December 14 2005, 10:31 am PT | Posted in: Hair Loss Causes + Hair Products
Somebody mentioned losing hair after using Head ‘n Shoulders shampoo. In the fall of 1975, I started using Head ‘n Shoulders shampoo and immediately started losing hair and even though I could not prove the causal relation between the two, I immediately quit using Head ‘n Shoulders. Even though my hair has still receded and thinned somewhat since then, I have always been curious if anyone has taken a look at Head ‘n Shoulders and complaints about that brand of shampoo as a possible cause of hair loss.
Head & Shoulders shampoo, to my knowledge, does not contribute to hair loss. You are the first person who has presented this complaint to me. It is very possible that there was a coincidence between the shampoo and the change in your hair loss status.
Update August 18, 2008 –
Although I initially posted this almost 3 years ago, this has become a very hot topic as of late and the readers have provided some good commentary below.
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Hi,
I am a 27 y/o male that started using head and shoulders about 4 years ago. I do not have family history of thin hair, and always had thick hair myself. I have noticed that my hair on top is much thinner than it used to be, which caused me to do a google search where I found this site. I am wondering if there is a correalation.
I too have had that happen. I used Head & Shoulders for almost 8 years and my hair on top thinned out along with the rest of my hair, to the point I was going bald it seemed. Then I stopped using it and the thickness returned along the sides and back, but the top near the forehead and crown has still not recovered and was the most affected. I’ve heard of other stories as well of people losing hair to Head & Shoulders, including my barber (back in the 60s when they had an industrial strength formula for dandruff and his hair never grew back) and my ex-g/f’s dad started losing his hair because of it, but he only used it for 3 years and it eventually grew back over the course of a year or so. I suggest stopping use of the shampoo, or if you are using it daily, use it once a week instead like you would any other medical dandruff shampoo. Head & Shoulders is definitely not for daily use.
im pretty sure there is a correalation between using Head and Shoulders and hair loss. Ive been using it for almost two years and recently I’ve been losing dramatic amounts of hair. My mom told me to discontinue using it because it also caused her and my uncle to lose hair. i have a huge urge to sue Head and Shoulders because im only 16 and should have volumous hair, instead I have thin hair and I’m still losing hair after a month of switching shampoos.
Head & Shoulders killed me thick head of hair in a matter of 3 years, especially the top & crown. Since i’ve discontinued use (4 years ago), it has very slowly, but noticeably, recovered, but nothing close to what it was…i dont think it ever will. I am incredibly angry at the makers of this product and i would gladly join a class action suit against them!
I’ve used Head and Shoulders for the last few months and almost 100% of my hair fell out. My wife says I look like a shiny billiard ball now.
I’m an 18 year old. recently used head and shoulders for about 1 month. Discontinued use after recognizing my hair loss.. still losing hair.. doesn’t seem to stop.
Very angry at this product.
I’m 26 years old and i’ve been using head and shoulders for about 6 years. The hair on top of my head thinned out a lot and it looks very bad. Head and sholders should pay for the damaged they have done.
I just turned eighteen and have never thought my hair was thinning or that I was losing hair until I used head and shoulders for about a month. The shampoo has definately made my hair thinnner and a lot of my hair has fallen out. This product sucks and discontinue use immediately.
I’ve had the exact same problem. I’m 22 and I’ve had really thick hair until recently when I noticed it’s starting to thin in the back. I thought it may have been the Head & Shoulders shampoo that caused it so I did a search to see if anyone else had this problem. This page popped up. I will never again use that shampoo.
I started losing hair before using head & shoulders. I used it for about 3 years and didn’t notice any more hair loss than what I had experienced before. I still have hair on my head just less than in high school.
I don’t think Head & Shoulders has anything to do with hair loss, considering the Millions they sell and the total of 9 responses on this site.
I am not sure if the shampoo is to blame, however I am 25 years old, started using head and shoulders “refresh”. I have been using it for just over a month now. I did not notice any hair loss until this week. My hair is falling out like crazy. I don’t believe it is normal for this to happen, even for normal hair thinning of loss. I look at my hair and compare it to a picture of myself taken 2 months ago, and I can see I have lost a dramatic amount.
I have never had a problem with hair loss…never hair on my pillow or visible in the shower. Except now, my pillow is full of hair, my keyboard has many lost hairs, and I even rinsed my hair with only water in the sink so I could see how bad it was…the water was full of hair.
I am going to a doctor this week to be checked out for everything possible.
Well, after about a year of using head and shoulders I’ve also noticed my hair thinning out. The interesting thing is that it’s gradual thinning throughout the entire scalp rather than just male pattern baldness.
When I started I washed my hair about three times a week, but when i switched over to using it everyday i’ve noticed my scalp becoming very itchy and red sometimes. I think it’s the only shampoo out there with a warning in the back saying that you should discontinue use if irritation or rash occurs…well too late for me i guess. Hopefully a year of use is recoverable, I’ll try to remember to post if i see an improvement after a few months.
I used Head and Shoulders for 4 days in a row and my scalp hurt and BEGAN to itch. Then I started to have my hair shed more than usual. I initially turned to Head and Shoulders because it was supposed to STOP inflammation. But, for whatever reason, it made mine worse. As I think someone else wrote on here–it’s NOT for daily use.
I’ve recently had a dramatic loss of hair. Everytime I touch my hair it seems to be falling out and when I shampoo and wash it it seems to come out in droves. I’ve only just made the connection to the “New” Head & Shoulders ‘Ocean Lift’ Shampoo I’ve been using. It’s Ocean Lifting the hair right off of my head. I’ve always had healthy curly hair and never a problem with hair loss like this. I’m sure the harsh ingredients that they put into their products must do some damage to the hair follicles. I will immediately stop using this shampoo and hope that my hair comes back to the healthy state it was in prior to this.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been having thinning hair since 2002. At that time, I read somewhere to use T/Gel shampoo and it somehow slow the thinning process. I started using Rogaine and it also seemed to help.
Then in March 2007, I read that Head & Shoulders’s “Classic Clean” formula helped a few people with Acne on their backs. Since I had that problem, I purchased it and it tremendously helped reduce my Acne. However, I also started using it as a shampoo and within 2 weeks, I noticed my crown area SIGNIFICANTLY thinner than before. Since H&S was the only new thing I introduced, I’m sure it was the cause.
I have discontinued usage, and will NEVER EVER put Head & Shoulders on my scalp again.
hi, i’m 16 years old, and ive always depended on head/shoulders for killing my dandruff.. but over the past 2 months ive noticed a very disturbing amount of hair falling out… everytime i brush my hair at the end of the day, big big chunks of hair is left on my brush and the floor, also when i’m washing my hair. My mom saw the hair and told me to stop using it, cuz she also experienced hair loss. so we stopped using it
and the hair loss stopped…yay:-)
also, its quite embarrasing to be depositing long random hair strands everywhere i go, especially in school cuz hair strands appear randomly on my arm and binders, ugh
I used head and shoulders for 2 months and now my hair is so healthy, I’m 25 years old, a male, and my hair is thick and no more dry scalp, so I’m thinking everybody else on here just happened to be getting close to hair lose gentically. I use head and shoulders every other day.
I was using H&S for about a year and lost about 30% of my hair at the crown (i kid you not). The scalp was starting to be visible under a bright light. I have discontinued it now for 6 months, and i’m regrowing the lost hair
I can authoritatively say that H&S is the culprit. I don’t care how efficient it is against dandruff. Whatz the point when it aggravates hair-loss.
My advice: Wash hair on alternate days using a very mild herbal shampoo. Once in a week use a good anti-dandruff shampoo (even if you are not affected by dandruff). I have found Vichy’s anti-dandruff shampoo to be extremely good.
Try to avoid shampoo which has ALS and SLS (ammonium/sodium Laureth Sulfate). They are cleansing agents used to clean Garage floors.
BTW, “whoever” says H&S does not contribute to hair-loss, is just bullshitting. He probably has a hidden benefit in promoting the crap.
All right, so I started using Head and shoulders 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner because I had a mild case of dandruff. The dandruff problem was solved, but I continued using the shampoo anyway. I noticed my hair thinning a little bit and immediately blamed the shampoo and quit using it. The dandruff soon came back so I did extensive research on which dandruff shampoos are the best. The active ingredient in head and shoulders is pyrithione zinc and this ingredient does not show any side effects that contribute to hair loss. Shampoos with ingredients such as selenium sulfide, however, have a less common side effect of increased NORMAL hair loss. I also found a study in which a generic brand with 1% pyrithione zinc actually slightly increased hair density. So i resumed head and shoulder, but the classic clean shampoo only, as this was the shampoo that most matches the one used in the study. I have been using the shampoo daily and i don’t think it has increased my hair loss or has caused it to thin. During my initial thinning episode, i was going through a lot of stress so maybe the shampoo wasn’t to blame?? I guess it depends on who uses it, here is the link to the study.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
oops, this is the actual link. I checked pubmed, just in case, to see if the article/study was in their database and it was. Copy and paste the title in the pubmed search engine to find the article there.
http://www.hairloss-research.org/HeadandShoulders.html
There are many studies that show pyrithione zinc, the active ingredient in Head and SHoulders, as increasing hair growth. From what I have read it increses the number of hairs in the anagen phase. Other ingredients that do the same are ketoconzale. Pyrithione zinc is found in head and shoulders and the ketoconzale is in Nizoral. One study did show that pyrithione zinc slightly decreased hair diameter and ketoconzale increased hair diameter. However, ketoconzale and its effect on hair is debatable because of conflicting studies and information. Pyrithione zinc however, has generally been shown to be beneficial. The effect may also vary depending on individuals. Head and Shoulders shouldn’t lead to hair loss, but if you think it does then don’t use it.
To find the studies simple type head and shoulders hair loss in a search engine, i used google, and the first couple links should show the study. For the study with ketoconzale and pyrithione zinc, do a google scholar search with pyrithione zinc vs. selenium sulfide in the search field. the study is near the botton and says something along the line of improving hair health/ scalp health.
I’ve been using H&S for about a month. I’ve never lost hair at a noticable rate, never seen my hair in the shower and very few hairs in the brush. I have a receding hair line but its moving very slowly.
Since using H&S - about once every 3-4 days, I have noticed hair loss, I run my fingers through my hair and seem to be catching hairs on every pass.
Im not sure if H&S is causing the folicals to expand/loosen up making the hairs easy to fall out.
