Shampoo Brands to Avoid Today
How do you know if the shampoo you are using is right for you? I used to have to buy a shampoo first before deciding if it was right for me. Now, just a glance at shampoo ingredients is enough for me to tell how the product will work and whether it is safe in the first place. The thing is, shampoo ingredients penetrate into our blood system, and we cannot know for certain how they act inside our bodies. Some ingredients in shampoo are associated with endocrine disruption and cancer. Other shampoo ingredients to avoid may cause immediate effects such as skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even hair loss. So, let’s talk about my opinions as to shampoo brands to avoid, and why I think we should avoid them. Also, read on to see the non-toxic shampoo options to replace what are, in my opinion, harmful shampoo brands.
In this post:
- My mission is to help you improve the quality of your health.
- Shampoo brands to avoid contain concerning ingredients.
- Check out the list of what I consider harmful shampoo brands.
- Shampoo ingredients to avoid are linked to health issues.
- Cocamide DEA is a known carcinogen.
- Fragrance in shampoo brands to avoid may cause an allergy.
- Ethoxylated ingredients may contain carcinogenic contaminants.
- Preservatives in what I consider harmful shampoo brands may cause contact dermatitis.
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives may have long-term health effects.
- Consider these safe shampoo options instead of potentially harmful shampoo brands.
- Summary of the shampoo brands to avoid post
My mission is to help you improve the quality of your health.
Is there an area in your life about which you can say you know it inside out? For me, it is reading shampoo ingredients. My label-reading began with researching shampoos when I was looking for a healthy shampoo for my soon-to-arrive baby in 2011. Since then, I have studied the industry inside out and know a thing or two about shampoos.
My first research back then raised my awareness about various chemicals with which we surround ourselves without even realizing it. It occurred to me our healing can be within our reach, and we can take charge of our health. Specifically, I used to have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (that’s right, not any longer!) and am recovering from Addison’s autoimmune disease now. Besides, my father died of cancer, so I know what it is like.
As a result, helping you reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and improve the quality of your life and health has become my passion. I use multiple resources, including comprehensive chemical databases, extensive scientific studies, detailed laboratory reports etc. Plus, I have developed a multi-step research approach about which you can read on my Start here page. And if you are curious about my journey to recovery, visit my posts Can Breast Implants Cause Autoimmune Diseases and My Health Update After Explant Surgery.
Now, let me turn your attention to what I consider harmful shampoo brands and shampoo ingredients to avoid.
Shampoo brands to avoid contain concerning ingredients.
To begin with, the list below is by no means comprehensive.
Also, there may be other shampoos within some of the mentioned brands that do not contain toxic ingredients. Or, vice versa, in addition to the mentioned shampoos there may be others within the brand with the same ingredients.
Based on my experience, if a company chooses to use harmful chemicals in one product, it will most likely use them in other products, too. Hence, if I see toxic shampoo ingredients in one product, I avoid the whole brand.
Importantly, I encourage you to read ingredients by yourself instead of relying on the word of the industry or even on my opinions. Plus, it is a good idea to contact companies with questions to show interest in what they do. This will help build bridges between consumers and manufacturers and make change for the better even more feasible.
Check out the list of what I consider harmful shampoo brands.
In my opinion, these are the brands that can be harmful to our health, and that I recommend avoiding.:
Shampoo brands to avoid | Shampoo ingredients to avoid |
Aussie Miracle Curls Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone |
Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance |
Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo | Fragrance, methylisothiazolinone |
Deva Curl No-Poo and Low-Poo Original | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance |
Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, DMDM hydantoin |
Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone |
Farmasi Dr C Tuna Vitalizing Garlic & Capixyl Shampoo | Cocamide DEA, ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone |
Finesse 2-in-1 Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, DMDM hydantoin |
Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo | Cocamide DEA, ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate |
Got2b Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, DMDM hydantoin |
It’s A 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, DMDM hydantoin |
Keratin Complex Color Care Smoothing Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, DMDM hydantoin |
Kristin Ess Extra Gentle Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance |
Leonor Greyl Bain Traitant a la Propolis Gentle Dandruff Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone |
Maui Color Protection + Sea Minerals Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate |
Nature Lab Tokyo Repair Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance |
Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture and Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, DMDM hydantoin |
OGX Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, DMDM hydantoin |
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo | Ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone |
Now, let’s discuss their ingredients.
Shampoo ingredients to avoid are linked to health issues.
In my opinion, the following ingredients in shampoo brands to avoid arouse some concerns: cocamide DEA, fragrance, and ethoxylated ingredients.
Additionally, certain preservatives in these, in my opinion, harmful shampoo brands are considered potentially harmful to human health. They are methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, DMDM hydantoin, and diazolidinyl urea.
Cocamide DEA is a known carcinogen.
To start with, the full name for cocamide DEA is coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (cocamide diethanolamine). In 2012, California added it to the list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. The main role of cocamide DEA in a shampoo is to make it foam, which is appealing to many people.
