OGX Hair Product Bottles Are Nearly Half Empty!

~ Joseph Kellner

A class action lawsuit claims OGX products are sold in opaque containers that do not reasonably inform consumers of the actual amount of product inside. OGX sells a variety of hair and body care products, including shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and styling products. Plaintiff Silvia Garcia filed the OGX class action lawsuit on Aug. 3 in California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. According to Garcia, OGX hair products are sold in containers that are up to half empty, deceiving consumers into paying for empty space. The class action lawsuit argues that the company’s packaging is systematically misleading, representing the product as adequately filled when it contains an unlawful amount of empty space, also known as “slack-fill.”

The front of the Product’s packaging does not include any information that would reasonably apprise Plaintiff of the quantity of product relative to the size of the container, such as a fill line. Garcia argues Vogue International under-fills its OGX products to save money and deceive consumers into purchasing them over competitors’ products. The class action lawsuit claims that Vogue International’s slack-fill scheme harms consumers and competitors who have implemented labeling changes to alert consumers to the true amount of product in each container. The plaintiff is suing for violations of California’s consumer protection laws and seeks certification of the class action, as well as damages, restitution, disgorgement, fees, costs, and a jury trial. The lawsuit is Garcia v. Vogue International LLC, Case No. 3:25-cv-01987, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. More to come!

Working For Nothing In 2024, NOTHING!

~ Joseph Kellner

I once listen to a gentleman who was black say to me “I’m still living in slavery”. That was about in 1990 and I was living in Ft. Lauderdale working as a hairdresser. Life in my profession was hard and you really, really had to marry the profession. To be successful. Time went by and I began to really have a good experience in the profession. I had my own business, I went to advanced training twice a year for a week at a time. And practiced and practiced all along the course of my profession. I went to makeup school and bought a camera. And started taking photo’s of my work and as time went by a lot of my work appeared in magazines. Especially in Europe. I really spread out my wings to embrace the fashion world and adopted wardrobe in my photo-shoots.

Money was no problem it was always flowing. My wife and I bought house, beautiful house I may say. Payed our debts and put my son in good schools. Mind you there was a price to pay, I never seen the sun rise or set for many years. I do well in my profession. But no it is 2024 and a lot of private business are closed. Especially since we had COVID which destroyed small business. Leaving employment opportunity only at the large corporations in the beauty industry. Which you can no longer make a living at anymore.

Now it all about them, the corporations and only them. I think back at what that black man once told me that he was still living in slavery. NOW EVERYONE is in slavery, corporate slavery. Which means for the side of the hairdresser in the industry you will get what they give you. And alone that is financial poverty. I am starting my third documentary and in doing so I see the break up of the beauty industry. Employment is high and pay is low. So low they will only give you commission. A very low commission. With no salary or benefits. And if you do get benefits you will not have a paycheck left.

I came acrossed a Job post for the Eforea spa at Hilton Orlando on indeed.com. Here is what they are offering you now starting off as a hairdresser at there multi-million dollar hotels for employment.

Full job description

Cosmetologist, Eforea Spa at Hilton Orlando

Set over 26 acres, near the major theme parks and International Drive, stands the beautiful We are looking to welcome a Cosmetologist to the team!

Rate of Pay: $5. 63/Hr (30% commission and 18% gratuity)

Schedule: Potential Shift (10AM-6PM) – Need Full flexibility and Availability

As a Cosmetologist, you would be responsible for providing professional hair care and treatments, nail treatments, and facials to guests in the hotel’s continuing effort to deliver outstanding guest service and financial profitability. Specifically, you would be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards: etc, etc, etc.

Now take the time to think for yourself will this rate of pay allow you to pay your bills.

Really think about it.

If You Don’t Get Paid. Why Stay?

