Cosmetics formulator and manufacturer 220 Laboratories has filed a suit in a Los Angeles Superior Court claiming that adding volcanic ash to the hair care formulations was its idea.
Volcanic ash for volume
According to 220 Laboratories it had entered into an ‘oral contract’ with David Babaii, hair stylist and fellow developer of the range, to develop and manufacture hair care products containing the volcanic ash from the Vanuatu Islands of the South Pacific.
The lawsuit states that Babaii did not honour this agreement, using a different company, Universal Packaging Systems Inc, to develop and manufacture the products.
California-based 220 Laboratories is seeking an injunction to block the company David Babaii for Wild Aid from using its ‘trade secrets’ in its hair care formulations.
In addition, the allegations include fraud and breach of contract and the company said it will be seeking damages.
Brad Cafarelli, a spokesperson for Hudson said in a statement quoted by Reuter’s news agency, that 220 Laboratories’ claims were baseless.
“Kate does not know the plaintiffs and has never met with them or spoken with them,” he is quoted as saying.
Percentage of profits go to charity
The range David Babaii for WildAid donates 10 percent of its profits to the environmental charity WildAid, which attempts to preserve the planet’s wildlife allowing threatened species to recover to safe levels.
The ‘eco-friendly’ shampoos and conditioners contain a number of renewable and natural ingredients.
White ginger and coconut oil join volcanic ash in the amplifying shampoo, and the hydrating shampoo contains capuacu butter to moisturize and blue algae extract to strengthen the hair shampoo.
Volcanic ash is also included in a sculpting product and according to the company provides natural volume without stickiness.