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Cancer Causing Chemical Benzene Found In More Dry Shampoo Products

Before you skip your hair washing for the day and reach for that bottle of dry shampoo, you may want to know you could be exposing yourself to a cancer causing chemical.

Last month, several brands of dry shampoo products were recalled. An independent report recently released states that more products may be affected. Lab researchers discovered in their studies troubling levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in more types of dry shampoo products.

The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified benzene as a Group 1 compound, defining it as “carcinogenic to humans.” The FDA currently lists it as a “Class 1 solvent.”


The report was released after several aerosol dry shampoos, such as Dove, Nexxus, Suave, Tigi and Tresemme, were voluntarily recalled last month due to the potential presence of benzene.

The report provided a long lists other aerosol dry shampoos brands as concerning, including Batiste, Amika, L’Oreal, Kerastase, Pureology, Biolage, Drybar, Not Your Mother’s, Paul Mitchell, Sun Bum, Batiste, dp Hue, OGX, San de Janeira, Redken, Sebastian, Klorane, IGK, CHI, Garnier Fructis, , Hask, Eva NYC, Kristin Ess, Bumble and Bumble, and Cake.

On Monday, a citizen petition was sent to the Food and Drug Administration saying 70% of samples from 34 different brands of dry shampoo showed quantifiable levels of benzene.

The petition asks the FDA to “expeditiously request recalls” on the affected batches of products containing benzene and better define limits for benzene contamination in other products. The FDA has 180 days to respond to a citizen petition.