I havent been using conditioner after H&S which could be the issue.
i do not take any meds to prevent my androgenic alopecia, but i don’t know about H&S, but i have been placing half a hollowed-out watermelon on my head for the last month, and have been noticing hair falling out at a significant rate, i don’t think it is my androgenic alopecia that progresses with age, i think it is the hollowed-out watermelon i put on my head, i never used to put a watermelon on my head when i was younger, but now that i am older i do put a half watermelon on my head, once again i do not believe the hair loss is related to age associated androgenic alopecia, but is definitely the hollowed-out watermelon half i put on my head, definitely that’s it!
I am 26 years old. Over the past 2 years I have noticed my hair thinning almost to the point of baldness in some areas. Up until 4 months ago, I had never used Head & Shoulders shampoo. I began using Head & Shoulders shampoo 4 months ago, and I have noticed a dramatic improvement! My hair has grown back thicker than before! Women at work have noticed too. They tell me how much more handsome I look, and they seem to love running their hands through my thick head of hair. I just wanted to let you all know, just in case you were worried that Head & Shoulders was a bad product. It isn’t! It is wonderful and it definitely contributes to new hair growth!
I had dandruff problem before and started using H&S anti-dandruff shampoo. This shampoo is so harsh and full of chemicals. I noticed a significant hair falling out after I come my hair or take a shower.
A friend of mine recommended me to use a mild herbal based shampoo instead. Ever since I started using the Lauat herbal hair shampoo, my hair loss problem stopped. Surprisingly, it also get rid of my annoying dandruff problem! You can read more about the Lauat herbal hair shampoo on http://www.elantree.com.
Sonny Le, forgive me but you are not an expert on this. You prove that with your comment about Head & Shoulders being harsh and full of chemicals. I wonder if you have ever even used Head & Shoulders before. I have used Head & Shoulders and I know that it is NOT harsh, but actually quite soothing to the scalp. Also, there are absolutely no chemicals in Head & Shoulders. So you are wrong about that, too.
If you want bugs to grow in your hair, then please be my guest and continue to use that mild herbal based shampoo. But if you want to experience a beautiful, luxurious head of hair, then use Head & Shoulders.
well randall, im 16 years old ive always had thick luxuriouse hair that everybody comented on…about a year ago i noticed a little bit of flackage so i stoppped using pantene and started using head and shoulders and every since then so much of my hair has been falling out i cant practically see my scalp when im in the shower so much falls out and even on a regular basis…its really noticable when im under a bright light its so embarassing especially when your a teenage girl in your last year of high school and if you think that head and shoulders isnt full of chemicalls you have no idea what your talking about theres lead in the shampoo and if you knew what led did to you when you touched it it clearly cant be any good for your scalp…how do you think it stops dandruff which i may add it does very well its called CHEMICALLSS!! ive spent the last year crying over this hair loss and im going to imidiatly stop using H&S and if i see my hair starting to grow back i swear i will seww this company! no one should be using this product if it actually is the source of my hair loss! and clearly if this many ppl are saying its doing the exact same thing to them its true…i am perfectly healthy and only 16 there is no reason for my hair to be falling out except for this crappy product! and i also use ocean lift!
its better to have a little but of dandruff which can be removed with another product then go bald!
Stef, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: many people on this planet lose their hair. It happens to both men and women. It isn’t Head & Shoulders doing it, honey, it’s GENETICS.
Now, I have to come clean. I am not an expert. I don’t even really use Head & Shoulders.
If you’re 16 and your hair really is falling out, then that sucks. But keep in mind, it’s normal to lose stray hairs in the shower. That happens to everyone. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I believe it’s normal for a person to lose hundreds of hairs each day. So don’t trip out over your hair falling out in the shower. At 16, you’re way too young to worry about your hair thinning out. But hey, if you’ve got the nerve and the money, go see a doctor and maybe you can get some Rogaine or something.
Randall, you are wrong. Not to mention, a hypocrite (you stated you had used the product, but now you say you “don’t even really use” it.
I remember using Head and Shoulders before for my dandruff, but I also noticed thinning. I had gone to my dermatologist for my hair loss. I was 17 at the time (now 18) and immediately she asked what shampoo I was using. As soon as I said Head and Shoulders, she told me to never use it again. She gave me a new “organic” shampoo and a few other products, and since then, I have not lost hair. It took a while to kick in, but now everything is okay.
I used to have a full head of thick hair, my barber used to tell me how lucky I was, and slowly, it did thin. He also asked if I was using Head and Shoulders, because he too had the same problem.
Brandon, I may have made inconsistent statements, but you are ignorant. And so is your dermatologist if she thinks that switching from Head & Shoulders to an “organic” shampoo will somehow prevent your genetics from doing their thing. I used Head & Shoulders shampoo between the ages of 12 and 25 and always had thick hair. Recently (over the last 2 years or so, I am now almost 27) my hair has been thinning. I attribute it to genetics. Interestingly, over most of the past 2 years I have been using organic shampoos. Most recently I’ve taken to washing my hair with the same bar of olive oil soap that I use on the rest of my body. My hair is still thinning. I suppose you’ll tell me that I shouldn’t be using bar soap to wash my hair, and that only actual shampoo will do. Well, I think the shampoos we’re using have nothing to do with it. It’s all in our genes. Perhaps products like Rogaine can actually prevent hair loss, but I am not sure I want to risk whatever side effects might be associated with putting that junk in my body. Plus, I imagine it’s outrageously expensive. No, I’ll just have to learn to live life as a baldy. You guys should probably start thinking about learning how to cope with your bodies as they are, rather than blaming some product for something that is natural.
Some of u guys say u lose alot of hair or whatever…exactly how many is alot? (say in the shower)
Hi there
After using Head and Shoulders Menthol ONCE, I have since had major irritation to my scalp.
This has now been causing me a problem for over a month with no signs of abating.
I’m finding that bacause I cannot alway conciously stop myself from scratching I am not loosing hair.
I dont think it is the shampoo that is causing this hair loss but the scratching.
Has anyone any any ideas how to get rid of this?
Jessica, this will probably sound a little crazy, but you might try massaging some hot salsa into your scalp (before showering, of course). You know, some brand like Pace Picante or something. I am not a medical doctor, but I think the hot oils in the salsa might have a beneficial effect on your scalp irritation. Hope this helps
I’ve been losing hair as all of you have and I have been using the accursed product for a very long time.
I am very glad that I finally put two and two together and did a google search for “Hair loss head and shoulders.” Hopefully now the healing can begin.
And Grant, I’m getting quite a bit of hair on each hand after washing it. We’re not talking like tufts of hair, but a good 10-15 on each hand perhaps (and those are just the ones on my hands).
Love, Tom
Oh yeah, and I’m 19 years old.
Hey everyone,
I’ve been thinking about using Head & Shoulders to help with my dandriff and oily hair, but im not sure whether i should after reading the comments everyone has made. I’m wondering if there is anyone that hasn’t experienced hairloss when using Head & Shoulders? Also, just as Jessica has mentioned, my scalp is very itchy and irritated. I’ve tried numerous shampoos and conditioners to help alleviate the itch, but nothing seems to work, including 3 different medicated shampoos. I’ve also tried rubbing olive oil on my scalp as a friend of mine had mentioned, but it didn’t make any differnce. Does anyone have any ideas that may help my problem?
My reply is to Randall. You are are not only ignorant, you are seriously, just plain stupid. You claim you are not a DR., chemist, nor toxocologist, yet give advice as if you have any sort of knowledge in chemistry. Every body reacts different to chemicals. People here are only expressing their own personal experience as you did. You are not the one and only chemical make-up of human on this earth. Open your mind.
Amy, for your problem, I would suggest trying Head & Shoulders shampoo for normal/oily hair. It is proven to reduce and prevent dandruff (the stuff that is causing your scalp irritation and itchiness). Pay no heed to the uneducated and ignorant comments posted by others on this forum. They are just poor souls suffering from ordinary hair loss. It isn’t caused by Head & SHoulders. It happens to everyone, sooner or later. Some people are just genetically predisposed to losing their hair earlier in life. There’s nothing (short of Rogaine or perhaps some other expensive prescription drugs) that can stop it. It isn’t caused by using shampoo. It’s caused by Mother Nature, herself.
Elvis, this I have to say to you: YOU are the stupid one, not I. Please take your inflamatory comments elsewhere. We are trying to have a civilized conversation here.
How do i know if im going bald.. My hair comes out when I rub my hands through my hair or wash it in the shower.. I just turned 17 wtf is going on? I think i’m probably losing 80-120 hairs a day and dont know why! What can I do? Could it be telogen effiluvum asI can see the bulb on the end of each hair that comes out and it is like club shaped?
I am 30 and have been using Head and Shoulders for 3 months and my hair is falling out in piles. I had no idea that it could cause hair loss and I am devastated. I can now see my scalp. I have now stopped using it but still see hair loss. Has anyone who has experienced this same thing seen their hair recover and grow back once the use ws stopped? I really need some hope.
I’m 31 and used to have very thick hair. I have hair loss in my family i.e. my father and my brother, but I luckily seem to have been excluded from this.
I started using Head & Shoulders about 7 years ago, but since the past 2 years I have noticed that my hair is thinning every where and to make it worse, I have small chunks of hair missing at the back of my head (which I think is logically impossible)! I have now stopped using this shampoo with the hope that my hair grows back, or atleast stops falling out.
