you reformulated any products?

As is common in the hair care industry, periodically we make minor updates to some ingredients in a small number of products. We do this to improve quality and enhance the performance of the product or to comply with the latest regulatory requirements.

We know that ingredients are very important to the curl community, so we publish all ingredients on our product labels in compliance with the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration. As such, any ingredient updates are reflected directly on product packaging. You should always refer to the ingredient list on the product package that you receive for the most up to date and accurate list of ingredients.

 

Why are there differences in the color or thickness of certain products?

We use some natural ingredients, such as extracts and oils, in our products. Small amounts of air can interact with these ingredients, causing oxidization. This natural process can cause the product’s color and thickness to change over time. These changes do not affect the product’s safety or quality.

 

Can your products change hair color?

No. DevaCurl products are not formulated with any ingredients which could cause changes to hair color.

 

Have any of your formulas been adulterated?

No. Our products are not adulterated and the FDA prohibits the distribution of cosmetics which are adulterated. We do not formulate DevaCurl products with ingredients which are harmful to consumers under normal use and we impose stringent quality control standards on our manufacturers to ensure the safety of our products.

The US Food and Drug Administration prohibits the distribution of cosmetics which are "adulterated." Under FDA regulations, a cosmetic is considered adulterated if: it contains a substance which may make the product harmful to consumers under customary conditions of use; if it contains a filthy substance; if it is manufactured or held under insanitary conditions where it may have become contaminated with filth, or may have become harmful to consumers; or if it is not a hair dye and it contains a non-permitted color additive.

 

Ingredients

Does DevaCurl use high quality ingredients?

Yes. We have not and do not compromise on quality of ingredients to decrease costs. Our products are designed to be nourishing and hydrating for every curl type. However, as is common in the hair care industry, from time to time we may update certain ingredients, such as, preservative systems or fragrance, to improve quality, enhance the performance of the product or to comply with the latest regulatory requirements.

 

Why are preservatives used in DevaCurl products?

Preservatives are used to keep cosmetic products free from the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds during its normal usage cycle.

We use approved, effective preservatives that have been comprehensively assessed by the FDA and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), as well as our own independent clinical safety testing. We monitor emerging scientific research and regulatory developments to ensure our formulations remain non-toxic.

 

Do you use formaldehyde to preserve your products?

We do not use formaldehyde as a preservative in any of our products.

As is common in the hair care and cosmetics industry, we use preservatives that are considered to be "formaldehyde donors.” These include diazolindinyl urea, dimethyl-dimethylhydantoin (also referred to as DMDM Hydantoin) and Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate. They are non-toxic ingredients; in fact, they are present in foods such as apples and pears as well as within our own bodies.

Formaldehyde donors slowly release very low levels – less than the regulatory limits – of formaldehyde throughout the shelf-life of products to protect them from the growth of yeast, bacteria, and molds.

The US Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel and Europe’s Scientific Community on Consumer Safety have both confirmed that formaldehyde donors are safe to use in cosmetic products. The following products have never been formulated with formaldehyde donor preservative systems -- Low Poo Delight; One Condition Delight; Ultra Defining Gel; Super Stretch; Melt Into Moisture; Buildup Buster; Wash Day Wonder; DevaFresh; Wave Maker; Leave In Decadence; Deep Sea Repair; Super Mousse; No Comb Detangling Spray; Flexible Hold Hairspray; and High Shine Multi-Benefit Oil.

 

What is phenoxethynol?

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most common preservatives used in cosmetic products – it keeps products free from the growth of bacteria, yeasts and mold during their life cycle. Phenoxyethanol has a proven track record as a safe and effective preservative. It also occurs naturally in green tea and chicory.

The US FDA and Europe’s Scientific Community on Consumer Safety have both confirmed that phenoxyethanol is safe for use as a preservative at levels up to 1%. The amount of phenoxyethanol used in our products is below these regulatory safety standards and is safe.

 

What is sodium hydroxide?

Sodium hydroxide is a commonly used ingredient found in a variety of beauty, haircare and baby care products.

It is safely used to stabilize the pH of some of our formulas. The small amount included in our products is below regulatory safety standards and has been proven to be harmless to hair.

For comparison, sodium hydroxide could be used in the DevaCurl product line at 0.01% and a typical relaxer will have greater than 3%.

 

Why do you use fragrance in Devacurl products?

We use fragrance in our products to enhance your hair care experience, delivering fresh, clean, and luxurious curls.

Our fragrances are inspired by the natural ingredients in our formulas and they always comply with International Fragrance Research Association (IFRA) global safety standards. IFRA standards ban or set limits and criteria for the safe use of certain ingredients based on scientific evidence and consumer insights.

 

How do you know your manufacturers are not changing the formulas?

We work with a select group of trusted manufacturing partners. All DevaCurl products developed or manufactured by these partners must meet our strict product specifications and quality assurance procedures and are subject to rigorous testing before being released into the market.

 

Do DevaCurl products release carcinogenic vinyl chloride?

No. Vinyl chloride is a by-product that may be created during the production of PVC plastics. DevaCurl does not use PVC plastics in our cosmetic packaging.

 

Are there ingredients in your products which could cause hair loss?