Even though cocamide DEA originates from coconut oil, it is a harsh chemical to avoid. Because of chemical reactions and toxic chemicals involved in its manufacturing process, it resembles coconut oil in no way. So, the next time you hear that an ingredient is made or “derived” from coconut oil, do not assume it is safe. Clearly, cocamide DEA is one of the shampoo ingredients to avoid.
To clarify, it is not illegal to use cocamide DEA in personal care products. However, companies that use it must also use the California Proposition 65 warning in order to sell it in California. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) sues those companies that fail to use the warning on their products. As a result, several lawsuits forced companies to agree to remove cocamide DEA from their products (source). Yet, as you can see from the table, some shampoos still contain potentially carcinogenic cocamide DEA.
Fragrance in shampoo brands to avoid may cause an allergy.
Essentially, fragrance, aka parfum, in what are, in my opinion, harmful shampoo brands is a blend of undisclosed ingredients. The FDA does not require that companies disclose ingredients added to provide pleasant scents or to mask bad ones (source). But, according to the European Union Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, fragrance mixes are associated with various kinds of allergic contact dermatitis.
Thus, “fragrance,” “fragrance oils,” “parfum,” and “aroma” are shampoo ingredients to avoid. Even “natural fragrance” is not safe.
Evidently, there is no legal definition for the word “natural.” So, there is a chance that what you mean by “natural” differs from what a company means by this word. To learn more about this issue, please read my thorough post Is Natural Fragrance Safe?.
Ethoxylated ingredients may contain carcinogenic contaminants.
Have you seen such words as PEG, polysorbate or a stem followed by “eth” (e.g., laureth) among product ingredients? Most of the shampoo brands to avoid presented in the table have them. These are ethoxylated ingredients, or ingredients produced by the process of ethoxylation. The latter helps make the raw materials less irritating to the skin.
The problem is, manufacturers use carcinogenic ethylene oxide to carry out this chemical reaction. Not only is it harmful in and of itself, but also the reaction produces a byproduct, called carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane. Unless properly removed, it may end up in the final product.
For consumers, there is no way to know whether the manufacturer removed this contaminant from the product. That is why I call it one of the Hidden Ingredients in Cosmetics and consider ethoxylated ingredients one type of shampoo ingredients to avoid.
Preservatives in what I consider harmful shampoo brands may cause contact dermatitis.
Harsh preservatives used in shampoos are another reason I made this list of shampoo brands to avoid. Although manufacturers are doing the right thing using preservatives to prevent microbial growth, I believe it is possible to use safer preservatives. Stay with me to find out which brands use non-toxic shampoo ingredients whose products work just fine.
In the meantime, let’s talk about methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), methylisothiazolinone (MI), and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC).
Apparently, the number of allergic reaction cases caused by MCI/MI or MI alone has been increasing (source and source). This study shows that prolonged exposure to low levels of MI may have damaging consequences to the developing nervous system. Additionally, the American Contact Dermatitis Society called MI “contact allergen of 2013.”
Likewise, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate may cause dermal irritation or contact allergy. The American Society of Contact Dermatitis lists it as one of the core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 0.1%.
Hence, there is no doubt that methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate are shampoo ingredients to avoid.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives may have long-term health effects.
Finally, some of the enumerated shampoo brands to avoid use DMDM hydantoin and diazolidinyl urea. What is wrong with them? Well, they are formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (formaldehyde releasors).
Specifically, they work by releasing small amounts of formaldehyde which may have short-term and long-term health effects, ranging from skin irritation to cancer (source). The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a “known human carcinogen” (source). That is why I consider shampoo brands that use DMDM hydantoin and diazolidinyl urea potentially harmful shampoo brands.
However, the product label will not list formaldehyde among ingredients, which makes it one of the Hidden Ingredients in Cosmetics. Keep in mind, with long storage periods and high storage temperatures, the amount of released formaldehyde may rise. As a result, the risk of allergic reaction to formaldehyde or to the preservative itself increases. For some people, the allergic reaction may evolve into hair loss.
Sadly, formaldehyde may be in many other products that we use daily. Please, read my comprehensive post to learn how to Protect Yourself from Formaldehyde in Products.
In addition to these harsh shampoo ingredients to avoid, most of the listed products contain what I call “middle-of-the-road” preservatives. You can learn about them and other harmful preservatives in my Savvy Consumer Superpower e-book. It also has a bonus wallet-size prompt sheet with ingredients to avoid.
Consider these safe shampoo options instead of potentially harmful shampoo brands.
Which shampoo brands can you use in place of shampoo brands to avoid and enjoy their health benefits? Well, there are several options you can consider.
My favorite shampoo is Pure Haven which definitely has no shampoo ingredients to avoid. In my Pure Haven review, you can learn about this brand and other companies such as Arbonne and Melaleuca.
Next, Innersense hydrating shampoo should work well, in my opinion, for chemically colored, damaged, and curly hair. Because all Innersense shampoos are concentrated, measure well to avoid wasting the product and stripping the hair of natural oils. And, of course, you can read my Innersense Shampoo Ingredients review, too.
Then, there is Hairprint shampoo which, reportedly, works well with naturally coiled and dry hair. Here is my review of Hairprint – The Non-Toxic Shampoo to Know About.
