3.5 /10
3.5 /10
Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser vs Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser
Decode Label-scored on the concerns that matter for Haircare — the facts from each label, side by side. We decode, you decide.
Pack images are shown to identify the products. Decode Label is independent of Patanjali and is not sponsored or endorsed by it. Trademarks
What's different
- •Only Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser lists the flagged ingredients Sugandhit Dravya, IPBC and CI 42090.
- •Only Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser lists the flagged ingredients Fragrance, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate and CI 17200.
- •Only Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser lists the allergens Cinnamomum zeylanicum Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil and Ocimum sanctum Leaf Oil and 1 more.
- •Only Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser lists a bare "Fragrance" without naming what is in it.
Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser
Fewer concerns on: Harsh Surfactants & Irritants
Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser
Not ahead on any concern we check.
Scores: both products fall in the Concerning band, so the small gap between them doesn't make one "safer". See each product's label findings below. Which difference matters most depends on who is eating or using it — that's your call.
A higher score means fewer or lighter concerns found under Decode Label's published rules. It is not a medical "safe", and a lower score does not establish that a product is unsafe.
Safety Score
Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser is a botanical-rich shampoo with a complex blend of plant extracts and essential oils, but it shares common formulation concerns with its counterpart.
Safety Score
Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser is a simpler formulation with fewer botanical actives, but it shares similar concerns regarding harsh surfactants and preservatives.
Side by side
What each label says.
Fragrance allergens matter mainly if you have sensitive skin or a known fragrance allergy.
What these labels can't tell us
- How much of each ingredient is in the product — labels list order, not amounts.
- What is inside a bare "Fragrance" — it can include allergens the label does not name.
- How the finished product performs, or how your skin or scalp will react — an ingredient list cannot show either.
- Anything a laboratory test would find — Decode Label reads labels; it does not test products.
Concern match
A separate lens from the overall Safety Score above — how well each product suits a specific concern, not an overall verdict. Each concern is scored 0–10: higher means less of that concern (5 ≈ neutral).
What matters most to you?
…or what you want it to do — read from the ingredients, not scored by the engine
For , scores higher ( vs ). This is only a per-concern fit lens — it doesn't change the overall safety score, where still has the higher score.
For , the two are evenly matched. The overall safety verdict is unchanged.
This one is read from the two ingredient lists rather than measured by the Decode Label engine — useful for choosing, but it is not a safety finding.
Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser scores higher due to the presence of Cocamide MEA, which can help to mitigate some of the harshness of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate, whereas Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser primarily relies on Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate with Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Decyl Glucoside, which are generally milder but in this formulation, the overall balance leads to a lower score.
Both products score equivalently low because Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser contains 'Sugandhit Dravya' and multiple essential oils (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Ocimum sanctum Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Syzygium aromaticum Flower Bud Oil), while Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser lists 'Fragrance', with neither fully disclosing potential allergens.
Both products score equivalently low due to the inclusion of Diazolidinyl Urea and Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (IPBC), which are preservatives with recognized safety concerns, including formaldehyde-releasing potential for Diazolidinyl Urea.
Both products score equivalently, as Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser contains multiple essential oils that can be sensitizing for some individuals, while Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser does not list specific botanical extracts that are known irritants in the same concentration.
Both products score equivalently, as neither product lists ingredients explicitly identified as endocrine disruptors at concerning levels within their formulations.
Both products score equivalently low due to the presence of Diazolidinyl Urea, a formaldehyde-releasing preservative, which carries a recognized risk of formaldehyde exposure.
Both products score equivalently, as Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser lists 'Sugandhit Dravya' and Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser lists 'Fragrance' without further detail, indicating a lack of full disclosure regarding potential fragrance allergens.
Declared ingredients linked to common haircare goals
Ingredient read — not a safety scoreRead from the two ingredient lists rather than measured by the Decode Label engine, so these sit apart from the scores above and do not change the verdict. 5 means neutral — no ingredient that helps or hinders. Traditional cosmetic use, not a medical claim — and the ingredient list alone does not establish that the finished product delivers the benefit.
Dandruff & Flaky Scalp
Stronger ingredient match: Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser +2.0Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser includes Azadirachta indica leaf extract (Neem) and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Tea Tree Oil), which are traditionally used for their antifungal and antimicrobial properties, often associated with managing dandruff, while Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser does not list specific anti-dandruff actives.
Scalp Itching & Irritation
Stronger ingredient match: Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser +1.0Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser contains Azadirachta indica leaf extract (Neem) and Ocimum sanctum Leaf Oil (Tulsi), traditionally used for their soothing properties, which may help with scalp irritation, whereas Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser does not list specific soothing botanicals.
Hair Strength, Density & Volume
Stronger ingredient match: Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser +1.0Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser contains Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract (Amla) and Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, traditionally associated with hair strengthening and promoting healthy hair, along with Vitamin B5, while Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser includes Panthenol (Vitamin B5) which supports hair health.
Dry, Damaged & Brittle Hair
Stronger ingredient match: Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser +0.5Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser includes Honey and Vitamin B5, which are known humectants and conditioning agents, while Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser contains Glycerin and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) for hydration and conditioning.
Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser
In its favour, from the label
- Contains Vitamin B5 for hair conditioning
Label findings to note
- Contains a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (EU SCCS)
- Primary surfactant with recognised irritation potential (EU SCCS)
- Undisclosed fragrance (allergens not named)
Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser
In its favour, from the label
- Contains Panthenol (Vitamin B5) for conditioning
- Includes Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Decyl Glucoside, which are generally milder co-surfactants
Label findings to note
- Contains a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (EU SCCS)
- Primary surfactant with recognised irritation potential (EU SCCS)
- Undisclosed fragrance (allergens not named)
Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser vs Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser — frequently asked questions
Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser's ingredient list includes Cinnamomum zeylanicum Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Ocimum sanctum Leaf Oil and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil. No allergen is named in Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser's ingredient list. It also lists a bare "Fragrance", whose components — which can include allergens — are not disclosed.
Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser lists Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sugandhit Dravya, IPBC and CI 42090. Kesh Kanti Shikakai Hair Cleanser lists Fragrance, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate and CI 17200.
Flagged ingredients in this comparison
Who classified each one, its regulation, and how common it is across the catalogue.
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Comparison generated by Decode Label from each product's listed ingredients. Every score and flagged finding comes from Decode Label's rules engine; the explanations and the ingredient read are written with AI and cannot change a score. Always read the actual label.