Head&Shoulders

Why it’s rated Avoid

A product’s rating follows its most concerning indexed ingredient. Each ingredient links to its science card and the research behind it. How ratings work

• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) & Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) Strong contact allergen; EU-restricted.
  Avoid
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Ethoxylated Surfactant / 1,4-Dioxane Contamination
  Avoid
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Harsh Anionic Surfactant / Skin Barrier & Mucosal Stripping
  Avoid
• Triethanolamine (TEA) Emulsifier & pH Adjuster / Nitrosamine Contamination
  Avoid
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine Amphoteric Coconut-derived Surfactant / Impurity Irritant
  Use Caution
• Sodium Benzoate Synthetic Preservative / Benzene Risk with Vitamin C
  Use Caution
• Cocamide MEA Foam booster; can form nitrosamines if contaminated. Limit, not avoid.
  Use Caution
• Dimethicone & Silicones Occlusive; some cyclic silicones are restricted in the EU for environmental persistence.
  Use Caution
• Synthetic Fragrance / Parfum Undisclosed scent blend. A practical allowance: on its own it rates Caution (limit use), not Avoid — products with other flagged ingredients are still rated by those.
  Use Caution
• Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) Petroleum Synthetic Dye / Zinc Depletion & Allergy
  Use Caution
• Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Coal-Tar Synthetic Dye / Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration
  Use Caution
• Gentle Surfactants & Humectants Mild, well-studied formulation basics (sodium hydroxide is fully reacted in soap-making).
  Clean
• Fatty Alcohols (Cetyl, Cetearyl, Stearyl) Non-drying “fatty” alcohols, usually plant-derived.
  Clean
• Salt Everyday seasoning; no toxic-burden concern at normal use (sodium intake is a nutrition question, not a toxin).
  Clean
• Water Plain water — no concern.
  Clean