In our quest for silky, smooth hair, it’s best to know about the ingredients that go into our hair care products. And if you’ve been keeping up to date with controversial ingredients, you may have already come across the debate about shampoo with DMDM hydantoin.
What is DMDM hydantoin? And why is it being blamed for hair loss and other hair problems? Should you steer clear of this ingredient and choose only DMDM hydantoin-free products?
Let’s find out what the experts have to say.
What is DMDM hydantoin?
DMDM hydantoin is used as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products.
Shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, facial cleansers, and makeup all include DMDM hydantoin, and the addition of this ingredient extends the products’ shelf life. It keeps the product from rotting and from becoming contaminated with fungi, yeast, or bacteria that can make people sick or cause rashes. After all, not everyone has a skincare fridge, right?
In essence, DMDM hydantoin is a formaldehyde donor. This means that a shampoo with DMDM hydantoin releases modest amounts of formaldehyde during the shelf life of a personal care or cosmetic product in order to function as a preservative and antimicrobial ingredient.
What are the DMDM hydantoin side effects?
The adverse DMDM hydantoin side effects are attributed mainly to the presence of formaldehyde in the shampoo.
Keep in mind that exposure to formaldehyde, even in trace amounts, is hazardous over time (just like sodium lauryl sulfate). This ingredient has been known to be harmful to humans because it can cause cancer and, to a lesser extent, skin irritation.
Formaldehyde is mostly absorbed by inhalation and contact with the skin. When formaldehyde-containing cosmetics are applied to the hair or skin, it has the potential to enter your eyes and nose.
The class-action lawsuit class-action against Johnson & Johnson claims that the company’s OGX hair care products cause significant hair loss. Similarly, over a hundred consumers reported losing hair after using Tresemmé, a brand that includes DMDM hydantoin among their product (Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo) ingredients. DevaCurl, is likewise a target of class-action lawsuits. The product, according to its consumers, injured their scalps and caused their hair to fall out in clumps.
What do experts say about shampoo with DMDM hydantoin?
Cosmetic chemist Colin Sanders of Colin’s Beauty Pages explains that formaldehyde is a naturally-occurring substance. It is present in all living systems, from plants to animals to people. It metabolizes rapidly in the body, breaks down quickly, is not persistent, and does not accumulate in our body.
There is a wealth of toxicity data on it, and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has given it a clean bill of health at the low dose at which it is commonly taken.
In terms of context, it is said that the amount of formaldehyde released is comparable to naturally occurring amounts in a medium-sized pear.
Nonetheless, Colin still avoids using products, such as shampoo with DMDM hydantoin. Not pleased with formaldehyde donors, Colin believes it’s one of the skincare ingredients to avoid because there appears to be a risk that has not been explored.
Think about it: if you have a molecule that can penetrate into the skin and slowly release formaldehyde, there will be formaldehyde present for a lot longer than if you use the item neat. And the skin is unlikely to have acquired a defense mechanism to deal with this.
So should you only use a DMDM Hydantoin free shampoo? It may take years of comprehensive investigation to determine whether it is safe or whether it is one of the skincare ingredients to avoid in our routines.
That said, it’s now up to you to make the decision for your haircare rituals. You could take a look at our other article if you’d like to know more about shampoo without DMDM hydantoin.
So if you’re wondering whether your favorite shampoo brand has this ingredient (does Pantene have DMDM hydantoin? does Suave have DMDM hydantoin?), we’ve checked some of them according to information from INCIDecoder.
Remember that these are shampoo products so you won’t find conditioners or other products such as Pantene Curl Mousse or Pantene Pro-V Defined Curls Mousse.