~ Joseph Kellner

I’m sure this post is going to cause a war between salon owners and salon employees, but these things need to be said. These are my opinions and I’m sure a lot of people (mostly salon owners) will disagree with me, but the way this industry is run is a complete joke. Currently, the “standard” compensation method in many salons is “commission-only.” Some weeks, your paycheck (when averaged against the hours you’ve worked) may end up far less than minimum wage and some weeks you’ll make considerably more than minimum wage

. In either case, in most salons, you’re expected to sit around in empty salons, do laundry, clean floors, answer phones, and perform a whole litany of other menial tasks that fall far outside your job description as a nail technician or hair stylist–tasks you may not be getting compensated to do. Most American workers are covered by the FLSA (the Fair Labor Standards Act), which is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. The FLSA dictates that if you are a commission-only employee, your paycheck (when averaged into hourly pay for a two week pay period) must equal or exceed the prevailing minimum wage. If it doesn’t, the employer must make up the difference.

The FLSA doesn’t care what you’re doing at work. If you’re there at the request of your boss, you need to be getting compensated. If your employer requires you to sit in the salon and wait for business, they should be paying you.Whether you’re folding towels, sweeping the floors, answering the phones etc. Too many of you are being treated as servants. You’re told that you have to “pitch in” and “do your share” and “be part of the team.” It is one thing to clean up after yourself and help out your coworkers, it is an entirely different thing to work for free.

It costs an owner nothing to fill a salon with bodies and tell them to “sit and wait.” I know of salon owners who have never paid for reception services or cleaning services. Why would they when they can order their stylists do it for free? Some salon owners have even gone so far as to intentionally sabotage an employee’s books so they’ll be available to run the front desk, assist, or clean. These owners will keep their salons full of employees because they aren’t paying anyone hourly. It doesn’t matter to them that each of their workers is barely making enough money to pay their mortgages because the owners are simply collecting income from them. There’s no risk of loss involved, so they hire indiscriminately.

Salon are normally full of employees who spend every day sitting around, waiting to build their book–yet, the owner still hires until all the empty stations are full. Everyone in the salon is unhappy. The senior stylists and techs are frustrated because they haven’t built yet and are having to share the limited walk-in business with several new people. Every commission-based employee knows that a new stylist often means a pay cut for everyone in the salon.

You cannot point the finger at your team and blame them for their lack of income. You are the captain of the ship. Your leadership determines whether or not the salon succeeds. Every salon has an employee or two who consistently under-performs due to their own inabilities, but if every single one of your team members are floundering, the problem is with you; not them. You are failing them as a leader and you’re failing your business.

MORE TO COME

TJ Maxx Sells Returned Used Beauty Products!

~ Joseph Kellner

Bargain stores are known for selling name-brand beauty products for a fraction of the original price. But what if our pursuit of a bargain comes at a much higher cost than we thought? Allegedly, it’s believed that these stores don’t trash out these used items. But instead, they just put it back on the shelf for the next customer to purchase. A customer told me, she bought three “untouched” beauty products—two Sephora eye shadow palettes and Truly Beauty’s Moon Jelly face mask—tampered with them at home, then attempted to return the items to see if the store would resell them.

In the interview she told me that when she walked up there, and I told them that I wanted to buy these items, I asked the [store assistant] if it was OK to return these items,” Natalia said. “And she said that I can return these items as long as they’re untouched, that I can open them, look at them, but I can’t touch them. And I have 30 days to return them.” Cool she thought to herself. But here is the kicker in this whole revelation.

When it came to returning the tampered products, Natalia claimed that while the shop assistant “went to look at the items,” they “[gave] up halfway and [didn’t] even bother looking at the items.” “She [didn’t] even open them,” Natalia added. “Just put them to the side and [gave] me my money.” The next day, Natalia filmed herself returning to the store and found all three items back on the shelf. Upon inspection, she confirmed that the items on the shelves were the exact same ones she returned. Sad isn’t it everyone. And this happens a lot at other department stores, so check you products before purchasing them. Sanitation is a must when applying makeup to the skin.