Toxicity report: Head & Shoulders Classic Clean

Active Ingredients: Pyrithione Zinc (1%) (Anti-Dandruff).

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Zinc Carbonate, Glycol Distearate, Dimethicone, Fragrance, Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Xylene Sulfonate, Blue 1, Red 4.

The overall hazard of this product is 5 out of 10, which does not seem too bad to start with. Looking at the toxicity levels of the ingredients, the top three are the following: fragrance has a score of 8, benzyl alcohol 6 and methylchloroisothiazolinone scores 6 as well.

This last ingredient sounds entirely unfamiliar to me, which is why I decided to do some more research on it. According to the EWG website, this component raises concerns about allergies as well as organ system toxicity while violating restrictions. The ingredient itself is used in shampoos, body wash or facial cleansers and can cause cancer too.

Researching a bit more about it, I found four other names that sound even more complicated than this one but also an explanation about what it is used for. Methylchloroisothiazolinone is a preservative found in many personal care products as well as cosmetics. It can cause skin irritations or chemical burns if the concentration is too high, and is not used in most cosmetic products anymore. It has not been removed from products that are only in contact with our skin for a limited amount of time, such as shampoos for example. Although the ingredient is currently not on the list of possible human carcinogens held by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), approximately 1.7% of individuals have allergic reactions to it. Some research is there saying that it can cause cancer, but no scientific data is available to prove it.

I cannot really imagine how I could eliminate this product from my personal care. However, there must be some better alternatives that would satisfy the same need. As I looked for a better shampoo on the EWR website, the first appearing on the list says ‘Pet/Human’, which does not really appeal to me. However, there are a few other alternatives with a score of 0 or 1, even though none of these brands sound familiar to me. Since I have very sensitive hair, I would be ready to give this product up if any of them is easily available and works as well as the product I currently use.