No. Our products do not cause hair loss because they do not penetrate the scalp or affect the hair bulb.

 

Testing

Are DevaCurl Products safe to use?

Yes. All DevaCurl products are safe to use. Our products have gone through rigorous testing and adhere to all relevant regulations for product safety before they reach the market.

All our products meet the safety requirements of the US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), the EU Scientific Committee on Cosmetics Safety (SCCS) and Health Canada.

 

What tests do you do to ensure that your products don't cause hair damage or scalp irritation?

We perform tensile break strength tests and dry repeated grooming studies to evaluate the effect of DevaCurl products on hair breakage and the strength of internal hair structure. These tests confirm that after treatment with the tested DevaCurl products there is no increase in breakage or compromised hair fibers.

Human repeat patch tests and 48-hour patch tests are performed to evaluate the irritation and allergy potential of our products. In repeat patch tests, product is applied multiple times to the skin over the course of 3 weeks. In 48-hour patch tests, varying concentrations of product are applied to the skin over a 48-hour period. Repeated patch testing showed no skin irritation or allergic contact sensitization across all of our products. These tests results are validated by a Board Certified Dermatologist.

 

Is DevaCurl conducting tests on returned products?

To ensure the safety of our products after they have reached the market, we also perform additional scientific testing, which may include testing products that have been returned to us, products held at our manufacturers or products on shelves.

 

Under what conditions do you test products?

As part of our robust development and manufacturing process, we test every product formula under a variety of conditions they might experience before they reach our customers – for example, sitting for long hours under heated lights (like in a retail store), and being shaken or squeezed while being transported. We also perform micro-challenge testing on all of our products to ensure that our preservative system protects them from the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds throughout its shelf life. These tests ensure that DevaCurl products are safe for use in real life conditions, including high temperatures and/or high humidity (such as, after a hot shower).

All of our products are cruelty free – we do not test any of our products or ingredients on animals.

 

Can you explain the formula testing that happens at each step of product development?

Our products go through a lot before they get to you to ensure they meet strict quality and safety requirements.

Performance Testing: Every new product formula starts with a thorough evaluation to ensure the product achieves the best performance for curls. Our headquarters is one block from our Devachan salon in Soho so there is constant interaction with stylists, clients and customers to test and validate for quality and performance.

Stability Testing: This test involves placing the formula in extreme environmental conditions for a period of 90 days. These conditions vary in temperature and light levels to simulate what the product may be exposed to during its life cycle and ensure its stability.

Microbiological Challenge Testing: This test involves exposing products to bacteria to ensure the ingredients are doing their job to keep the product safe from contamination. We use non-toxic, effective preservatives to keep the product (and you) safe.

HRIPT (Human Repeat Insult Patch Test): This test is performed on people’s skin to test for irritation and allergy potential to confirm that it’s safe for use. This is reviewed and approved by a Dermatologist.

Ocular Testing: This test is to ensure our product formulas are not harmful to the eyes. The Epiocular Eye Irritation Test is performed by MaTek Corporation, an FDA registered lab. Conducted on non-living tissue, this test predicts eye irritation potential without testing on animals.

 

Can you explain the manufacturing testing that happens at each step of product development?

Manufacturing testing happens at each stage of the product development process.

pH: All formulas are measured with a pH meter to determine the pH of the product and confirm that it is within that product's specification.

Batch Evaluation: For every DevaCurl product, before each batch is released for distribution to salons, retailers, or customers, the product is evaluated and tested for appearance, odor, pH, viscosity and passes additional microbiological testing.

Packaging Compatibility: This test confirms that no safety or quality problems are created by the interaction of the formula and its packaging over a period of several months at extreme conditions.

 

Manufacturing and Packaging

What is your packaging made from?

DevaCurl does not use any toxic plastics in any of our packaging. Most of our bottles are made from high density polyethylene and can be recycled after use. All of our tubes, jars and most of our closures are made from either polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which are also recyclable. Our hairspray can is made of aluminum and is recyclable.

To ensure there are no safety or quality issues, we conduct packaging compatibility to determine if any interactions occur between the formula, the container, and the external environment - including adsorption of product constituents into the container, corrosion, leaching, and effectiveness of the container in protecting the contents from atmospheric oxygen and/or water vapor.

 

Why don’t all of your products have a bottle seal?

Like many personal care brands, we do not include bottle seals on our products as applicable regulations do not require them.

 

Did you change manufacturers when Henkel bought DevaCurl?

No, we have not changed any manufacturers since we were acquired by Henkel.

 

How are DevaCurl products stored after manufacturing?

After our products are manufactured, they are stored at our logistics partner before being delivered to our customers. Our products are stored in a warehouse at an ambient temperature based on industry standards and confirmed by our testing protocols.

 

Where is DevaCurl manufactured?

All of our products, other than our tools and accessories, are manufactured in the USA. Our DevaTowel and DevaDryer are manufactured in China.

 

 

DevaCurl has been working non-stop to get to the bottom of the issues customers have been experiencing. They have conducted further testing and investigation, you can find their results here.

Still have questions? Feel free to email our customer service team at customerservice@chatters.ca! 

Still looking for a new curl line to try? Ouidad or Mizani at your service. We can help you find your curl care hero products to bring life into your curls!