Pantene Pro-V: Bad for Our Hair and Body

Written by Ajay Chohan, Founder @ Small Batch Goodness

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Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo – Procter & Gamble

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Why the Pantene Pro-V shampoo product labeling is misleading: The more appropriate tag line for Pantene shampoos would be “daily harsh chemicals renewal”…ones that are tied to chemical burns, hair loss and allergic reactions

Potentially Harmful Ingredients in Pantene Shampoos to Avoid: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

PANTENE CLAIMS its “powerful Pro-V formula deeply hydrates and nourishes hair,” but its formula contains the same generic, synthetic & toxic ingredients as other shampoos of its kind. Note that Pantene’s marketing itself says that the “moisture renewal” claim is “based on moisturized feel,” and does not say anything about the shampoo actually rejuvenating or nourishing our hair resulting in less dry hair. It’s all marketing gimmicks.

Let’s now get into the actual ingredient profile of Pantene shampoos which are tied to skin irritations, chemical scalp burns and hair loss — there is a lot to get into. At the end of the article I will also give my thoughts on what does make a better shampoo and give my natural shampoo recommendations. Let’s begin:

Sodium Laureth Sulfate in Pantene shampoos and the cancer causing carcinogens Ethylene Oxide and 1,4-Dioxane it might be contaminated with:

After water, the first key ingredient (and thus forming the highest percentage of this concoction after water) is Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). SLES is a known skin & eye irritant (1). SLES may also be “contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane,” which the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies as human carcinogens (1). The California Environment Protection Agency also says ethylene oxide is a toxicant which may interfere with human development (1). Yikes. The fact that SLES composes the highest percentage of this concoction after water is especially disturbing.

Skin & Eye Irritant and Allergen of the Year in Pantene shampoos.

The detergent Cocamidopropyl Betaine is also among the top five ingredients. This is "an amphoteric synthetic detergent" linked with skin and eye irritation, as well as blistering and burning for more sensitive skin (2) (3). It was named Allergen of the Year in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society (2).

Pantene shampoos contain synthetic fragrance tied to allergic reactions.

The fragrance in this shampoo could denote any number of 200 chemicals used with various safety records. Cosmetic companies are not required to disclose exactly which chemical(s) their fragrance is comprised of, leaving the fun to us. Fragrances are often responsible for the allergic reactions consumers have to cosmetics (4).

Please Note: Here is my research article covering the attributes of a non-toxic yet effective shampoo for a healthy scalp and vibrant hair. I also give my best natural shampoo recommendations here.

Pantene shampoos use neurotoxins tied with chemical burns and allergic reactions as preservatives:

Pantene rounds things off with the ‘cytotoxic’ chelating agent Tetrasodium EDTA (5), with Methylchloroisothiazolinone - a preservative linked with allergic reactions and chemical burns (6) and with Methylisothiazolinone - another preservative and a known neurotoxic (7). That’s an insane amount of potentially toxic ingredients for getting the moisturized feel. No thank you.

Pantene shampoo and concerns around hair loss:

Consumer complains and allegations of hair loss after using the shampoo have long followed Pantene. In 2010, 19 year old Myleene Klass said using Pantene Pro-V resulted in hair loss to the point of significantly receding her hair line. Myleene here describes her ordeal in this DailyMail article, “but it was only when I patted my hair dry with a towel and looked in the mirror, that I realized the extent of the hair damage. My hairline had receded several inches where my hair had broken off at the roots. Meanwhile, the rest of my hair was so damaged and frizzy it was breaking off in handfuls. I was so devastated, I broke down in tears.”

Please Note: Here is my complete guide to all the 16 harmful chemicals commonly found across shampoos to avoid + a list of the worst shampoo brands.

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Babo Botanicals: The Best Natural Shampoo for Families

Babo’s Swim & Sport family shampoo is truly plant-based and safe for the most sensitive of scalps. Their concoction starts with mild yet effective coconut based surfactants for cleaning all buildup. What comes after is a treat for our hair.

