Is Head & Shoulders Bad for Your Hair?

Whether or not you’ve spent lots of time in the cosmetics aisle, you probably know Head & Shoulders® is among the most immediately recognizable brands in hair care.

Though Head & Shoulders shampoo is famous for treating dandruff, you can now find H&S products for hair breakage, dry scalp, psoriasis, and itchy scalp. But it’s not all glowing reviews. Over the years, claims have emerged that Head & Shoulders products may lead to hair loss.

So, does Head & Shoulders cause hair loss? We’ll get to the bottom of that question and more, including what’s more likely to be causing your hair loss and how to treat it.

Head & Shoulders helps manage a flakey scalp and reduce the appearance of dandruff flakes on shoulders — get it, head and shoulders? — and clothing. But many people wonder if this shampoo brand is also responsible for hair loss.

It’s not as simple a question as you might think — especially when you consider the relationship between dandruff and hair loss.

Let’s look at the ingredients to dig in.

Head & Shoulders shampoos and conditioners are formulated with two active ingredients and several inactive ingredients.

FYI, an active ingredient is an ingredient that addresses the skin or hair problem the product is made for.

Meanwhile, an inactive ingredient has no therapeutic benefits and is necessary only for tasks like stabilizing the active ingredients or making them easier to use. Sometimes, inactive ingredients are just there to make products look or smell nice or to create a foamy lather.

The main active ingredients in Head & Shoulders are:

• Pyrithione zinc

• Selenium sulfide

Let’s look at how these active ingredients affect the hair on your head.

Pyrithione Zinc

This isn’t the same type of zinc used in sunscreens or multivitamins. Because of its antifungal and antimicrobial properties, pyrithione zinc is one of the most common ingredients you’ll find in anti-dandruff treatments. In fact, it’s in our dandruff detox shampoo.

Sometimes called zinc pyrithione (ZPT), this active shampoo ingredient is also known for its ability to manage seborrheic dermatitis — an inflammatory scalp condition that causes red and scaly skin.

While scientists are unsure of its exact mechanism of action, ZPT reduces the amount of fungus on the scalp, which can prevent dandruff flakes.

There are a few theories about how this works. Since ZPT helps increase zinc levels, it might enable the mineral to bind to proteins necessary for fungal or bacterial activities. This may prevent fungal growth.

Another theory suggests that pyrithione zinc essentially starves microorganisms (like fungi and bacteria) of vital minerals like iron. At least one study has found that it can increase copper levels in scalp fungus, which prevents further growth.

FYI: Though ZPT is safe and effective, in rare cases, it’s been known to cause contact dermatitis, which causes skin irritation and dryness. This condition doesn’t exactly damage hair, but it’s something a dermatologist will want to get rid of ASAP.

See our blog on zinc for hair loss for more insight.

Selenium Sulfide

To help control dandruff, the Head & Shoulders ingredient selenium sulfide may prevent the growth of Malassezia, a type of yeast.

Like zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide also has anti-seborrheic properties, making it a good choice for the treatment of dandruff.

However, this compound has been known to cause excessive oiliness, and, in some instances, it can create yellow discoloration in the hair shaft — i.e., orange or brassy-looking hair strands.

These aren’t dangerous side effects, but they’re probably not something you’d volunteer for. Most people tolerate selenium sulfide just fine, though.

Inactive Ingredients in Head & Shoulders

Let’s touch on a few of the inactive ingredients in Head & Shoulders shampoo.

For the most part, these are all considered safe, but we still think some things should be brought to your attention:

• Methylisothiazolinone. The inactive agent methylisothiazolinone is used as a preservative. It’s found in household products such as paint and adhesives and has been strongly linked to contact dermatitis.

• Sulfates. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are used as hair detergents (shampoos), which clean your hair and create a rich, foamy lather. While the former has often been linked to hair loss, there’s no solid evidence to support the claim. Still, SLS is considered more damaging, drying, and irritating to the scalp than SLES.

• Sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is used to thicken the appearance of the shampoo.

Will your hair fall out if you lather up with this branded anti-dandruff shampoo? Honestly, probably not. If it did, we’d have heard a lot of reports over the last six decades.

For one thing, we know that Head & Shoulders and its active ingredients (zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide) are effective in treating dandruff. And when it comes to hair loss, a fair amount of data shows that these compounds are good for your hair.

