Formula · 6.5

Brand · 6.5

Head & Shoulders · piroctone olamine · US

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean
6.5

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence1.0Effect supported by studies
  • Completeness for the purpose0.4For “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 36 %; without salicylic acid, which lifts the flakes; nasturtium extract; could be added without conflict: salicylic acid (bha), nasturtium extract; below threshold: piroctone olamine; a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Cleansing base0.5Harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS); mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 54 % of SLS; film: silicones
  • Tolerance0.9Rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • children
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • for dandruff
  • oily scalp
  • colour-treated hairwashes colour out faster
  • sensitive skinrare contact allergy to impurities
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • dry scalpmay dry
  • dry skinmay dry
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Dandruff is the Malassezia fungus plus accelerated flaking. You need an antifungal active (piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) and a mild cleansing base; results come after 2–4 weeks of regular washing.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
with every wash, leave on for 2–3 minutes
When to expect an effect: dandruff — 2–4 weeks of regular use

Ingredients — 25 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 25 ingredients: piroctone olamine. Dandruff is the Malassezia fungus plus accelerated flaking. You need an antifungal active (piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) and a mild cleansing base; results come after 2–4 weeks of regular washing.

Strengths: actives and evidence, tolerance

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 36 %; cleansing base: harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate

Questions: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): sodium laureth sulfate — the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products; sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS): sodium lauryl sulfate — a harsh cleansing surfactant; dries skin and stings eyes more often than others; permitted in rinse-off products; fragrance and its allergens: fragrance, hexyl cinnamal, linalool

  • Aqua base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate questions · the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate questions · a harsh cleansing surfactant; dries skin and stings eyes more often than others; permitted in rinse-off products
  • Sodium Chloride base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Sodium Xylenesulfonate base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine base: coating, fillers · a mild amphoteric surfactant: it builds dense foam and softens the harsh sulfates next to it. It occasionally causes contact allergy, and the culprit is a manufacturing impurity rather than the ingredient itself.
  • Glycol Distearate base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • Sodium Citrate base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Parfum questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Dimethiconol base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Piroctone Olamine works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: piroctone olamine
  • Sodium Benzoate base: coating, fillers · a preservative both in cosmetics and in supplements: a salt of benzoic acid that works in an acidic medium. Permitted as food additive E211 and in cosmetics up to 0.5 %.
  • Dimethicone base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • Hexyl Cinnamal questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Linalool questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Tetrasodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • Sodium Hydroxide base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Trideceth-10 base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • Sodium Salicylate base: coating, fillers · protect the product from bacteria and mould; used within the EU-permitted concentrations
  • Triethylene Glycol base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • Propylene Glycol base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean is a product whose active ingredient is piroctone olamine. The concentration is not declared; the active sits after the 1 % line, but works at small shares. The effect is supported by studies: 0.5–1 %: reduces dandruff and itching, acts on Malassezia — RCTs. The formula has 25 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Sodium Laureth Sulfate (the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products); Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a harsh cleansing surfactant; dries skin and stings eyes more often than others; permitted in rinse-off products); Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool. Dandruff is the Malassezia fungus plus accelerated flaking. You need an antifungal active (piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) and a mild cleansing base; results come after 2–4 weeks of regular washing. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, children, pregnancy, for dandruff, oily scalp. colour-treated hair, sensitive skin, atopic skin, dry scalp, dry skin — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: with every wash, leave on for 2–3 minutes. When to expect an effect: dandruff — 2–4 weeks of regular use. Label score — 6.5 out of 10 (for “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 36 %; without salicylic acid, which lifts the flakes; nasturtium extract; could be added without conflict: salicylic acid (bha), nasturtium extract; below threshold: piroctone olamine; a narrow formula for one purpose; harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (sles), sodium lauryl sulfate (sls); mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 54 % of sls; film: silicones; rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). Per the pack: avoid contact with eyes; rinse thoroughly with water on contact. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: itching, rash — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Per the pack: avoid contact with eyes; rinse thoroughly with water on contact. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Is this product right for your hair?

The score describes the formula, not your hair: a sulfate shampoo suits an oily scalp and fails a dry, sensitive one. Tell us about your hair, scalp and the problem — shedding, dandruff, oiliness, dryness — and we will build a routine and say whether this product suits you.

Hair care matchDecode my tests

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