The nourishment starts with their sustainably sourced maracuja seed oil from the passionflower plant, which has a powerful antioxidant & vitamin profile. Maracuja seed oil also does wonders for our scalp! This shampoo also has what Babo calls its nutri-soothe blend - a blend of calendula, chamomile, watercress and meadowsweet flower extracts - known for their antioxidant & soothing properties.

Kate Solomon founded Babo after her first born, leveraging her passion and knowledge for beekeeping & sustainable agriculture. You can find this Babo shampoo here and pair it with their Swim & Sport Citrus Mint Conditioner. I also love Babo’s baby focused line including their Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash and Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen. SHOP Babo Shampoo.

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Another young consumer’s Pantene hair loss story.

Then in 2019, 21 year old Ashley Rose Robinson’s story similarly gained attention. She experienced sudden hair loss after using Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume conditioner. Ashley here quotes to CBS WCCO in this Fox News article, “My hair just started falling out in clumps on the floor, and it just kept coming out and coming out and coming out and I screamed.” Ashley’s post on Facebook garnered almost 20,000 comments from sympathizing users. The fact that both of these women had significant hair loss at such a young age and for no other apparent reason is especially concerning.

Pantene is bad for our hair & is one of the worst shampoos we can use.

Pantene shampoo is highly misleading because it only gives the feel of moisturizing and hydrating our hair, but is not actually nourishing for our hair in any way. Instead, it is absolutely loaded with toxic ingredients. We suggest you ditch this harmful shampoo from your daily shampooing and conditioning routine and find a milder alternative.

What makes a better shampoo?

The best natural shampoos are safe yet effective. Such shampoos gently cleanse with ingredients that are whole + alive + naturally nourishing. Meaning — the ingredients come from whole botanical and flower extracts from living & breathing plants — not dead chemical compounds from a lab.

The quality and aliveness of the ingredients is thus the biggest factor that makes a truly better natural shampoo. In addition to refreshing us, a better shampoo gently cleanses whilst promoting overall scalp and hair health. You can read my article here where I cover the key attributes of a better shampoo and give my best natural shampoo recommendations. In brief:

  1. The shampoo needs to have safe yet effective cleansing agents — such as castile soap

  2. The best natural shampoos are actually nourishing for our hair:

    This nourishment comes from wholesome plant extracts which strengthen hair roots & follicles, and yields naturally vibrant & beautiful hair

  3. The shampoo can not have toxic ingredients:

    No harsh chemicals that can trigger allergies, cause scalp irritation & hair loss, disrupt our hormones etc. The shampoo should be safe for even the most sensitive of scalps

My What Makes a Truly Better Shampoo article goes deeper into my above criteria. Here I also give my best natural shampoo recommendations by category, so be sure to check it out!

And that’s all folks. Are (or were) you using the Pantene Pro-V shampoo? Share your experiences below! Lastly, here are other popular Pantene shampoo & conditioner products with similarly harmful ingredients tied to severe allergic reactions, neurotoxicity and carcinogenic risks that you should be avoiding:

  • Pantene Argan Oil Shampoo for Frizz Control, Smooth and Sleek

  • Pantene Volumizing Shampoo and Sulfate Free Conditioner for Fine Hair, Sheer Volume

  • Pantene Moisturizing Shampoo and Silicon-Free Conditioner for Dry Hair

  • Pantene Pro-V Colored Hair Color Preserve Volume Shampoo

Sources - Research for Yourself!

1. https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/dirty-dozen-sodium-laureth-sulfate/

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18627690/

3. https://rollingreens.com/blogs/news/the-truth-about-what-s-in-your-beauty-products

4. https://www.safecosmetics.org/fragrance-disclosure/learn-more/health-effects-chemical-concern/#_ftn10

5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12396676/

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylchloroisothiazolinone

7. https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/chemical-free-living-methylisothiazolinone/

Think a loved one can benefit from this important research on Pantene shampoo ingredients? Do not forget to share!
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