If you regularly suds up with Oribe’s Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo, you may want to check your shampoo’s lot number. Kao USA Inc., the parent company of the beloved salon hair-care brand, has issued a voluntary recall of a small number of lots due to potential bacterial contamination. But before you go tossing out that gorgeous bottle in your shower, there’s good news: only a very small batch is impacted!
Select lots of the thinning hair shampoo have been recalled due to the presence of Pluralibacter gergoviae bacteria. Both 8.5 oz and 33.8 oz sizes of the product manufactured between February 21 and February 26, 2026 may be impacted; the agency recommends looking for the lot code at the bottom of the bottle, where it is written in black. The impacted 8.5 oz size (UPC 840035231242) has lot code “YR010556” and the affected lot code for the 33.8 oz size (UPC 840035231273) is “YR010566″ or “YR010576.”
Again, this is a very small lot, but it’s always a good idea to check your product for safety reasons. If you do have an affected lot, you can reach out to oribecomplaints@kao.com or call 800-333-2442 to report any issues or arrange for a replacement.
As Allure previously reported, Pluralibacter gergoviae is “a type of bacteria that some research has shown is resistant to parabens (the preservatives that keep many products shelf-stable).” Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine Department of Dermatology, previously told us that these “environmental bacterium” sometimes shows up in cosmetic products but “almost never” causes illness in healthy people. Kao also shared a similar sentiment in their statement to the FDA, saying, “Though Pluralibacter gergoviae bacteria pose little medical risk to healthy people, those with certain health issues such as weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to infection by the bacteria. Regardless of health status, Kao USA is urging anyone who has affected products as specified below to discontinue use.”
Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo is formulated for thinning hair, and the shampoo-and-conditioner duo won an Allure Best of Beauty Award for Best Splurge Hair Care and Accessories in 2025.
“We are working with the FDA to voluntarily recall the affected lots of the product in question from our warehouses,” Kao USA said in a statement. “We are also asking retail and salon partners to remove affected lots from use and/or sale and return them to us for safe disposal.”
Allure has reached out to Kao USA for comment.
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