Head & Shoulders is a brand of anti-dandruff shampoo that contains active ingredients designed to help control and eliminate flakes and itchiness caused by a yeast-like fungus called malassezia, which has been identified as the root cause of dandruff. The ingredients in Head & Shoulders products vary depending on the specific product, but some common ingredients include:
Positive ingredients:
- Sodium lauryl sulfate: a cleansing agent that helps trap oil and dirt in the hair so it can be rinsed away.
- Zinc pyrithione: an anti-fungal agent that is great for treating mild and moderate cases of dandruff.
- Dimethicone: a moisturizing ingredient that helps smooth and protect the hair cuticle, keeping hair soft and shiny.
- Sodium chloride and sodium xylenesulfonate: ingredients used to adjust shampoo thickness and texture.
Negative ingredients:
- Sodium laureth sulfate: a cleansing agent that can be irritating to some people.
- Fragrance: a common ingredient that can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine: a cleansing agent that can cause skin irritation in some people.
- Blue 1 and red 33: synthetic colorants that can cause skin irritation in some people.
Its worth noting that US law does not require manufacturers to disclose their fragrance ingredients, but Head & Shoulders discloses the fragrance sub-ingredients in their Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff shampoo. Overall, the ingredients in Head & Shoulders products dont pose significant concerns when used in small amounts in a personal care product like shampoo.