Recently, I have reviewed Evolvh Hair and Body Care, namely, their sulfate-free color-safe shampoo. And you can enjoy a generous discount with them in addition to their inexpensive and well-performing products, too.
Plus, if you are into dry shampoos, consider Primally Pure dry shampoo. Definitely, this Non-Toxic Dry Shampoo Guide can help you make a decision.
Summary of the shampoo brands to avoid post
In sum, for me, harmful shampoo brands are those that contain ingredients of concern. These include cocamide DEA, ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, diazolidinyl urea, and DMDM hydantoin. All of these are shampoo ingredients to avoid. While some of them may potentially increase the risk of contact dermatitis, others may have carcinogenic contaminants. Personally, I avoid products with these ingredients.
Fortunately, there are safe shampoo options that work well. Thus, my favorite one is Pure Haven shampoo and conditioner that I have been using for years now. And my husband likes Beautycounter shampoo and conditioner. Please, visit my shop for other healthy hair, skin, and body care product options.
If you need assistance with your journey to health, feel free to book a consultation with me. You are also welcome to check out our popular Savvy Consumer Superpower e-book so that you can gauge the safety of any shampoo, body, or makeup in a matter of seconds.
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I read that you recommend Neal yard remedies seeweed shampoo and on the label it has Lauryl sulfate,laurel betain in it. I thought those were on your bad list????
Thank you for your interest in the I Read Labels for You opinion! Please look at the list of the most concerning ingredients here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/start-here/
Have you checked the Nutriol Scalp and Hair Treatment System by Nuskin? I experienced heavy hairfall last year. My scalp was so visible. I started using the Nutriol system and had very good results after 2 weeks. My hair is healthier, visibly thicker and grew longer in such a short period. Curious about your review if you will look into this.
Hi, Carrie! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You! We haven’t reviewed these products, but a quick glance at their ingredients revealed that they contain some of the ingredients that we recommend avoiding.
I am very interested in your article regarding proper shampoos for different people why is the number 10 product or a shampoo so bad for you I have a client that uses it and she has long blonde hair.
Hi, Dottie! We appreciate your interest and trust! If you want to know the details that are not described in the post, you are more than welcome to book a consultation with Irina: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/
Love your work, I look forward to buying many products you have looked into! Thank you for all you do! I’m 45 and finding my scalp to be super itchy and I’m now loosing a lot of hair. My hair is long, and I’ve always had a lot of it but it’s more than likely my hormones. I’m looking for a great shampoo that will help soothe my scalp and promote hair growth. Something with mint, rosemary oils with no chemicals ( of course) any ideas? Jami 🙂
Hello, Jami! Thank you for the kind words! We are very sorry to hear about your hair! You will benefit from our newly updated Shampoo Rating List e-book: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/shampoo-rating-list/. Also, check out healthy shampoo options in our shop: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product-category/healthy-hair/
What’s the cost $to subscribe
Hello, Beverly! There is no cost for a regular subscription. Moreover, when you subscribe, you will get a free guide to reading ingredients. You can sign up at the bottom of this post. We do have paid services. If you would like to have a personal consultation regarding your healthy living journey, please click here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/consultations/ If you would like to know what Savvy Consumer Circle is and become its member, please click here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.teachable.com/p/savvy-consumer-circle
I am very curious about the Olaplex line for hair. Are the ingredients in these 9 products all as safe as the6y say? I’m interested in trying these but would like to see your input Thanks Nancy
Hi Nancy! We appreciate your interest! Irina will be happy to help you with your question in a private consultation: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/
I used Kristin ess extra gentle shampoo and conditioner and it caused me to lose more hair than normal while washing it and it caused my scalp to burn for two days. It also made my hair look and feel awful plus the scent was way too strong. I could still smell it in my hair even after washing and conditioning with something else.
I am so sorry to hear about that. How are you feeling now? ~Irina
3 Yrs back my hair was so long and thick..since i migrated to capital i had a huge fall of my hair..I tried every remedies but they didn’t work. I haven’t visited doctor yet cause i hoped they may grow in near future but its gonna be 4 yrs.. Do you have any solutions for this problem please? I am worried i might barely see hair on my scalp after few yrs..
Hi, Alice! We are very sorry to hear about your hair! We know how important hair is for women! Please, consider reading our free blog post about hair loss causes to see potential solutions: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/overlooked-hair-loss-causes/
Hello, i am curious if you mean to say all its a 10 products are not safe or specifically the keratin line?
Hi Blake! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You! Specifically in this blog post, we mention It’s A 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin, not the full line. The ingredients of other products should be checked before making any conclusions about their safety. In our experience, however, even an ingredient list for one product reflects on the manufacturer’s choices regarding what ingredients they allow to be in all their product formulations. Nevertheless, we strongly encourage reading ingredients for every product to be able to make an informed decision.
Hi Irina,
Have you looked into purple shampoos for gray hair yet? I am curious if there is a safe(r) purple shampoo as I am letting my gray hair grow out finally! Thanks!
Not yet but I’d love it. ~Irina