Well Randall, from your comments it appears as if you are trying your best to take any blame of hair loss off of head and shoulders. Hmmmm, maybe you are associated with the company that produces the shampoo. Anyways, your comments are, shall I say contradictory. For example, everyone should take a look at comment 27 and comment 34. In his first comment he states something along the lines of using h&s for the first time and how it gave him thicker hair. Then in comment 34 he says he has been using the shampoo between ages 12 and 25, and that he is stilling thinning and is learning to live as a “baldy”. Anyone can see your opinion is unreliable and unusually biased, especially comment 27. Now, after getting that out of the way, I googled the active ingredient in head and shoulders, pyrithione zinc. I found info on pubmed and other electronic (scientific) journal sites as I have access to most of them through the univeristy I attend. There is no evidence indicating that pyrithione zinc causes hair loss. Two studies indicated that pyrithione zinc increased overall hair density. And of those two, one study also looked at hair diameter while the other didn’t and it showed that pyrithione zinc slightly decreased hair diameter and increased sebum production. So, some good and bad news. Then there was another source that claimed the reason pyrithione zinc initially increases hair density because it irritates the area where it is applied, and the overall effect after continued use can be damaging to the hair and skin. This last source seemed a little shaky because the guy, Dr. Pickhart from skinbiology, who makes these claims sites sources but kind of puts the info out of context and compares the ingredients to other ingredients in a way as to persuade readers. he is also trying to sell a product. I didn’t want to research all the ingredients in H&S as it would take a long time, but I am relatively sure pyrithione zinc, the active ingredient, doesn’t cause hair loss. I used head and shoulders and felt like it was making my hair fall out more rapidly, which could be any one of the ingredients in the shampoo, or maybe the ingredients in combination with the pyrithione zinc. Anyways I still had dandruff so I found this shampoo with pyrithione zinc and way less other ingredients in it compared to head and shoulders. The shampoo is also much milder (less drying). It is DHS Shampoo. It has 2% pyrithione zinc and I only use it once a week now since I got my dandruff under control. I believe it is better than Head and shoulders. In conclusion, if you believe a shampoo is causing obvious hair loss then stop using it and find something else. If you’re still losing hair then as Randall said, “learn to live life as a baldy.” The links to the sources I used will be posted next.
Here is the link to a study indicating that pyrithione zinc slightly increases overall hair density. This study didn’t look at hair diamter:
http://www.hairloss-research.org/HeadandShoulders.html
Here is a link to a study indicating that pyrithione zinc also slightly increases overall hair density, but that pyrithione zinc also decreases hair diameter:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6099870-description.html
Here is a link to what Dr. Pickhart has to say about zinc. He briefly mention pyrithione zinc and sites credible sources, however his arguments has some flaws espeically how he compares pyrithione zinc to topical steroids, an example of trying to persuade the reader with obviously false claims:
http://www.folligen.com/
For the last link you have to scroll down to see the section on zinc. it is right before the drawing of the eye. the two studies can be found in full length on pubmed if you have access otherwise you get a summary. Randall, comment 27 cracks me up, “Women at work have noticed too” (spoken in a mocking high-pitched tone.) Good luck to everyone else.
I’m 18 years old and used the H&S Refresh 2-in-1 for about 3 weeks when I noticed how much hair I was losing after every shower I took. So I stopped using it for about a month and a half, but I’m still losing more and more each day! A lot of people seem to think an herbal type of shampoo helps stop the hair loss… thanks everyone. You have no idea how much I appreciate the advice. I love my long Hawaiian hula hair! I’m in my prime!! =D
I’m 27 years old, with long thick hair. I never had any problems with my hair - whatsoever - and there was never such thing as “hair loss” in my family history. I thought I’d try an H&S shampoo for a change because I heard it was a good brand. The very first time I used it, my hand caught a lot of hairs when I ran it through my hair while showering… and it caught even more when I ran it through again. The hair was abnormally thin, sticky and yucky, which never happened before. I thought maybe it was just an accident, or maybe there was an external cause (thought there really weren’t any changes to my showering setting or anything like that), and used it again in about a week. Same thing happened. During the two weeks since I first used the shampoo, I also noticed that a lot of hairs were left on my pillow in the morning every time. Yuck!
I had a suspicion that the shampoo could have caused it, so I went back to the store and bought a herbal shampoo that I have used before and that I liked a lot for the way it worked. Guess what… The first time I used it after throwing out H&S, some hair fell out, but significantly less than during the two weeks of using H&S. My hair felt almost fine again, a little sticky and a little more thin than always, but a lot better compared to the way it was after H&S. The second time I used the herbal shampoo, no hair fell out at all. Everything appears to be back to normal, and my hair is back to being nice and thick.
When I went to my dermatologist and told her the story, she said that yes, she had a lot of patients who experienced problems with hair while using H&S, and she also recommended the herbal shampoo that I was already using because she said that it should work better than most chemical shampoos.
Conclusion: H&S was most definitely what caused the untypical problems with my hair. I am definitely going to be looking into sueing the company using the assistance of a few very talented chemical engineers, good friends of mine.
TO EVERYONE…
Take it as a general rule that any chemicals, whether they be applied inside or outside, are bad for you in one way or another despite anything that is claimed. While each “beneficiary” chemical fixes one thing, it almost always breaks something else, and that it easy to prove.
If you really want your issues to be healed, do your research into herbal alternatives, because they work just fine, and work with no side effects like many chemicals do.
Whenever I use Head & Shoulders, there always seems to he a lot of hair coming loose on my hands as I rub the shampoo in. Whenever I wash my hair and DON’T use the product, the problem does not occur. For me, there is a clear relationship between using Head & Shoulders and losing hair.
what herbal shampoo do you guys reccomend?
I am a biotechnology researcher who has spent the past two years studying hair loss/ hair growth. I have read hundreds of scientific papers on the subject and heard lectures by many of the world’s leading researchers on the topic. I have never heard Head & Shoulders (or any other anti-dandruff shampoo) mentioned as being associated AT ALL with hair loss. On the contrary, I have seen that zinc, a component of many anti-dandruff shampoos, has been correlated with PREVENTING hair loss in some studies…
Hi I’m also a Head and Soulders fan and my daughter too. I read this complaits about H & S and understand now why my hair is falling out, my daugter 16 got the same problem, when we stop using the H & S shamphoo our hair stop falling out.
I am imediately stopping the use of H & S shamphoo s from today.
Y’all must be smokin’ the crack rock if you think H&S is causing your hair to fall out! Each of you describes a similar scenario: You wash your hair with H&S shampoo, and notice loose hairs on your hands after massaging your scalp. Well, I have news for all of you fools: Hair ALWAYS falls out in the shower. It doesn’t matter what kind of shampoo you use, you are going to lose hundreds of hairs each day. That is just a fact of life. Want to know another fact of life? Most people experience hair thinning, and many people go bald. Get yourselves to a dermatologist and get some ROGAINE, people! Quit dissin’ H&S, a truly magnificent company!
p.s., by the way… yesterday I took a shower and used Head & Shoulders shampoo to wash my hair… then I went grocery shopping… then, as I was walking to my car in the parking lot outside the grocery store, I found a $20 bill lying on the ground! THANK YOU HEAD & SHOULDERS! =)
Hi, I´m a 24 year old man and I have a small problem with my hair. My hair on top of my forehead is getting thinner and the hairline is getting higher and higher. About two weeks after I started using Head & Shoulders shampoo I noticed that I was losing significantly more hair than i did before. I could not find any other reason for the increasing hair loss then the H&S shampoo I had bought. I think that Head & Shoulders shampoos should be taken off the market and tested on animals or something. There is definitely something wrong with the product. I have not tried all the H&S products, and I think I’m not going to:), but at least the one I tried increased my hair loss.
DaMan, have you ever considered the possibility that the reason for your increased hair loss is the fact that you are getting OLDER? You are not a child anymore. You are a 24 year old man. It isn’t like people start growing MORE hair on their heads as they get older. H&S isn’t causing your hair loss, man. Old age is.
Hi, i’m 22 years old.
I started using H&S 2-in-1 for like, 3 years ago on a daily base.
I never checked if my hair falls out because my hair always looked normal to me.
4 months ago i had my usual haircut and i noticed my front hairline is somewhat thinner then it used to be.
I checked on the internet and i saw this article and your comments.
My family does not have a big history of a genetic hair lose, tho some people in my family lost hair slowly in their 40+ age.
So, i stopped using H&S 4 months ago, i started taking propecia just in case my hairlose is genetic.
i replaced the shampoo to nizoral, a healthy anti dandruff shampoo.
Now i check my hands on the shower after i wash my hair, i still lose a nice amount of hair even tho i’m taking propecia, and you all know propecia stop hair from falling to 90% of the people.
It hasn’t stopped my hair lose, which makes me think, either i’m very unlucky to be in the 10% who propecia doesn’t have an effect on, or either propecia has nothing to do with stopping my hair lose.
Now i really think that H&S made my hair fall and getting thinner.
After i stopped using H&S, my sister asked me if she can use it.
I warned her and said yes, and she used it and threw it away 2 weeks later.
Guess why?
Yep, her hair started to fall off…
We should take H/S to the court.
Eliran, I think it’s strange that you used H&S for over 3 years before you began to notice your hair loss. If H&S was really contributing to your hair loss (especially if H&S caused your sister’s hair to start falling out after only 2 weeks of use) then don’t you think it would have started happening sooner?
Hmm, let’s think about this. You’re 22 now. Many people begin losing their hair in their early twenties. Some people begin to lose their hair in high school. But between the ages of 19 (when you began using H&S) and 22, you experienced no hair loss. Now, at 22, you’re beginning to notice some thinning. I know you claim that people in your family don’t start thinning until they reach their 40s, but genetics work in mysterious ways. Maybe the baldness gene skipped a few generations in your family, and showed up in you. I don’t know where you got your statistics (that Propecia works on 90% of the people who use it), but that leaves 10% of the people who use it without a remedy. Don’t you think it’s POSSIBLE that you’re just one of the unlucky 10%?
Randall, it may even take 3 years to really notice a hair thinning.
I always had a thin hair, but it remained this way all the time.
It is possible that my hair was a bit thinner after 1 year of using H&S, and i just didn’t noticed because i never really used to overlook my hair, i just kept my hair short all the time, and a small thinning wasn’t noticeable to me.
Hair thinning proccess may take years until you notice any difference.
Another thing i can say is, that not only my hair on the top got thinner, also the hair in the back of my neck and at the top of my ear (the places people never lose their hair when they are balding) also got thinner.
I used to wash my whole head with H&S.
It is of course possible i lose my hair from another reason, but by the reactions here, it looks suspicious.
Randall, take it easy. Stop reading hair loss blogs and get a life. This is for people who are pretty sure H&S is the cause. And I’m pretty sure it is for me. No sign of hair loss in my family and I’m only 18 years old. Anyway RANDALL, I switched to some herbal shampoo since everyone seems to think it’ll put a halt to the damage H&S supposedly done or is doing. And since you’re still reading this (because you don’t have a life), what do you have to say about my situation:
Long hair… more hair loss than the usual like 5 strands a shower, 5 strands for the rest of the day… H&S for a week and now my hair is thinner… 20 strands a shower, around 35 strands for the rest of the day……… why the sudden increase in hair loss??
