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Brand owned by Procter & Gamble (United States) · about the brand
Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 3.0 ShowHide
Reviewed 6 times · Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
The score is capped for a specific safety reason, set out below. This shampoo contains strong cleansing agents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which can be irritating for sensitive scalps. The presence of Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, known potent contact sensitizers, is a significant concern, especially for individuals prone to allergies or dermatitis. While it effectively cleanses and contains an anti-dandruff active, the undisclosed 'Fragrance' and several potential irritants make it less suitable for those with sensitive skin or fragrance allergies.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Piroctone Olamine
- Sodium Benzoate
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Contains strong irritants and potent sensitizing preservatives.
The score is capped for a specific safety reason, set out below. This shampoo uses harsh cleansing agents that can irritate sensitive skin and contains preservatives (Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone) known to cause allergic reactions. It also includes an undisclosed 'Fragrance' blend, which is a common allergen. While it cleanses effectively, it's not recommended for people with sensitive scalps or allergies.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Methylchloroisothiazolinone are declared.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for haircare. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Triggered by CI 42090, CI 17200 — a synthetic colour on our aromatic-amine watch list (impurity risk). A colour-quality caution, not a finding that this product contains a carcinogen.
Why the score is capped
Contains an isothiazolinone contact sensitizer — MCI/MI (EU SCCS)
Rule PC-CAP-15
Primary surfactant with recognised irritation potential (EU SCCS)
Rule PC-CAP-05
What's good
Contains Piroctone Olamine, an effective anti-dandruff agent.
Includes mild co-surfactant Cocamidopropyl Betaine to help reduce irritation.
Contains conditioning agents (Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride) for hair manageability.
Watch out for
High potential for skin and scalp irritation due to strong sulfates (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate).
Significant risk of allergic reactions and sensitization from Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone.
Undisclosed 'Fragrance' and declared fragrance allergens can trigger sensitivities.
Silicones (Dimethiconol, Dimethicone) may lead to product build-up on hair over time.
TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate — an anionic surfactant that can be irritating to skin and eyes, similar to other strong detergents. Concerns exist regarding potential for nitrosamine formation if contaminated with nitrosating agents, though this is less common in modern formulations.
CI 42090 — a synthetic colour (Colour Index dye) added purely for appearance — it gives the product no benefit for skin or health. Permitted at regulated levels, but synthetic dyes of this class are a recognised contact-irritant and sensitiser risk for some people, so they are noted as a moderate, subgroup-level concern rather than a general-population hazard.
CI 17200 — a synthetic colour (Colour Index dye) added purely for appearance — it gives the product no benefit for skin or health. Permitted at regulated levels, but synthetic dyes of this class are a recognised contact-irritant and sensitiser risk for some people, so they are noted as a moderate, subgroup-level concern rather than a general-population hazard.
TETRASODIUM EDTA — tetrasodium EDTA is a chelating agent that keeps a product stable and clear. It has been flagged in some studies for potential endocrine-disrupting properties; regulatory consensus is not yet established, so it is noted as a low-level concern rather than a confirmed hazard.
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Methylisothiazolinone
MI and its chlorinated partner MCI are preservatives and recognised contact sensitisers. After MI replaced parabens in many products, European dermatology clinics recorded a sharp rise in contact allergy to it. Contact allergy, once acquired, is usually long-lasting, so people already sensitised to MI are advised to avoid it. EU rules ban MI from leave-on cosmetics (since 2017) and limit it to 15 ppm in rinse-off products. Whether a particular product causes a reaction depends on the person, the concentration and the contact time, which the label alone cannot show.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 2017/1224; SCCS Opinion SCCS/1521/13; British Journal of Dermatology (MI epidemic)
Methylisothiazolinone: regulation, sources and other products →Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
SLS is an aggressive surfactant that strips skin of its natural oils, disrupts the skin barrier, and can cause contact dermatitis, canker sores, and eye irritation. People with eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin should avoid SLS-containing products. It is particularly harsh in oral care products where it contacts mucous membranes.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: SCCS; American Academy of Dermatology; Herlofson & Barkvoll 1996
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: regulation, sources and other products →Sodium Laureth Sulfate
SLES is a cleansing agent that is milder than SLS but can still irritate very sensitive or compromised skin. Separately, because it is made by ethoxylation, it may carry a residue of 1,4-dioxane, which IARC classifies as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The ingredient list cannot show whether any is present or how much. The EU SCCS considers 1,4-dioxane at or below 10 ppm in a finished cosmetic to be safe, and manufacturers reduce it by vacuum stripping.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FDA; EU SCCS
Sodium Laureth Sulfate: regulation, sources and other products →Fragrance
"Fragrance" or "parfum" is a catch-all term that can conceal a blend of hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, including known allergens, sensitisers, and potential endocrine disruptors. The EU now mandates disclosure of 82 specific fragrance allergens. People with fragrance sensitivity, asthma, or contact dermatitis should prefer fragrance-free products.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 2023/1545; IFRA
Fragrance: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, potent contact sensitizers and common allergens. These are restricted in rinse-off products and prohibited in leave-on products in the EU due to their high sensitization potential. Individuals with sensitive skin or a history of contact dermatitis should avoid this product.
Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), a strong anionic surfactant known for its potential to cause skin and scalp irritation, dryness, and stripping of natural oils, especially for sensitive individuals.
Contains 'Fragrance' (undisclosed blend) and specific fragrance allergens (Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool). These are common causes of allergic contact dermatitis and can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.
Combined Effects interactions
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is often used to mitigate the irritation potential of harsher anionic surfactants like SLS and SLES, but the combined presence of two strong sulfates (SLS and SLES) still presents a high irritation risk for sensitive individuals.
These two preservatives are often used together in a blend (Kathon CG). While effective as antimicrobials, their combined use, even in rinse-off products, significantly increases the risk of contact sensitization and allergic reactions due to their potent sensitizing properties.
The presence of an undisclosed 'Fragrance' blend along with individually declared fragrance allergens (Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool) indicates a high potential for allergic reactions and sensitization, especially for individuals with fragrance sensitivities. The 'Fragrance' itself may contain other undeclared allergens.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
This claim refers to a testing process that cannot be verified from the provided ingredient or nutrition list.
This claim refers to product efficacy and cannot be verified from the provided ingredient or nutrition list.
This claim refers to scientific validation that cannot be verified from the provided ingredient or nutrition list.
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
Fragrance allergens are substances EU cosmetics rules require to be named on the label (such as Limonene and Linalool). Fragrant botanicals such as essential oils are grouped with them because they can naturally contain such substances, but they are not on that list. They matter mainly for people with fragrance allergies or already-sensitive skin — not a general-population safety issue. Each named allergen takes a small deduction from the ingredient score, and a high count can cap it; fragrant botanicals take none. Naming them on the label is a transparency positive.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
Compare with other shampoo products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
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What are the ingredients in Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol?
The label of Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol lists 25 ingredients, in label order: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Fragrance, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Piroctone Olamine, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, TETRASODIUM EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Linalool, Trideceth-10, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Propylene Glycol, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 42090, CI 17200. Flagged by the analysis: Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fragrance and 4 more.
Is Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol safe to use?
Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol scores 3.0/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). The score is capped for a specific safety reason, set out below. This shampoo uses harsh cleansing agents that can irritate sensitive skin and contains preservatives (Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone) known to cause allergic reactions. It also includes an undisclosed 'Fragrance' blend, which is a common allergen. While it cleanses effectively, it's not recommended for people with sensitive scalps or allergies.
Why does Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol score 3.0/10?
Flagged in the score: High potential for skin and scalp irritation due to strong sulfates (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate). Significant risk of allergic reactions and sensitization from Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. Undisclosed 'Fragrance' and declared fragrance allergens can trigger sensitivities.
Who should avoid Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Sensitive skin; Fragrance allergy; Contact dermatitis; Eczema.
Does Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol contain allergens?
Yes — the label lists 2 fragrance allergens: Hexyl Cinnamal and Linalool. These matter mainly if you have sensitive skin or a known fragrance allergy.
Does Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol contain fragrance?
Yes — the ingredient list includes Fragrance. Fragrance is declared as a single ingredient, so the individual scent chemicals in it are not named; the label does separately list 2 fragrance allergens (Hexyl Cinnamal and Linalool). This matters mainly if you have sensitive skin or a known fragrance allergy.
Are the claims on the Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 3 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "DERMATOLOGICALLY TESTED" — can't be verified from the label. "UP TO 100% DANDRUFF PROTECTION" — can't be verified from the label. "CLINICALLY PROVEN" — can't be verified from the label.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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