Benzene in Dry Shampoo

Laulie Barker '23 ~ November 2022

The Skipping Breakfast Type of Mornings

Going on second day hair because of the busy week? If so, then while you rush out the door after sleeping through your alarm, you naturally reach for dry shampoo. However, people have begun looking into components of aerosol dry shampoos, and the results may surprise you.

Professionals found that there are elevated levels of benzene, which is a carcinogen.To take precautions, the FDA has recalled specific brands of these dry shampoos.

The Backstory of Benzene

Benzene is a light yellow liquid that is odorless at room temperature. The hydrocarbon molecule is mostly used in gasoline. But the sweet smelling and highly flammable substance often appears in aerosol products. It is not safe to be exposed to high concentrations of benzene; therefore, it is imperative to shift to a safer dry shampoo formula that contains lower concentrations of benzene.

Safer Alternatives

There are aerosol dry shampoos that contain a safe amount of. Additionally, instead of using aerosol products, you can try a powder formulation that does not contain benzene yet can still absorb the oil in your hair by using a starch, an ingredient that is also in aerosol dry shampoos.

Dry Shampoo Brands that are Recalled:

(This is only for products produced and purchased prior to October 2021.)

-Dove Dry Shampoo Volume and Fullness

-Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh Coconut

-Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh and Floral

-Dove Dry Shampoo Ultra Clean

-Dove Dry Shampoo Invisible

-Dove Dry Shampoo Detox and Purify

-Dove Dry Shampoo Clarifying Charcoal

-Dove Dry Shampoo Go Active

-Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist

-Nexxus Inergy Foam Shampoo

-Suave Dry Shampoo Hair Refresher

-Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Refresh and Revive

-Tresemme Dry Shampoo Volumizing

-Tresemme Dry Shampoo Fresh and Clean

-Tresemme Pro Pure Dry Shampoo

-Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Dry Shampoo

-Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Volumizing Dry Shampoo

-Bed Head Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo

-Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo

Title Photo: Various dry shampoo aerosol products that may contain elevated levels of benzene have been recalled "out of an abundance of caution."

FDA/Screenshot by CNET

Title Photo: Google Sites