Unfortunately for Monat, the love hasn’t been shared by all of their clients. Many hair enthusiasts have tried their products and had only negative feedback to give. Many reviews cited that Monat’s products caused scalp irritation, flaking, breakage, and even hair loss. Other consumers have gone as far as laying formal complaints against the beauty brand, but are they really all that bad? continue reading this article to find out.
Monat Overview
Monat was founded in 2004 by Venezuelan Ray Urdaneta, who after immigrating to America was faced with many financial difficulties and thus decided to start his own business. Urdaneta drew his inspiration from his mom who was a professional hairdresser, and he co-founded the cosmetic brand with the help of Luis Urdaneta.
The brand is meant to appeal to an older audience in the upper-middle class, someone that can afford to spend $40-$100 on skin and hair care. Monat is also positioned as a luxury haircare and skincare brand that prides itself in providing premium formulas with the best naturally based ingredients such as organic sugar cane and sunflower oil. Monat also claims its products are free from harmful ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and animal-derived ingredients.
Monat Reviews
The Products
Monat has 3 different ranges of products, namely, skin care products, hair care products, and pet care products. Below are a few samples of each range:
Hair
Rejuvenique Oil Intensive Shampoo – Contains a special blend of 13 Monat ingredients that help to revitalize the scalp, roots, and dull-looking hair. Intense Repair Treatment – This product adds shine, volume, and enhances the texture and youthfulness of the hair. Studio 1 Blow-out cream – This heat-protecting styling cream is designed to save time during styling and prolong your style for longer without the use of silicones.
Skin
Be Gentle Creamy Cleanser – This is a hydrating delicate everyday facial cleanser that nourishes the skin. Berry Refined Scrub – Contains AHAs and cranberry seeds to help brighten and remove rough patches on the skin. Rewind Age Control Nectar – A fast-absorbing serum that hydrates and delays the sign of aging.
Pet
Gentle Cleansing Dog Wash – This mild pH-balanced shampoo is formulated to eliminate odor and dirt. Deodorizing Spray – This lightweight spray is perfect for in-between baths to kill odor and bacteria.
The Ingredients
Some of their specialty ingredients that have brought Monat all this fame are:
Rejuvenique: This is a special blend of 13+ natural plant extracts and essential oils that are unique to Monat, claimed to be good for both skin and hair due to the high omega fatty acids and antioxidants concentration. Capixyl – This is an active ingredient in Monat products that contains red clover extract known for helping promote hair growth, strengthen, and thicken the hair. Procataline – This is a uniquely blended antioxidant present in Monat products and contains pea extract, and is meant to help protect the hair from environmental damage and keep it looking young and healthy. Crodasorb – This ingredient is meant to help the hair retain its natural pigmentation as well as keep the strands strong and protected.
Monat Reviews Analysis
Approximately 2750 people went and reviewed Monat’s products on Trustpilot, and according to their reviews, Monat products are rated 2.9 stars out of 5. Amongst the reviews these were the common Pros and Cons listed about Monat’s products:
Pros
Monat products were complimented for being great for long-term use on over-processed, dyed, or bleached hair. The products are also said to be great for preventing split ends and thus allowing users to go for longer periods without needing to trim.
Cons
Some customers claimed Monat products cause their hair to become dry and straw-like. Products cause adverse scalp reactions and hair breakage. Other skin care products caused scabs and even bleeding. The process of returning products is difficult.
In 2015, the first of numerous lawsuits against Monat began to surface. Many of the lawsuits were against their haircare range and alleged that the products caused scalp inflammation, burning, hair breakage, and even bald spots. These separate lawsuits were then put together into one case that was litigated in Florida.
The Attorney General did not perform a ruling on whether or not Monat was wrong, but rather addressed Monat’s false advertising claims. Having not disproved or approved the products scientifically, the attorney General ordered the company to sign an agreement that stated that they would refund all clients who felt they were misled by the company’s claims. Furthermore, Monat was ordered to remove and not make certain claims in its advertising material in the future.
Products that were linked to hair loss include the Intense Repair Treatment Shampoo, Intense Repair Treatment Leave-in Conditioner, and the Rejuvenique Oil Intensive Treatment. However, Monat denies that any of its products are unsafe when used as per package instructions. This leaves many consumers uncertain about whether or not the products are safe to use.
The truth is, for most people Monat products are probably safe to use. There is no conclusive research that truly shows that Monat products cause hair loss, however, that does not discount all the cases where it did cause adverse reactions. In conclusion, anyone considering using Monat products should do their own research on the ingredients and they should check for any allergens because it is possible to develop an allergic reaction to a product even if is deemed natural or safe. Users should also follow the provided product guidelines to achieve the best results.