Eliran, you simply are not taking into account the fact that you’re getting older. Especially if you’ve always had thin hair, then it is likely that your hair will continue to thin out as you age. That is exactly what is happening to you now. The reason you’re noticing it now, and the reason you never noticed it before, is because it JUST STARTED HAPPENING. Two years ago, the process hadn’t started yet. That’s why you were able to go three years using H&S without losing any hair. Try something other than Propecia, mate. Get thee to a doctor.
Kia’aina, don’t tell me to stop reading hair loss blogs. You are not the boss of me. YOU get a life! You are the one standing around in the shower counting strands of hair. Get a life! But for your information, you have always lost more than 5 strands of hair in the shower. You probably just weren’t paying very close attention before. It is very normal to lose many strands of hair per day. I do have a question for you though. Have you been eating fast food lately? Studies indicate that eating fast foods like McDonald’s, Burger King, Jack in the Box, etc, can contribute to premature hair loss.
ooh randal, why are you being so hard on people. i have suffered with alopecia areata for years now and hair loss is a painful experience. if people find that something affects the rate their hair falls out who are you to tell them they are wrong. with my experience of alopecia there are certain things that i avoid because i know that they accelerate my hair loss, i dont use head and shoulders but you cannot guarantee that it will not be an accelersnt for my alopecia no more than i can say the reason for yours is because your a self righteous sod.
as has been said everything affects everyone differently. hair loss has many causes alopecia and pattern baldness are just two.
prehaps if you open your mind you will realise that just because you have male patern hair loss does not mean that everyone else with hair loss has the same problem. therefore you cannot say what the cause or cure could be. even if it is a placebo and it stops the hairloss the problem it works! good for them.
casey, it just bothers me that all of these people have made up their minds that Head & Shoulders is causing their hair to fall out, when in reality I highly doubt that is the case. These people have not conducted controlled experiments applying the scientific method. They have proved nothing. They know nothing. They are just ignorant people who have grabbed hold of the first answer they could think up, and now they are spreading a vicious rumor over the world wide web. If no one else stands up to speak on behalf of Head & Shoulders, then I feel it is my duty to defend them.
I am not self righteous. YOU are.
Randall… reading your comments it’s quit obvious that you’re suffering a very deep deep pain inside you, what are you writing is a mirror of a huge struggle inside you.. so when you’re saying hair loss is normal again and again in your comments.. it just seems that you’re writing your own thoughts.. well dear take it easy.. we all loss hair here, and listen to yourself… instead of posting here merely just to convince yourself.
Anyhow I just came to this page cause I started to lose a lot of hair the past 4 mounts.. the first thing is to use H&S (not Refreshing one)… since I knew the experience from two of my friends, many years ago, but it just continued after that I shaved my hair but no thing changed… again and for last option I tried H&S refreshing, and guess what my hair stop falling and immediately. I don’t know how that works but I think there must be something in this product makes some people loss hair more rapidly while- as in my case- gives others a hope. I just want to know about others who may experienced, as same to me. Thank you all
What’s the new chemical that’s been added to the H&S for Sensitive Scalps? I have had a reaction to it and it was never in it before.
“Kia’aina, don’t tell me to stop reading hair loss blogs. You are not the boss of me. YOU get a life!”
HAHAHA you’re too funny Randall. We should be friends.
“Have you been eating fast food lately? Studies indicate that eating fast foods like McDonald’s, Burger King, Jack in the Box, etc, can contribute to premature hair loss.”
Seriously? I had no idea. cool. bye… forever.
Ahmad, thank you for the psychological diagnosis. I found it to be very moving and helpful. In fact, I think I’m cured. After reading your comments the deep, deep pain and huge struggle inside me disappeared!
Regarding your other comment (that “we all lose hair”): I know that. Read every single message I’ve posted on this forum. I’ve mentioned that fact in all of them.
Kia’aina, dear, what is your problem? Do you got a problem with me or something? What did I ever do to you? Why are you so aggressive towards me? I think you are suffering from a deep, deep pain and a huge struggle inside you. You should talk to Ahmad about that. He might be able to offer you some words of encouragement.
I have been losing hair rapidly ever since I started using head and shoulders, it was only recently that i even considered it might be the cause (I guess i get sucked in by the advertising) and now i am all but certain it was due to the shampoo. I always had very thick hair but now most of its all over my pillow and down my plug hole instead of on my head.
To Randall, what exactly is YOUR problem? As has been said before, everyone reacts to different to the ingredients of anything (dumbing it down - if not try to explain allergies…).
its really great that you have fully accepted your hairloss (which Im finding hard to believe, how did you arrive at this forum anyway? searching for pirate DVDs? i think not), and we are all very happy for you. however, you think its normal for 16 year olds to start balding? You are very naiive if you think that the testing of these products makes them 100% safe - there have been certain makeups that had to be recalled due to the dicovery that they contributed to birth defects, open your eyes. Since when was this an attack on head and shoulders? we are simply a group of people that share a common problem with this particular product and are seeking help and advice.
I am going to admitt that we are certainly a minority as this company would be bankrupt already if we were not but this does not mean we can be ignored, if anything we are helping the company by bringing the issue to their attention… and Randall, when exactly did you sell your soul to them?
Also, im guessing your in your late twenties or thirties so i have no problem with telling you to GROW UP.
Liam, I am not even going to dignify your comments with a response.
First of all, I don’t have a problem, except for ignorant people like YOU coming onto this forum and spouting off pseudo-science like you have any idea what you’re talking about (I think not).
Second, although it certainly is unfortunate, it it not unheard of for a 16 year old to start baldling. It happened before Head & Shoulders existed and, unless some new gene therapy is developed to cure baldness, it will continue to happen, regardless of whether or not the person is using Head & Shoulders.
How dare you call me naïve. You are the one who is showing an obvious lack of sophisitcation and understanding when you come to this forum and talk trash about a highly reputable company that has done more for this world than you will probably do in your whole life. Without Head & Shoulders, think of how many people would still have dirty hair. You should thank your lucky stars that Head & Shoulders is around to help people with a very real problem: dandruff. The next time you are behind a woman in line at the grocery store and she flips her hair and sprays disgusting little white particles of dandruff in your direction, you will be SORRY you ever said a disparaging word about Head & Shoulders.
Finally, I have not sold my soul to anyone except Jesus. Maybe you have heard of him.
Finally, YOU grow up.
WOW wow wow there… What?? Randall im affraid your comments make no sense whatsoever, you have either not read my comment at all and have just come up with this premeditated response or you didnt understand a word i said. i suggest you reread my comment and then procede to insult me - all of your arguments were covered in my comment so i feel no need to elaborate.
And by the way thanks for the dignification of my comments…
I just turned 18 and I’ve been using Head & Shoulders for a number of years because of dandruff. I have a bald spot forming of really thin hair and I’m losing mas quantities of hair each time I shower. I never thought of the corilation until now, so I’m going to pickup new shampoo.
I’m assuming that its either the harsh chemicals used to treat dandruff while doing everything else a shampoo does, or even a weird allergic reaction.
I’m too young to lose my hair, I’m stuck wearing hats!
I have had hairloss from a undiangnosed ringworm infection, i was useing H and S and it definatly helped for many years but when i switched to a different type of H and S within days i was losing handfulls of hair, if you have dandruff there are other medical reasons for it it might not just be dandruff. anyways all my problems went away when i started using my dogs shampoo from the vet. Vet Solusions Canadian medicated shampoo. good for zits too!
Oh my God, I just told my hubbie to buy me some H&S. I used it in my teenage years and can’t remember anything bad happening. I thought of trying it to REDUCE my hair loss now that I am 26.
Anyway, what I do know is that people using H&S here are probably suffering from dandruff…which is often caused by excess sebum which is affected by DHT etc…..meaning in short, if you have dandruff, you’re losing your hair too….okay if it has not come out yet, it will !!! I had loads of stress and bad nutrition previously and got itchy, flaky, messy scalp and hair started falling shortly after. I did NOT use H&S…but I guess if I HAD USED it, I WOULD HAVE BLAMED H&S thinking it was the cause of my hairloss. I CONTINUED LOSING HAIR 3-4 MONTHS after the dandruff episode, which goes to show that while the dandruff may manifest for a short period, the hairloss can continue for a longer time.
DANDRUFF GOES HAND IN HAND WITH HAIRLOSS, whether hormonal, nutritional or stress related (temporary or permanene)…BOTH SHARE THE SAME CAUSE(S).
Now, having said this, what scared me REALLY is that H&S has been proved to reduce the diameter of the hair shaft ?????
Now that IS BAD !!! For appearance sake and possible long term repercussions.
hey everyone, it doesnt take a genius to see that there has to be a correlation between hair loss and head and shoulders. i dont have one family member, not even an ancestor that didnt have a huge fro full of hair when they were old, i used head and shoulders for two years because of the crappy water on navy ships causing dandruff, and my hair has thinned rediculously, i stopped using it and my hair is now thicker, probably the easiest scientific experiment i have ever done. maybe some people arent affected by the chemicals, but i promise there is something in that shampoo that causes hair loss in quite a few people.
John Abbas, your “scientific experiment” proves absolutely nothing. All you have described is your own after-the-fact guess as to why your hair thinned.
Have you ever thought that maybe your hair wasn’t thinning because of the Head & Shoulders, but rather because of the “crappy water on navy ships”?
You claim that you don’t have even a single ancestor who lost their hair in old age. I find that statement difficult to accept. Do you have photographs of ALL of your ancestors to document this claim? I highly doubt it! I think, perhaps, you’re exagerating a little?
Thank you for your “promise” that Head & Shoulders “causes hair loss in quite a few people.” However, I am not convinced. Do a little more experimentation and get back to me with the results.
I’m not gonna say a bad thing about H&S. It worked well against my dandruff. Seriously! And it also gave me a new look. The look of a mature, wiser man. A bald man, that is! And all that in less than a year of using this magnificent product. It even shocked my barber, who btw was the one to mention first the relation of H&S and hairloss. Well, being a bit sceptic (no offense to my barber) made me do my own little research, and here i am. A whole bunch of “satisfied” H&S users. Let us all thank this amazing shampoo!
I have also been experiencing hair loss due to the use of Head&Shoulders! I never had any type of problem with hair thinning or loss before and since I have started using HS I have tons of hair coming out in the shower or even just throughout the day! I detest this product now and will never use it again.
Also, Randall is the CEO of Head&Shoulders so everyone can just ignore all of the pro-Heaad&Shoulders comments that he makes, including the one that he will most likely leave in response to me!
