Is Head and Shoulders Bad for Your Hair?

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.

It’s an immediately recognizable brand and a go-to anti-dandruff shampoo for many. However, over the years, claims have emerged that Head & Shoulders products may lead to hair loss.

So, is Head & Shoulders bad for your hair? The short answer: Unlikely. If you’re losing hair, other causes — like genetics, stress, or tight hairstyles — are more likely to blame.

We’ve explored this question more below and sought expert input from Dr. Knox Beasley, MD, board-certified dermatologist and medical expert for Hims.

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.

An active ingredient addresses the skin or hair issue the product targets. Inactive ingredients stabilize or deliver the active ones, and some just add fragrance or lather.

The main active ingredients in Head & Shoulders are:

• Pyrithione zinc

• Selenium sulfide

Let’s look at how these active ingredients affect your hair and scalp.

Pyrithione Zinc

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

ZPT 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.

One theory is that ZPT helps increase zinc levels, helping the mineral bind to proteins that fungi or bacteria need to function.

Another theory? It may starve those microbes of vital minerals like iron. At least one study has found that it can increase copper levels in scalp fungus, preventing further growth.

ZPT is generally considered to be safe, but in rare cases it can cause contact dermatitis, leading to skin irritation and dryness, which you’ll want to chat about with a dermatologist.

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

Selenium Sulfide

This Head & Shoulders ingredient may prevent the growth of Malassezia, a type of yeast that contributes to flaking and irritation. Like ZPT, it’s an anti-seborrheic agent.

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

However, high concentrations of selenium sulfide have occasionally been linked to excess oiliness or yellowish discoloration in the hair shaft (think orange or brassy tones). These effects are cosmetic, not dangerous, but they can be annoying.

Inactive Ingredients in Head & Shoulders

Most of the inactive ingredients in Head & Shoulders shampoo are considered safe, but let’s touch on a few of them:

• Methylisothiazolinone. This is used as a preservative and is found in household products such as paint and adhesives and has been strongly linked to contact dermatitis.

• Sulfates (SLS and SLES). These cleansing agents create that satisfying lather. While SLS has been controversially linked to hair dryness or irritation, solid evidence connecting sulfates to hair loss is lacking.

• Sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is used to thicken the appearance of the shampoo. It’s basically salt.

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.

Ingredients like ZPT are actually beneficial to hair health when used correctly. In fact, 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.

The takeaway? If anything, ZPT may support hair growth — though it’s not a miracle cure. As for selenium sulfide, high concentrations might cause hair thinning in sensitive individuals, but this isn’t common. If you’re concerned, speak with your dermatologist.

Product type: Anti-dandruff shampoo

Key ingredients: Pyrithione zinc and selenium sulfide

Cost: $5.99 for an 8.45-fluid-ounce bottle

Purpose: Claims to combat dandruff and scalp flakiness

Dr. Beasley notes that both pyrithione zinc and selenium sulfide are common ingredients in dandruff shampoos that are effective and typically gentle on the scalp.

Efficacy: ★★★★

”Head & Shoulders is a popular dandruff shampoo that can be effective at reducing flaking,” Dr. Beasley says.

Side effects: ★★★★★

”This may cause some scalp dryness, but overall, the risk of side effects is very low,” he says.

Ease of use: ★★★★★

“Very easy to use. Lather, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out. Repeat about three times a week,” Dr. Beasley says.

“Head & Shoulders can work well for people with mild to moderate dandruff,” Dr. Beasley says. “Letting it sit for about three to five minutes before rinsing it out can help increase its effectiveness.”

If Head & Shoulders isn’t causing your hair loss, what is? Here are a few common culprits.

Male Pattern Baldness

Affecting up to 50% of men by age 50, androgenetic alopecia is genetic and caused by DHT sensitivity. It’s the most common type of hair loss in men.

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.

It can result in excessive shedding and rapid hair loss all over the scalp. Typically, the condition improves on its own once the stressor is removed.

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.

• Minoxidil. 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 they team up. 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.

Head & Shoulders is unlikely to cause hair loss. In some cases, it may even help with scalp health and hair retention.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• The active ingredients in Head & Shoulders’ hair care products help reduce dandruff and may support hair health.

• Some inactive ingredients may cause irritation in rare cases, but widespread hair loss isn’t commonly reported.

• Hair loss is more likely due to genetics, stress, or other health factors, not your shampoo.

If you’re dealing with scalp issues, consider consulting a dermatology or trichology specialist. Interested in trying 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 what’s behind your hair loss and recommend the best hair loss treatments for your hair type.

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