Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1498691
N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 27 First sunscreen, then hand sanitizer, and now dry shampoo. It seems benzene contamination is making its way through the personal-care spectrum. You may not be a scientist, but your best bet to avoid harm to you and your clients is to pay attention to any recalls and always, always, read ingredient labels. Notes 1. Unilever, "Dry Shampoo Recall," accessed March 2023, unileverrecall.com. 2. Valisure, "Valisure Detects Benzene in Dry Shampoo," November 1, 2022, valisure.com/valisure-newsroom/ valisure-detects-benzene-in-dry-shampoo. 3. "Benzene," API Toxicology Review (September 1948): 4, documentcloud.org/documents/1373098- 00010795#document/p4/a191061. 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Facts About Benzene," last reviewed April 4, 2018, emergency.cdc.gov/ agent/benzene/basics/facts.asp. 5. Valisure, "Valisure Detects Benzene in Dry Shampoo." affects the human body by inhibiting cells from working correctly. "For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia," says the CDC. It can also influence the immune system by interfering with antibody levels in the blood, causing a loss of white blood cells. 4 SO WHY IS IT IN DRY SHAMPOO? Have you ever dated someone who is so clingy, they find their way into your friend groups and social scene? That would be benzene. Curiously, it is not part of an intentional product formulation—instead, it clings to butane, which is often found in aerosol products. Though butane has no effect on scalp surface oil, it is a factor when considering overall formula. Its function in certain aerosol products is to propel actives—in this case, the ingredients that neutralize oily hair for a fresh look and smell. On a molecular level, benzene has the propensity to adhere to butane and is often found as a "co-habitant" after the refinement process. It seems that is how the contamination in dry shampoo occurred, as Unilever explains it. However, according to Valisure, some of the sprays tested contained "170 times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million (ppm)". 5 It would be more likely that something went awry with raw materials. IS DRY SHAMPOO SAFE FOR MY CLIENTS? While there's no definite conclusion for the exact risk of cancer caused by dry shampoo, your clients will inevitably have questions or fears relating to safe product usage. You should explain to them that not all spray dry shampoos were recalled in that 2022 Unilever recall. In fact, plenty of brands and products—many that you likely recommend—passed safety tests. There are many harmless options you can continue recommending and selling. If your clients are still cautious, or if you're cautious, there are products that do not require spray propulsion and instead require a few quick shakes of a bottle to refresh lovely locks for days. You might recommend dry shampoos in the form of powder, paste, foam, or mist. Your clients might find these options absorb oil better than aerosol versions. While recalls are never the best news, this is a fantastic opportunity for you as the professional to guide your clients to quality professional hair care that has been vetted to pass your strict standards. THE INGREDIENT