I’m 16 years old and have been using Head and Shoulders for about 5 months now. I’ve always had ridiculously thick hair, but as of a few weeks ago, I’m waking up with hair all over my pillow and all over the floor in my bathroom. To the credit of Head and Shoulders, it did get rid of my dandruff…..But…Since my hair is naturally thick and oily, I would wash my hair with Head and Shoulders in the morning and at night. And now my hair is the thinnest that it’s ever been…..Balding isn’t hereditary in my family…..So….I even talked to a doctor and he said that I should have only been using the shampoo 2 times a week at most. 2 times per day, everyday was basically frying my hair, he said. He suggested I stop immediately, so I have. Already my hair isn’t falling out as much……I know that it doesn’t do this to everyone…..but it did me, and it’s the only logical explanation.
I’m 30 and I too have thining heir problem since a 1 year or so… It does correspond with my usage of H&S ORIGINAL. I use Nioxin since about a year and its supposed to be one of the best out there for thin hair problems but no luck. I never bought the 3rd step though so it might not work as supposed to. Knowing my body a lot, I suspect that the source of my problem (and possibly most people here) is actually DRY SCALP. I have used H&S Dry Scalp for many years before and I never had any problem until I ran out and found a large H&S original that I had in stock and started using that instead because I did’nt want to throw it away. I think if you use H&S original and you’re mistaking your dry scalp for a dandruff problem, my guess is you get your problem worse. If your scalp is dry, I think it would be logical that your hair growth suffers. I noticed that I still had a dry scalp using Nioxin (which is not meant to treat dry scalp)so no later that today I went back to H&S Dry Scalp. I would’nt be surprised at all that to see my hair get thicker again. I’ll post the results of my study soon. I hope this will help some of you.
Head and Shoulders definitely causes hair loss!!!! I don’t have dandruff, but am a huge fan of coupons!!!!! I bought a huge bottle of Head and Shoulders because it was part of a deal I got using coupons. I have been plagued recently with an acne problem and have been researching natural remedies. Part of my research included a zinc deficiency…and mentioned H&S. I brought out this bottle of Head and Shoulders and started using it as a shampoo and a body wash. Not only did my hair on my head (especially the CROWN) start falling out, but so did the hair on my body!!!!! This after only a few times of using it.
I immediately stopped using it on my head, but as a woman, what a fantastic way to shed unwanted hair on your body!!!!!!! I took a bath using Head and Shoulders…and I have not had to shave my legs for a WEEK. COOL.
Everyone has a different body chemistry. As individual as your fingerprint. Therefore, everything will affect everyone differently. Obviously with all the comments on here, there is a sufficient amount of evidence that many experience hair loss with the use of Head and Shoulders shampoo. The few that haven’t are obviously exceptions as there are with any product, food, supplements, drugs,….blah, blah, blah.
So…if you want to lose your hair anywhere on your body, use Head and Shoulders. Will save you thousands of dollars in shavers, creams, even expensive laser treatments….lol
Peace!
My story is similar to many others I am 26 years old & I have been using “Head & Shoulders” on a daily basis for years. I never made the connection between my thinning hair line (especially on the top of my head) & using this product until my Dad who has head healthy hair for many years pointed it out to me recently. I thought that if there were some risk of baldness that there should have been a clear warning on the shampoo bottle itself. Like others I am now trying to find a product to help my hair any way possible.
I’ve been using H&S for about a year. It does an okay job on my dandruff, which was never really that serious anyway. Anyway, in the last year I’ve watched my hairline slowly recede. My brothers, one who also has dandruff, but uses a different shampoo, have no balding issues and my dad (at 54) still has a head full of hair. I’m 27, close to getting married, and not particularly tickled about losing the hair. I figured it was someone from my mom’s side, when I came across this website. I’m dumping my H&S to see if my hairline will cease its march. If there’s no change, I don’t see why I should blame the shampoo.
Head and Shoulders SUCKS. I have lost a massive amount of hair within a month of using this shampoo. It took me a month to realize that this was the cause of the problem (I was thinking more along the lines of a medical problem.)
I can’t believe I found this site and so many other people going through the same thing. I can only hope that this will get better after a shampoo switch. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.
It turns out that Head and Shoulders as well as other shampoos that contain the same ingredients are actually proven to regrow and prevent hair loss. Anecdotal evidences is worthless.
http://www.hairloss-research.org/HeadandShoulders.html
Of course, I stumbled across this blog because I did a search for “pyrithione zinc hair loss.” My husband is 20 years old and until recently had thick, black hair. He started using the original Head and Shoulders about 5 months ago, not because he had dandruff, but because his head was itching, especially when he worked out. It cured the itching and he was happy about that. He then tried Citrus Breeze H&S, and about 1 month ago tried Smooth and Silky H&S. Over the past couple of weeks, his hair has been falling out in large quantities. His hair line is receding and you can now see his scalp on the top of his head. He is already having to sport the comb-over! Mind you, all this hair loss happened in about 2 weeks time. I read the back of his shampoo bottle and told him that probably his first problem was that he was using the H&S too frequently. He was shampooing with it twice a day - in the morning and after working out – about 5 days a week, and once a day for the 2 days he didn’t work out – you do the math – 12 times a week, which the bottle says to use at least 2 times a week, but safe to use with each shampoo. I began to question if the H&S was causing this rapid hair loss and wanted to research it. I thought that if you began losing your hair due to genetics, it would be a gradual process, not just suddenly having handfuls of hair fall out every time you shower. Genetically, my husband’s mother’s side doesn’t lose their hair even in old age, and his father’s side doesn’t lose their hair until their 30’s, if at all. My husband eats healthily and takes a multi-vitamin daily, and is not stressed (other than about losing his hair!). He is allergic to solid gel deodorants, he’s found, so maybe there is some connection there. In the meantime, he’s stopped using the H&S and we’re going to try to find a mild herbal shampoo and conditioner (any suggestions???) and hope that his hair will grow back and it’s not too late. We’re going to take a closer look at ingredients in the H&S products that he’s used…maybe it’s not the pyrithione zinc and is something else that he may be allergic to. I do find all of this confusing, as many of you have suspected a connection between H&S and hair loss, but that studies show the zinc can actually prevent hair loss. For those of you who had been using H&S for years and then experienced hair loss, it would be pushing it to blame the H&S and not genetics. But for those of you who had only just begun to use the product, then tons of hair fell out, then you stopped using the product, and your hair went back to normal, it seems obvious that H&S is to blame. Who knows!? I was hoping to find a definite link between H&S/p. zinc and hair loss. Then again, it’s not uncommon for companies to pay to keep undisclosed any research that may undermine their product. I’ll be checking this from time to time, so keep us all posted with any new testimonies/research/suggestions.
30 year old male with very little hair loss in our genetic tree. Grandfather on my Mother’s side had a full of head hair before he passed, and my 1st cousins on the same side of my family do as well. I do not drink alcohol, do not smoke, do not take any medications, no allergies, no sickness of any kind and no history of drug use (marijuana, heroin, cocaine…etc).
Pattern of hair loss was odd. I was losing hair on my frontal line, and in between my frontal line and crown. Odd pattern and did not match any documented genetically lost hair patterns.
I have routinely utilized head and shoulders in my daily regiment for the last 3 years due to an itchy scalp and noticed that high number of hairs would shed during showering and for sometime afterwards - I honestly and truthfully believed it was normal shedding of the follicle because of my genetic inheritance and assumed the rate of regrowth equaled the rate of shedding. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong in my assumptions.
I started to look into my lifestyle to determine what the problem may be - diet, exercise…etc. By complete chance I ran out of Head and Shoulders shampoo and begun using what my girlfriend has on hand until I had the ambition to pick up some more. It had been just over 1 month since I have stopped using Head and Shoulders and my rate of shedding has decreased significantly. I was experiencing nearly an average of 80 hair strands shed per day to an average of 30 per day. That’s quite an improvement! The hair I had lost on the frontal region (my hair line) has begun to regrow. Coincidence?
I wanted to test the working theory. I decided to use Head and Shoulders for 1 month (I chose 1 month because that is what it took for my hair to regrow) to determine whether it conclusively lead to my hair loss. I did not have to wait long to see the results; after 1 (ONE) shampoo my hair had begun to shed. No time wasted at all. I began to shed hair at the rate during my heavy usage. I stopped usage immediately.
After I stopped usage, the hair loss I experienced is now coming back. Good bye Head and Shoulders.
I have not tested Selsun Blue, and am afraid to see the results.
Addendum to my health history:
I work out every day (weight training, interchanged with cardio) and eat extremely well. I eat fast food once every 3 months to satisfy my Burger King fix (bad habit)
I started using H&S about 6 months ago. It was fine for awhile, then it must have happened fast. Its its going quick. I have stopped using it. But now it tingles and some times has a slight burn.
I want answers.
OMG….I’m having a fit right about now, I never dreamed that head and shoulders could be the reason my hair has fell out. I had extremely thick hair 7 months ago and I’m embarrassed now because when i pull my hair back it’s like i have parts all over the place and it’s all from my hair being so thin now. My husbad has also developed baldness bad at the crown and it’s came on fast, I can’t believe that I let him convince me his has came on due to his age, a young 46 and I was to slow to put it all together. I even asked my doctor what could be causing my hair to fall out and quit taking the meds he had perscribed for me because I thought that was it. This has been very stressful for me…being female and afraid any morning could be my last with hair…
Boy am I glad that I used Google to research H&S. I never thought I would turn up responses like this. I am 22 and in good health, I take a multivitamin daily and don’t eat junk food. After using the generic grocery store brands and the like for years I started using H&S a few months ago to get rid of some dandruff. Thats when the redness and soreness started. Sometimes the entire top of my scalp would be sore for no apparent reason. Also, the hair just looked fragile and unhealthy. I even had family members and barbers tell me my scalp looked red and irritated. Then I started to notice some thinning spots. I have always had thick bushy hair. I at least expected to have a full head of hair until 30!
Now I will freely admit I don’t have all the variables accounted for, but the biggest change that I can think of is my switch to using head and shoulders. I recently stopped using it after finding all these reports of hair loss, and all the spots may not have filled in, but my hair already feels much better. Even if this stuff isn’t causing hair loss, I think a lot of people must be allergic to it. I am going to wait another month before I make any real conclusions, but like I said, my hair feels better after just a few days, and the soreness and redness are already gone, so I have my fingers crossed.