Consider zinc pyritione’s role in hair loss treatment.

A six-month, 200-patient study assessed the benefits of a 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo used daily. The formula was compared to a 5% minoxidil solution used twice daily, a placebo, and a combination of 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo and 5% minoxidil fluid.

Participants in the 1% ZPT group recorded a sustained improvement in hair growth and count after 26 weeks of treatment. However, it was less than half as effective as the minoxidil solution (we’ll touch on this ingredient later). And the combination treatment of minoxidil and ZPT showed an even better sustained improvement in hair growth and scalp health.

In other words, ZPT may have hair growth benefits, although you might not want it to be your main treatment method.

Things are a little different regarding the hair loss question and selenium sulfide. Despite proving effective in managing dandruff, high concentrations of this agent have been linked to hair loss.

If you’re concerned about hair loss, selenium sulfide is something you should ask your healthcare provider about.

Does Head & Shoulders cause hair loss? Probably not. Then what does?

If you’re seeing significant hair loss, your shampoo is likely not to blame (at least not entirely).

Here are a few common types of hair loss that are more likely the reason why you’re seeing a little more hair in the shower drain.

Male Pattern Baldness

Also called androgenetic alopecia, male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss. It affects as many as 50 percent of men by age 50.

Male pattern hair loss is caused by a mix of genetics and a sensitivity to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which binds to receptors in hair follicles.

This form of hair loss typically follows a predictable pattern (hence the name), beginning with an M-shaped hairline.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss caused by a shock to the system or extreme stress. This can include illness, injury, dramatic weight loss, surgery, or emotional stress.

Telogen effluvium can result in excessive shedding and rapid hair loss all over the scalp. Typically, the condition improves on its own.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder. It happens when the body mistakenly attacks hair follicles and causes patchy hair loss.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is caused by hairstyles that pull at the root, including tight braids, buns, and ponytails.

It’s usually reversible, but traction alopecia hair loss can be permanent if the damage to the scalp is left untreated and turns into scars.

We wish it were as easy as switching up your shampoo, but serious hair loss or thinning hair requires a bit more effort to prevent.

Here are a few common hair loss treatments:

• Finasteride. If you suspect male pattern baldness is what’s causing your hair loss, finasteride is a great option. This FDA-approved medication stops the conversion of testosterone to DHT (the hormone responsible for genetic hair loss).

• Minoxidil. If you’re familiar with Rogaine®, its active ingredient is minoxidil. This vasodilator increases the diameter of blood vessels so more blood can flow to hair follicles. It also keeps hair in the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle for longer. We offer topical minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution.

• Finasteride and minoxidil together. You don’t have to choose between finasteride and minoxidil. In fact, research shows the two medications are actually more effective at promoting hair density and regrowth when used together. Our topical finasteride & minoxidil spray is an easy way to use both.

Oral finasteride and topical minoxidil are both approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) specifically for treating hair loss in men.

Oral minoxidil and topical finasteride are often used off-label. This means a licensed healthcare provider prescribes them to treat hair loss, even though these forms of the medications aren’t FDA-approved for that purpose.

Does Head & Shoulders cause hair loss? It’s unlikely. In fact, using anti-dandruff shampoo might help you maintain a healthy scalp, which can encourage hair growth.

Here are a few key things to remember about Head & Shoulders shampoo and overall hair and scalp health:

• Head & Shoulders products — including shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products — stave off dandruff and promote hair health. 

• H&S formulas use zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide, which are proven active ingredients to help with dandruff.

• Some Head & Shoulder ingredients have been connected to improved hair growth, while others have been associated with hair loss. However, hair loss isn’t a widespread issue with the use of these ingredients.

• What’s best for you is personal and ultimately your decision. If you’re struggling with dandruff, you may want to stick with the OG. If you’re losing hair, you may want to pivot.

• If you’re dealing with scalp issues, it may be best to consult a dermatology or trichology specialist or another healthcare provider.

If you’re in the market for a zinc pyrithione shampoo to get rid of dandruff and promote healthy hair, we can help with that.

We can also connect you with a licensed healthcare provider who can determine whether you’re experiencing pattern hair loss or another issue. Then they can help you find the best hair loss treatments for your hair type.

To learn more, check out our article on shampoos that don’t cause hair loss.