That said, here are various brands of shampoo with DMDM hydantoin:
| 6 elements Vedalogy Oily Scalp Shampoo |
| AG Fast Food Sulfate-Free Shampoo |
| Ahava Mineral Shampoo |
| Alpecin Dandruff Killer Shampoo |
| Argani Care Arganicare Shampoo For Dull, Very Dry & Frizzy Hair – Argan & Coconut |
| Argani Care Keratin Shampoo – Argan & Keratin |
| ARGANICARE Anti-Dandruff Shampoo |
| ARGANICARE Anti-Dandruff Shampoo – Argan & Shea Butter |
| ARGANICARE Keratin Shampoo |
| ARGANICARE Macadamia Shampoo For Dry & Damaged Hair – Argan & Macadamia |
| ARGANICARE Shampoo “Argan Oil” |
| ARGANICARE Revitalizing Collagen Shampoo With Organic Argan Oil |
| ARGANICARE Shampoo “Silk” |
| ARGANICARE Shampoo For Dull, Very Dry & Frizzy Hair – Argan & Coconut |
| ARGANICARE Shea Butter Shampoo For Dry Damaged Hair |
| ARGANICARE Ultra-Fortifying Shampoo For All Hair Types – Argan & Prickly Pear |
| BAIN DE TERRE Argan Oil Sleek & Smooth Shampoo |
| Bedhead Urban Antidotes Level 3 Resurrection Shampoo |
| Biotera Moisturizing Shampoo |
| CavinKare Chik Hairfall Prevent Egg White Shampoo |
| Cipla Anaboom Shampoo |
| Clear Men Anti Dandruff Shampoo Deep Cleanse With Charcoal Mint |
| Clear Men Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Cool Sport Menthol |
| Clinic plus Shampoo |
| COLOR WOW Security Shampoo |
| Dancoly Angel En Provence Green Tea Anti Dandruff Shampoo |
| Dove Advanced hair series Rejuvenated Volume Shampoo |
| Dove Advanced Moisture Shampoo |
| Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo |
| Dove Hair Therapy Hair Fall Rescue Shampoo |
| Dove Intense Repair Shampoo |
| Dove Men+Care 2 In 1 Shampoo And Conditioner |
| Dove Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo |
| Dove Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo |
| Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo |
| Ecohair Sdn Bhd Sensitive Soothes Therapy Shampoo |
| Elfa Pharm Burdock Shampoo |
| Erittäin Hieno Suomalainen Tervashampoo |
| Faberlic Salon Care Hyaluron Active Plumping Shampoo |
| FOLICURÉ Shampoo Original |
| Generic Value Products Gentle Moisture Shampoo |
| glenmark Bontress Hair Revitalising Shampoo |
| Granado Shampoo Bebê Lavanda |
| Happy hair Sos Repair Shampoo |
| Hydra Viva + Shampoo Capelli Chiari – Camomilla E Miele |
| Indiabulls Pharmaceuticals Minopep Anti Hairfall Shampoo |
| Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo |
| Kreogen Keratin Shampoo |
| Light Blue Shade Hydrating Shampoo |
| Luseta Beauty Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo |
| Luseta Beauty Luseta Marula Oil Shampoo |
| Mane ‘n Tail Shampoo |
| Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Shampoo |
| Mediceuticals Bioclenz Shampoo |
| Meera Shampoo |
| Mineralium Shampoo With Dead Sea Black Mud |
| NATURALS BY WATSONS Tea Tree Shampoo |
| Neutrogena 2-In-1 Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner |
| Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo |
| Neutrogena Shampoo, Anti-Residue Formula |
| Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo |
| Neutrogena T/Gel® Therapeutic Shampoo Stubborn Itch |
| Nexxus City Shield Shampoo |
| Nexxus Clean & Pure Shampoo |
| Nexxus Diametress Volume Rebalancing Silicone Free Shampoo |
| Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo |
| Nexxus Therappe Replenishing System Shampoo For Normal To Dry Hair |
| Nioxin Scalp Recovery Anti-dandruff Purifying Cleanser For Itchy, Flaky Scalp |
| Nioxin Scalp Recovery Cleanser, Medicating Shampoo For Itchy, Flaky Scalp |
| NMF Moisturising Shampoo |
| Noughty Pumped Up Shampoo |
| OGX Anti-Breakage + Keratin Oil Shampoo |
| OGX Ever Straightening Plus Brazilian Keratin Shampoo |
| OGX Fight Fallout + Niacin & Caffeine Shampoo |
| OGX Marula Oil Shampoo |
| Oilosophy Shampoo Mandarin & Flowers |
| Oriflame Shampoo Reparador Beautanicals |
| Ors Olive Oil Professional Neutralizing Shampoo |
| Ouidad Vitalcurl+ Clear And Gentle Shampoo |
| Salon Line Shampoo S.O.S Bomba |
| Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair Shampoo Sunsilk Hair Fall Solution Shampoo |
| Sebastian Volupt Shampoo |
| Sedal Co-creations Shampoo Sedal Detox Té Verde Y Limón |
| SELSUN Blue Medicated With Menthol Dandruff Shampoo |
| SELSUN Blue Replenishing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo |
| Spa Pharma Hydrating Tea Tree Shampoo With Essential Oils |
| Suave Ocean Breeze Shampoo |
| Suave Professionals Almond & Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo |
| Sunsilk Hair Fall Solution Shampoo |
| Sunsilk Soft & Smooth Shampoo |
| Superdrug Pro V Shampoo Normal With Vitamin E |
| Tendence Specifics Restore Cabelos Desvitalizados Shampoo |
| The derma CO Anti Dandruff Shampoo |
| The derma CO Anti Hairfall Shampoo |
| The Scalpologist Oily Scalp Shampoo |
| Tigi Bed Head – Urban Antidotes Re-Energise Daily Shampoo |
| Tigi Bed Head Urban Antidotes Re-Energize Shampoo |
| Tigi Bed Head Urban Antidotes Recovery Shampoo |
| tio nacho Natural Lightening & Volumizing Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Curl Hydration Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Hair Fall Defence Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Hairfall Defense Shampoo TRESemmé Smooth And Shine Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Nourish & Replenish Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Protect & Repair Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Smooth And Silky Shampoo |
| TRESemmé Tresemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo |
| TRESemmé TRESSEME Detox And Restore Shampoo |
| Truss Shampoo Equilibrium |
| Wella Professionals INVIGO Clean Scalp Anti Dandruff Shampoo |
| Xpel hair care Shampoo With Moroccan Argan Oil Extracts |