Even if you’ve never touched a styling cream or scrunched your hair with mousse or gel, one haircare product you no doubt have experience using is shampoo. Shampoo and conditioner are the staples that some of us barely think about, most likely because we figure they’re all one and the same. And while it’s true that some shampoos at the same price point may contain similar ingredients and provide, more or less, the same benefits, this isn’t always the case. When you’re in the market for a new shampoo, or trying to decide if your current shampoo is to blame for damage you’re noticing like split ends and shedding, you’ll find there are shampoos on the market that experts do not recommend because there is some proof that they could result in hair damage and even fallout.
Generally speaking, you’ll see the same cast of ingredient characters pop up often when experts dish about the worst ingredients in shampoos. You know the ones: sulfates that strip hair of moisture and can cause scalp irritation, parabens, and even formaldehyde. But companies like GoodRx Health have taken things one step further and are calling out specific shampoo brands and products that have received complaints from customers who link them to hair damage. Keep in mind these claims have not been proven definitely.
Johnson & Johnson OGX shampoo
This shampoo reportedly contains DMDM hydantoin. This is the concerning ingredient that is at the center of a class-action lawsuit from people claiming that it has caused hair loss.
Unilever TRESemmé keratin shampoo and conditioners
This is another brand with class-action lawsuits after people claimed they were experiencing scalp burns and hair loss. The source of their concerns, yet again, is the ingredient DMDM hydantoin.
DevaCurl hair products
One of the ingredients in DevaCurl products that caused concerns and class-action lawsuits is iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, which may cause dermal irritation and allergic contact allergies. The specific products named in the lawsuits are:
DevaCurl “No-Poo” Original non-lathering conditioning cleanser
DevaCurl One Condition Original hair conditioner
DevaCurl Light Defining Gel
DevaCurl “Low-Poo” Original cleanser
DevaCurl “Low-Poo” Delight cleanser
DevaCurl “No-Poo” Decadence cleanser
DevaCurl One Condition Delight hair conditioner
DevaCurl One Condition Decadence hair conditioner
DevaCurl Leave-In Decadence conditioner
DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel
Melt into Moisture mask
Styling cream
Super Stretch Coconut Curl Elongator
Wavemaker
Straight Arrow Products Mane ‘n Tail shampoo and conditioners
A class-action lawsuit was filed against this company for allegedly using formaldehyde in some of its haircare products. The products in question are:
Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
Gentle Clarifying Conditions
Anti-Dandruff Conditioner
Herbal Gro Conditioner
The complains include people reporting having experienced scalp irritation and hair loss, including bald patches.
WEN hair products
A settlement was reached after a class-action lawsuit was filed against Wen hair products by consumers claiming they experienced hair loss. The Wen haircare that they say caused their hair loss include these products sold between Nov. 1, 2007 and Sept. 19, 2016:
• Cleansing Conditioner
• Re-Moist Mask
• Treatment Mist Duo
• Treatment Oil
• SIXTHIRTEEN Ultra Nourishing Cleansing Treatment
• Re-Moist Intenstive Hair Treatment
• Styling Crème
• Anti-Frizz Styling Crème
• Nourishing Mousse
Volumizing Treatment Spray
• Replenishing Treatment Mist
• Defining Paste
• Straightening Smoothing Gloss
• Smoothing Glossing Serum
• Glossing Shine Serum
• Finishing Treatment Crème
• Volumizing Root Lift
• Texturizing Spray
• Detangling Treatment Spray
• Men Control Texture
• Men Hair and Body Oil
• Bath Body and Hair Oil
• Texture Balm
It still isn’t clear which specific ingredients caused hair loss — which drums home the need for more transparency from haircare companies.