I’m 25, men in my family have male pattern baldness…but everybody has thick hair on top….except me. I started using H&S when I was 18, the past 3-4 years my hair has been thining evenly on my head. I found this board almost a year ago and stopped using H&S. My dandruff has returned and my head is ichy. But, you know what? My hair is resprouting on top, maybe thats why it is itchy…. I used H&S daily…maybe this was a mistake. At any rate I’ll spend the rest of my life telling people not to use this product and what it did to me.
I can’t believe this. I started using Head & Shoulders in high school and used it for about 3 years. By the time I was a senior my hair started to really thin out, and I had a very thick head of hair. I always though it was the Head & Shoulders but was never certain. I thought it was probably just a coincidence. Needless to say I stopped using it and now at 28 I’m thinking of getting hair transplants. After seeing this blog and reading about everyone else’s experiences I’m convinced that it was this stupid shampoo that I used. I can’t believe these people could put a product like this on the market without giving it proper tests. I mean this is something that affects all of us for a lifetime. Now I’m not the kind of person that believes that suing is the answer for everything but in this case I think it’s called for. If for nothing else maybe it could take this product off the shelf so it doesn’t ruin anyone else’s life. I say we should all come together and start a class action lawsuit against them. Who’s with me?
I would recommend trying a shampoo containing Ketoconazole. It has found to be way more effective in treating dandruff and also has some regrowth possibillities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizoral
I have always had very thick hair and noone ever expected that I would suffer from hair loss. I started using Head and Sholders a year ago and since then I have been loosing hair at an alarming rate. I suspected it was Head and Sholders and now that I see there are many other people with the same concerns I’m going to stop using the product.
Yep….Head and shoulders causes hair loss…….it happened to me after 1 month of using…..somebody should sue these bastards on behalf of all of us!!!!!
HEAD N SHOLDERS IS CRAP DNT USE IS MY GIRL HAS GONE BOLD OF THIS CRAP
shampoo is good for treating hair, but its no good if you dont have any hair to use it with. I’ve stopped using H&S for 3 months and my hair is starting to regrowing. I was 16 when I started to use this product and immediately days later my hair started falling off. I knew the first time I used H&S, my scalp started to feel a intense burn when I applied it. I thought it was normal, so I continued using it. But months later my hair started fall off and it wasn’t just 1 or 2 hairs, its was a handful.
Wow, I just can’t believe that H&S could possibly be causing our family’s hair loss. I am very upset about this. At first I could run my hands through my hair and find 10 or so strands falling out each time. Immediatly went to the doctor, we checked on medical issues that might cause this to happen (thyroid, hormonal imbalance, daily meds, ect..). Nothing seemed it would be the cause. Then my 11 yr old son who has the in style longer hair for boys, who also used the product, realized that his hair came out in massive amounts too. After putting two and two together, my husband came to the conclusion that it probably is the use of this shampoo. That is when he googled and found all these enteries of people with the same problem. I am convinced, I only hope that stopping the usage will reverse the damages. Please stop using this product if you are experiencing the same issues. This has caused my son and me great heartache, I almost broke down and bought a wig for myself. But I think I will wait and see what happens since I threw my bottle away!!!!
yes this did happen to me aswell.
I was very young when it happend and went to see a doctor
because every time i took a shower i was loosing A LOT of hair and in time it started getting thinner and thinner
they said it was because i was stressed… but they didnt know i used head and sholders. I always belived the real cause of it was because of my shampoo because as soon as i got home i threw out the head and sholders and it stopped.
After that i switched to garnier to thinken my hair again.
Now, at age 15 my hair is back to normal and is really thick
I used this for the first time yesterday and this morning iv noticed the front of my hair is so much thinner then before and my scalp is so itchy and irritated! Dont use this product!
First of all, I want to point out that this Randall character quite obviously has an agenda that is in line with company. Between his complete inconsistency (I admit, I couldn’t be bothered to read every one) and his description of ladies at work noticing his luxurious hair, his description of H&S as a reputable company and his continual plugs for the product make this clear. I hope that anyone who visits this site that is intelligent enough to put two and two together and ignore his ignorant and futile ramblings.
Randall buddy, I hope I’m right. Otherwise you are completely pathetic for investing so much time and energy into a product that, as you say, does not affect you. What could this obnoxious display possibly bring to your life? You’re a one man show.
As for your defence of moral indignation, there are a lot of valuable causes in the world to be indignant about. Defending a hair product that may or may not aggravate hair loss in some people is certainly not one of them (unless of course you’re getting a paycheck for it as I previously implied- which is another level of pathetic). I suggest that you broaden your horizons… use your abundance of free time to try taking out one of the women admiring your luxurious hair or take up a cause that actually contributes to the world.
I also want to note that your trite need to prove something has already wasted far too much of my own time any energy. While I can be assured that you will read and respond to this post, you can be assured that I won’t bother returning to this site to read it. Some people have more relevant passions to pursue.
My advice to anyone that continues to read and become upset by this guy’s posts is to ignore him. A mad man’s rantings only matter if they are heard. I myself only validated his existence with this reply because I feel for the guy. What a sad life.
With that aside, this site does pertain to me, unlike our sad but amusing friend Randall. I thought that my situation might contribute to helping whoever is reading to make an informed decision:
I am a 19 year old female with no genetic predisposition to hair loss on either my mother or father’s side. I have three generations of family members who all have notably thick and healthy hair. I myself have always had abundantly thick and long hair and even get it cut in a way that thins it when I visit my stylist.
Within the span of a month I have begun using head and shoulders every day and have started to dramatically lose hair within the same time frame. I am losing handfuls in the shower and my scalp is now visible through my hair. My doctor agrees that even if I did have a genetic predisposition to hair loss that this is certainly not the rate in which natural hair loss would progress. I have been tested to rule out another problem but was advised to stop using the shampoo immediately, especially since the package states “if irritation occurs, discontinue use immediately.”
I find it very disturbing that so many young people, notably females, have had hair loss that they attribute to this product. Especially hair loss that develops rapidly. I do suspect that there is a correlation.
I have been using Head and Shoulders for a couple of years. I try to stop using it and my scalp feels like it is peeling off within a week. My dandriff gets really bad and I begin to get sores on my head and my hair starts to shed. I almost have no choice but to use it. I never had dandriff like this until I started using the product. I am going to fight it off for a few weeks this time and see if my scalp will return to normal. It is almost like my head is addicted.
I started using this product about a year ago because I had dandruff. The shampoo did indeed rid of the dandruff, however after a couple of months, I started experiencing hair loss, but it didn’t hit me with any concern until this past 2 months when I have been losing a considerable amount of hair. My friends also pointed out that I’ve started too look bald and my hairline has receded even more. My parents noticed it too, and pinned it on me not getting enough nutrition or sleep. I believed what my parents said, but for a while now I had a hunch that it might’ve been Head and Shoulders. My hair has thinned out considerably through speculation and I am losing more than 20 strands of hair a day. According to some of the comments, the user’s hairlines haven’t returned to its original condition. I surely hope it doesn’t happen to me. If it does, I wish I had knew about this earlier. Head and shoulders should look into this and put notifications on their product that it isn’t for daily use. As a matter of fact, I don’t think this product is worth it at all! Considering that there are more than 100 comments on this page, I think something should be done. My hairloss is definetely caused by this product. Beware!
Wow!! i’ve noticed for the last couple of months my hair looked different but just couldnt point it out. Then today i go to the cym and a friend of mine says ” damn man, your hair is thinning out” i got scared as hell and ran for a mirror! i noticed that my hair was very thin on the top and didnt know what was going on. My dadsside and my mothers side of the family dont have any hair issues what so ever. My dad is 64 and has thick long dark hair! So i do a search on my shampoo ” head & shoulders” that i have been using in the past two months and i am shocked but releived to see that it is indeed what i am putting on my scalp and nothing genetic. I just threw the damn bottle away and well never use it again. i’d rather rubb dog sh*t on my head then have super thin hair. i am a pretty boy that like lookin good for the ladies and i’m only 26. I’m just not gonna wash my hair for a month. Good luck. i’m out!!
also i was using ocean lift… i’m not going to put anything on my head for a month…then after that time period i am going to use an all natural shampoo. ps randall is a dumba$$
I used one bottle of Head and Shoulders and during that period (several months) I lost probably 60-70% of the hair on my head, especially the top part. I wasn’t smart enough to do a Google search on it, but finally did. Now I’m just hoping the hair will grow back. This product definitely needs to be investigated by the FDA and a class action should be filed.
If my hair does not grow back I will be seriously pissed.
I am a 37 year old female and have been using H&S for a few months. One day I noticed that I had some hair loss around my temples and then I really noticed that I had lost about 30% of the hair on top and front of my head. I am so upset and devastated! I have stopped using H&S and started taking a hair vitamin that is loaded with biotin and I have seen a slight improvement but again it has only been a couple of weeks. I have some new growth at my temples and in front. I only hope that the hair on top of my haed comes all they way back. I have an appointment to see a dermatalogist but I’m not sure what they are doing to say. Anyone who has expericenced this horrible feeling can you please post and tell if your hair has grown back.
Well guess what kiddies? Me too. I’m 38 and no one in my family has a history of hair loss. I was actually asked by my barber if I used H&S as my hair was thinning on the crown. He told me to never use it again as it causes hair loss. I used it daily for years. Hopefully it will thicken back in…
I am having the exact same problem. I noticed that my hair was starting to fall out after I started using Head & shoulders but I blamed the strees and my hectic lifestyle. But last night I was helping my daughter with her hair and hers is falling out too. She is 11 and the stress is not to be blamed. After I found this page I’m almost certain that is caused by the shampoo. We will never use this shampoo again.
bad boy randall company rep for H&S jesus you say and attack people
I have long hair and started using H&S for about 3 weeks. I started having my hair fall out to the point my husband is seeing every where and wanted me to go to the doctor to find out what was wrong with me because he has never seen someone lose so much hair as I have. I heard from a friend that it might be from H&S which caused me to go searching. I was surprised to find how many people have the same problem why has there been nothing done from the company?
sry 4 my bad english
I m using Head & shoulders for 4 years, i am 20. i noticed that my skin itches after i use Head & shoulders, and in the last 12 mounths i lost a loot of hair
Hi all,
i have never, i repeat NEVER had a problem with hair loss until i started using head and shoulders. its now particularly noticable around the tops of my temple and also the overall diameter of each strand of hair is visibly thinner. i am 32 years old and have always had a full thick head of hair
Randall i dont know exactly what your agenda is but you are sure pushing head and shoulders as a ‘reputable product’ waymore than normal- the fact youve responded to this forum so many times makes you very suspect
ps although im glad you found the $20 becuase you use head and shoulders hahaha..thats pretty funny.
ill def stop using it, find something else in the mid term and see how i go over the next 3 months
Hey everyone, I’m so glad to have found this forum. I’ve been using head and shoulder for 4-5 months now and my hair has been falling out like crazy. I loose 30-40 strands per day during and after showering. I’m frustrated especially since my hair is naturally thin and my family has history of hair loss. I don’t need additional and external cause for hair loss, especially at the age of 20. I would definitely stop using H&S immediately.
