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Call Kurtis Investigates: How Did My Face End Up On A Hair Dye Box?

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Several years after being photographed as a favor to her hairstylist, Amber Brown was surprised to see her photo on a hair dye box.

"I just couldn't believe it," she said. "I look and I was like, is that me?"

Brown says she was 16-years-old when she posed for the professional photo for her hairstylist. She has no idea how her face ended up on the box of Ideal Beauty Goods, Light brown hair dye.

"You stole my face," she said. "If I was going to model, then I would model and be paid for modeling," said Brown.

She said she never signed a release, and because she says she was 16, legally she couldn't.

Consumer Attorney Stuart Talley says, "This is the first time I've seen something like this."

Talley says under California law, she may be owed a portion of the profits tied to this particular hair dye box.

"Somebody can't take your picture, put it on their product and not pay you for it," said Talley.

We tracked down the salon owner Carla Preyer who set up that shoot way back when.

"I had no clue that she was on there," Preyer said. "I hate that something like that, she didn't get paid."

Preyer told us photographer Keif Savage who is now located in Los Angeles took those pictures.

We reached out to Savage who told us he always has models sign releases, but he no longer has Brown's.

He admits giving the photos to a beauty company, "for consideration", but says they never paid him for the photo. He thinks that company gave the photo to the hair dye company and told us Brown should sue IBG.

After calling the number on the side of the hair dye box, we talked with IBG owner Danny Park. He said it's his understanding the prior owner of the company bought the photos from a photographer, although he didn't produce any paperwork proving he could use Brown's photo.

Park says the light brown dye has since been discontinued, although he admits the boxes are still on store shelves until they're sold.
After our call, Park offered Brown $600. Brown thinks she's owed more and is considering legal action.

"Literally you can walk into any beauty supply store, and I'm there," said Brown."I don't want it to be there for free."

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