NAD Takes on Hair Supplement Claims

The National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau has recommended that Brock Beauty, Inc., discontinue certain advertising claims for its Hairfinity Hair Vitamin dietary supplement, including claims that the product “promote[s] faster growing, longer, thicker, stronger hair.”

NAD is an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation. It is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
 
The advertising at issue was challenged by Lifes2Good, Inc., the maker of competing hair health dietary supplements. In response to NAD’s inquiry, the advertiser asserted that it had voluntarily and permanently discontinued the following claims:
 
• “Clinically proven to decrease number of hairs shed and increase hair growth.”
• “Our B-Vitamin complex nourishes and supports a healthy scalp and hair growth.”
• “The exclusive Capilsana complex provides a special sulfur and 18 amino acids that encourage healthy hair growth.”

NAD noted in its decision that the advertiser said it would modify its “clinically proven” claim to state “results of a 2013 study show that Hairfinity decreases the number of hairs shed and increases hair growth.”

NAD considered the modified version of the claim and determined that the advertiser’s evidence did not support claims that the product decreases the number of hairs shed or increases hair growth.

NAD also determined that the modified claims – that Hairfinity “supports,” “nourishes,” or “encourages healthy hair growth” – conveyed the broad message that Hairfinity spurs hair growth consumers would not otherwise experience, a message that was not supported by the evidence in the record.
 
NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue claims that the product “nourishes and supports healthy hair growth,” and “encourages healthy hair growth.” However, NAD noted that the advertiser would be able to support a more limited claim regarding the role that the biotin in Hairfinity plays in “supporting” consumers’ existing hair growth and maintenance.
 
NAD found that the claims “Healthy hair from the inside out” and “formulated with hair specific nutrients to nourish your hair from the Inside Out,” conveyed the message that the product is a dietary supplement meant to be ingested and that it is designed to provide nutrients needed for “healthy” hair, a message that was supported. Finally, NAD found that the advertiser’s claim that its product promotes “more vibrant hair” was puffery not requiring substantiation.
 
Brock Beauty, in its advertiser’s statement, said the company “agrees to comply with NAD’s recommendations.”