Hi
I have been using my husband’s H&S shampoo for the last three years,and i have lost about 45-50% of my hair,especially on top and near the temples.I had been to a dermatologist,did the thyroid tests and stuff,everything was normal.I have had friends coming up who havent seen me for 3-4 years, and asking what happened to my hair.I also have an itchy scalp,keeps scratching every now and then.I used a different shampoo last week,and already scalp is much less itchy and hairloss is a little bit better,not as noticeable.My husband uses it only once a week,his hair has thinned out a little bit,but not very noticeable.His strands were thick,unlike mine,which were vey fine,to start with.I do think H&S played a big role in my hairloss.People with very strong hair,probably will be able to tolerate it for a few years,before any significant hairfall will be noticed.But people with avergage and fine silky hair,they will lose hair much faster.I will never wash with that shampoo again.Iam sad i took so long to make the connection.I just hope it all grows back.
Hi all,
I’m a 26 year old male with fairly thick hair. I’ve always used the regular head and shoulders on a daily basis with no huge problems. About a month ago I purchased a new type of H&S (restoring shine or something) and have been using it daily. Unfortunately, my hair rapidly began thinning/falling out along the top front. When It’s wet you can easily see my scalp which is frightening. I’m going to stop using H&S and use some cheap pantiene pro-v or whatever else is around and see what happens. Has anyone else experienced the hair growing back? Or at least not falling out as fast? Also, it might be male pattern baldness but it just seems odd that it would happen right when I started using the new H&S. Plus, I can now run my hand through the lower back part of my head and still have hairs come out which isn’t good.
ok im an asian guy 22 yrs old with long black hair and no one in my family have any history of hair loss. I bought H&S Shampoo in Hong Kong and have been using it for only 1 month, like all you people my hair has thinned. Lucky for me its jus been only 1 month cuz it thinned real bad. Im a rich mofo and im seriously considering sueing the dam company. Anyways please jus stop using the product cuz there`s definitly something wrong with it. Even if you dont suffer hairloss i doubt all those harsh chemicals are doing good to your scalp and hair.
Btw brad i started using another product Sea Breeze or something and it seems my hair stopped its thinning. Not sure about hair growing back but if you stop using H&S your hair will definitly stop falling out.
Henry,
Thanks for the response! Today I used some old finesse shampoo I found laying around and noticed not nearly the amount of random hairs coming out(5 or 10 vs 30). I’m just hoping that the H&S product hasn’t permanently damaged my hairs and they can recover and stop from falling out.
Also, in my own experience, I’ve noticed that the new H&S large bottle when turned upside-down caused me to use a lot of shampoo at one time. The thing is kind of heavy and a lot pours out at one time. I suspect the amount of shampoo is related to the rapid hair loss.
Having read all these replies. I now understand that Head & Shoulders was responsible for the loss of Hair on my head. I have been using this shampoo for like 10 years, I never was able to correlate the loss of hair on my head to Head & Shoulders. But now I guess this is the reason for the hair loss. I dont know if I would stop this hair loss and regain my hair on my head. Atleast I hope so. If any one has any idea of hair growth (I dont want artificial hair growth) please let me know at : rajesh.phanindra@gmail.com
hi its me again btw what sorta Head and Shoulders shampoo did you use? For me i used Silky Soft Anti-dandruff and it appears the thinning process pretty much begins at the frontal area of the head which medically speaking doesnt really make sense. Im still pretty pissed about this product and the damage it has done to my hair although i can still cover all the scalp with my hair since i have long hair. The reason i noticed it so quick is cuz i washed once a day for 3 weeks then i started using it twice a day for 1 week. Used about 3/4 of the bottle b4 i noticed how much hair ive lost. A blog like this isnt really spreading the awareness it should i mean people pretty much lose hair and then they would search out this blog lol. this blog has been going on for 2 years alrdy and no one has done anything about it. Sooooo why dont everyone buy a bottle and use it as a gift for someone hahaha sorta like the tape in the movie the Ring. Hell we can even create a new era `The balding generation`!!!
yeah I used H&S 3 times and started noticing my hair is falling out in big amounts google searched this and threw it out.
*re adding something*
I’m 16 I have thick hair,I had dandruff so I tried H&S before maybe 1 or 2 would fall out when I pull on it hard but not this is just scaring me now from using it 3 times will I loose a big amount or it will re grow well?
Saw a doc he says it will cont falling out cuz its an allergic reaction. he claims there are alot of these cases of h&s causing loss of hair. He prescripted me with this menthol shampoo but he says the i will continue losing hair for months b4 i see an improvement.
Take a look at this article written Tuesday, January 11, 2005 by: Mike Adams of naturalnews.com:
“Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found a correlation between an ingredient found in shampoos and nervous system damage. The experiments were conducted with the brain cells of rats and they show that contact with this ingredient called methylisothiazoline, or MIT, causes neurological damage. Which products contain this chemical compound MIT? Head and Shoulders, Suave, Clairol and Pantene Hair Conditioner all contain this ingredient. Researchers are concerned that exposure to this chemical by pregnant women could put their fetus at risk for abnormal brain development. In other people, exposure could also be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other nervous system disorders.”
Everything needs nerves, even hair. Harm the nerve, harm the hair, brain, and other important stuff.
Curiously, the author of that article doesn’t provide a source for this National Institutes of Health “finding”, and the only mentions of it on the web that I see all link back to websites the author owns (including the naturalnews site). I’m not saying it’s BS just yet, but it is fishy that he doesn’t provide proof and the NIH site doesn’t seem to have any mention of this. Can anyone find the actual source?
As I started using Head & Shoulder Shampoo and my hair started to fall out fast. What we need to do is to put our minds together to come up with a solution or compensation. Please advise.
hear ye!! hear ye!!
I have found the solution to my, and hopefully all you who see this, hair-loss problem.
Well anyway, to get started, I am 18 years old, and am experiencing MPHL (Male Pattern Hair-Loss). Quite a while ago, when I was 16, this started. I knew decisive action had to be taken. My solution, at the time, came in the form of a blue and white bottle (yes, Head & Shoulders). Well, to continue, the reason that I thought H&S would be the ULTIMATE solution to my hair-loss problem was because, in part, it was stopping the dandruff, which was flaking off my head in heaping quantities, and was also combating extreme oiliness of the scalp which was seemingly destroying my follicles and causing my hair to fall out. H&S seemed to be doing the job, and doing it well, that is, keeping the scalp pristinely clean. Anyways, as time went by, I couldn’t help but notice that the dandruff, I eventually wasn’t able to fully get a hold on any longer with the regular H&S shampoo; not to mention that my hair was STILL continuously thinning and falling out (about 30 to 90 hairs per wash by the time I stopped using it).
What next? Well, I moved up a grade and went to H&S Intensive Treatment. Was this the solution? No, not quite yet. As time went by (about 4 months) I was still losing hair, and losing it fast. I could start to see my scalp under a bright light and I really didn’t like the situation. To tell the truth, I was sort of in a “help me Obi wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope”, kind of mood. Also, through research, I found out that Selenium Sulfide, the main ingredient in H&S I-T, causes hair-loss.
What next? I thought; no solution yet presenting itself openly. And then a few days later as I was researching hair-loss, WHAM, the solution(http://www.herbalhairsolution.info/).
How did I know it was legit; It was advertised on three different websites. Anywho, I purchased the recipe, and, my dandruff, was under control, within three days of use. THREE DAYS. Before, I COULD NOT go for more than TWO days without H&S I-T. I have not, might I add, since starting the new remedy had to use any H&S product. Before I go any further I would just like to make mention of the fact that I am not speaking badly against H&S, because, really, it does clean the scalp extremely good, but, as in the case of any poor salesman, it, I guess you could say, comes on a bit strong. In other words, it’s just a bit too powerful for the scalp of some humans. All of that aside, it would now be important that I disclose to all readers what the solution to their hair problem is…
For this recipe I paid $35.00(US), but I will give to you for best price, $34.50. JUST KIDDING! I will give it to you for FREE!
STEP 1:
Purchase from the grocery store:
-Dried Lavender flowers (1/4 part)
-1 fresh Ginger root (1 part)
-2 or 3 sprigs dried Rosemary (1 part)
Note: -If the Lavender or Rosemary aren’t dried, they will still work fine.
-There should be about the same amount of Ginger and Rosemary (1 part each) and only (1/4 part) lavender.
STEP 2:
-Use the Rosemary Leaves
-Carefully remove the skin from the ginger and chop it up.
-Chop up the Lavender flowers and use just the flowers.
STEP 3:
-Boil for 10 minutes together in about, give or take, 400ml of water.
-Let it cool down and then strain it to remove the leftover solid material.
-Pour into a spay bottle.
-Apply twice a day (morning and evening)
-Watch your dandruff go away and your hair grow back.
Note: -You can re-boil the ingredients once to add to you batch, although I wouldn’t recommend re-boiling it more than that. But then again you can always experiment, because I haven’t ever tried re-boiling it more than once. So if your willing, feel free to do what you like.
I hope that what I have posted is at least in some way helpful to any who may read it.
PS. Randall, why don’t you try it out and start un-learning to ‘live like a baldy’, who knows, maybe after using it you might find $20 in the parking lot at the grocery store.
the hair fall may be caused by the over usage of the shampoo.
try shampooing only every other day. and don’t stick to the same shampoo for too long or it will really cause hair fall or dandruff.
anyways, it’s normal for hair to fall out. 100 strands of falling hair a day is normal.
by the way, i’m just a third year student studying this kind of problems even if i don’t plan on being a doctor or something.
anyways, the same thing happened to me. so, i changed shampoo. after a month of using the new shampoo, i had the same problem. so i switched again.
changing shampoo after a month may be a good solution
I used it for about 4 years and my barber said she noticed my hair thinning and specifically asked me if I was using Head & Shoulders because it’s rumored that it causes hair loss. The top of my head towards the back has thinned a lot, It’s been a few months since I stopped using it and I haven’t noticed a diff, but it’s hard for me to tell because I can’t really check the area…hopefully it’ll come back, but yeah most definitely lost hair and my family does not have a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
Really pissed about this!
My husband has been using head and shoulders for a year now. He is beginning to thin out on top. I started looking into causes and found a correlation between high levels of zinc and hair loss. Head and Shoulders uses Zinc as its active ingredient. Needless to say we have stopped using it and read labels more carefully.
I would like to say im 20 years old and i live in Australia. My family have been users of head and shoulders anti dandruff shampoo for 1 year previously and all of us had hair loss. Normally we all shower once a day but occasionally we shower twice. Anyways at first we laughed about it as my 13 year old brother was losing hair the most (he had sports guess he showered twice a day or something). It was sort of obvious it was the products fault as 5 people suddenly losing hair at the same time after switching shampoos….. i mean come on. I saw in this blog people asking if hair grows back. For my family it appears even after stopping the usage of H&S the hair still fell out. Not as much but still in the shower about 10-30 strands and when i pull my hair back i usually get hair on my hands. But of course this might not be so in your case i wish you luck if have used this product. I have also felt the product has messed with my brain abit, thought it might have been me just being paranoid but hell. The Lawrence guy had this site up http://www.naturalnews.com/003210.html ?maybe im not paranoid
Here is a page from the National institute of Health site.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682258.html
Selenium sulfide, an anti-infective agent, relieves itching and flaking of the scalp and removes the dry, scaly particles that are commonly referred to as dandruff or seborrhea. It is also used to treat tinea versicolor, a fungal infection of the skin.
Brand names
Exsel®
Head and Shoulders Intensive Treatment Dandruff Shampoo®
Selsun®
Selsun Blue®
hi,(sorry for my english)
that’s unbelievable!!!!!!!
i noticed intensive hair loss 3-4 months after using this shampoo.also my hair became too thin.
i’ve gone to several dermatologists and told me that i have androgenic alopecia.no one in my family had ever problem with hair loss.i became so curius about this problem.
ok that could be possible. but that was so INTENSIVE.
i was on holidays for a week, so i used a friend’s shampoo(not head&shoulders).
i realized that hair loss STOPPED.i said WTF?
now i know what really caused it.
i ll never use it again.never never never.
im so angry i lost some of my hair.
thanks god i realized it soon..
and thanks to all users in this forum for helping me find this correalation.
thanks thanks thanks.!!!!
I am so glad that this blog exists. I have been using Head and Shoulders for years. I used to alternate from my regular shampoo and head and shoulders. But recently, I have been using head and shoulders as my only shampoo. I have been experiencing significant hair loss around my front and back hairlines. It has gotten so bad lately that I can see through my hair, and it has never been like this. Just a year ago, I had a full thick head of hair!!! This stuff should be called head of hair ON shoulders!!!! I’m furious. Neither one of my parents have had problems like this at my age and I hope that after the discontinue of this product that my hair will grow back. Thanks thanks thanks!!!
Found this forum by accident and I’m glad I did. I have been using H & S for years alternating it with other shampoos and conditioners. I have noticed that my hair has become significantly thinner over the years but I have been attributing the hair loss to stress and other factors. My mothers side of the family have very thick hair but my father is nearly bald. So I’ve been thinking I take after him. After reading everyone else’s stories I think I’ll try not using H & S for a while and see what happens.
By the way I found all the arguments with Randall rather entertaining
Well…I’ve noticed the majority of respondents in this commentary are fairly young. I am 53 years old and have been using Head & Shoulders for approximately half of my life if not more. I have a full head of hair, no grey, and haven’t noticed any of the claims of hair loss or thinning. However, I ‘Googled’ H & S because someone had mentioned a possible allergic reaction to the zinc pyrithione. However, upon reading these articles, I am debating possibly discontinuing regular use and monitor any changes to my hair.
Hey this is dpimp again. i left a message or two on here awhile back after noticing hair loss for H&S and now after stoping the use of it my hair is back to being nice and thick! peace and dont use headn shoulder again!
Hi All,
Here is what happened to my hair after stopping using the H&S “restoring shine” shampoo in early July. My hair continued to fall out in the front/middle like crazy for a couple months. I tried natural shampoos along with not washing it. No luck. My head was starting to get itchy again so I said screw it and picked up a bottle of Selsun Blue. I used it a few times and have noticed much less hairloss during the shower (maybe 10 - 20). My hair now feels and looks a little thicker and many less hairs come out when running my hands through. In all, my hair feels much better and healthier after stopping with the H&S. Hope it all grows back.
I am a 27 year old male and have been using Head & Shoulders as a daily use shampoo for about 4 years. I have noticed I shed hair more than I used to and that the front of my hair is extremely thin and fear I may be balding. I am not longer going to use Head & Shoulders and, should my conditions improve, will look into launching or joining a class action lawsuit.
Randall is a complete noob, please ignore him. after reading his
comments i relised that he completely contradicts himself and needs to get a life.
i have used head and shoulders for about 4 years now and noticed
a more than usual amount of hair falling out. also before i used head and shoulders my scalp was fine and now it is irritated and itchy. I didnt notice it that much because i thought it was normal until my boyfriend said about it.
Have been ising the H&S for men and noticing hair falling out more than usual and scalp itching. I think they should test it again in a lab scientificallyy so Randall can compensate everyone on this site.
I started using Head and Shoulders about 2 or 3 months ago.I just recently started noticing that I was loosing hair on the top of the head. Nothing like male pattern boldness. No one in my family is bold. I will stop using Head and Shoulders immediately.
Head and shoulders is DEFINITELY a reason for hair loss, well, it has been for me, i have been using it for i dont know how long. and my hair have thinned out all over and i lose atleast 40-50 hair EVERYtime i use it.
Randall is a joke. Anyways, I too have experienced serious hair loss and have only used half a bottle. I’m never using it again!
hi, with so many feedback about head and shoulder shampoo, its only obvious that we shouldn’t be taking chances with their products. my wife is an avid user of head and shoulder,she never complained of hair loss but i’m periodically unclogging the bathtub of tremendous amount of her hair. ( i know its not mines because my hair is always buzzed off since majority of it is gone. yes, i used h&s whenever my scalp itched. i’m throwing away this shampoo asap.
just like many of the posters on here, i have had the same experience. never have did i worry about hair loss when i was younger, as my hair was always thick and full. i now just turned 23 and am considerably bolder than a couple of years ago. i tried doctors, vitamins and rogain, but i have always had a suspicion it could be due to H&S. I use it cos of dandruff, but i cant help but think that the amount of hair lost is not natural. I am a young man and this is really starting to bug me, i have noticed how much hair is falling out, and when i stopped using h&s the hairloss was alot less. After reading this blog im going to try something else, although as one poster mnetioned, H&s has an addictive effect when you dont use it and your scalp ends up getting very itchy. anyways, there is definately a link and im glad i found this site because it confirmed suspicions i had about head and shoulders. good luck to everyone
i have a different problem, after i use h&s and start washing it off my head, my body itches a lot in random areas. sometimes its my ankle area to my stomach, to my back, or my crotch area.
i am 20years old and have been using h&s all my life and it works. i use it everyday! ha ha ha, nothing to complain about..
I read this whole forum. my problems for sure stem from head and shoulders. This product has cause major innflamation and almost like sores on my head. my hair is falling out dramatically. this started when i began using head and shoulders. i will never put that stuff on my head again. I had wonderful hair before i used this crap, now its falling out like rain from the sky. IF YOUR READING THIS THEN TRUST ME< DONT USE HEAD AND SHOULDERS< WARNING!!!! i dont reccomend any specific shampoo, but if i could i would jut go with a simple suave or herbal shampoo. FUCK HEAD AND SHOULDERS< LETS SUE THEM
something tells me this randall guy works for head and shoulders. i wouldnt believe a word he says, if he doesnt have problems with h& s then why is he on this site.
come to think of it anyone who has success with head and shoulders would not be searching for a forum like this. so tays is full of shit too probably
I’m 19 years old and half persian. I had very thick hair up until this summer when I noticed I started getting male hair line balding (a little bit in the front on the sides. I didn’t care the rest of my hair was still impenetrable. I would say that I’ve lost 40% of my hair since using head and shoulders in august. This loss has attributed to lots of problems for me. I was planning of getting into modeling, now what the hell am I going to do? Those bastards should pay.
I just used head n shoulders today for the first time….not for dandruff, but for an itchy scalp. When I put the shampoo on, it felt like I was pouring on medicine. Nice and tingly, but it was really, really strong. While I think that head n shoulders does work to cure an itchy scalp, I think it’s probably waaaaay too harsh for your hair if you use it often (like more than once a month). I personally do not plan to use it ever again. It fried out my ends. I got pretty descent results with Pert Plus, so I might just use that instead.
I started using headand shoulders about 8 months ago and almost immediately had clumps of hair falling out of my head. for the past 8 months i have frantically tried changing everything in my life to stop this hair loss, from cutting my waist length hair to my shoulders to lowing the hormones in my birth control. none of which worked. so i thought long and hard and the only thing that i did differently was start using this product. so about a week ago i stopped using it and what a difference i am only losing about 5 strands now versus the clumps of hair before. ya this products works great at taking care of dandruff but only because it wipes out your hair!
I’m 24. I started using HS within a month I started to lost hundreds of hairs. Will discontinue
i have been using head and shoulds for quiet some time now. I use to wash it to treat my itich skull. I have noticed i am finding clunks of hair all over my hands. pillow and base of the shower.
I found this page because the same results happened to me. Now I’m just hoping the hair grows back because I’ve stopped using the shampoo. It’s been about two weeks now. They should add a warning to their label.
I have been meaning to google this for a while. I have been using H&S for probably 6 years and noticed that i was losing a lot of hair, but I thought it was alright because I couldn’t imagine a company selling a product that would do this. I have recently looked in the mirror (yeah, it doesn’t happen very often) and I was shocked at being able to see my scalp on most parts of my head. I am definitely going to be looking for some alternate shampoo immediately and just hope that my hair recovers. I used to have very very thick hair which is no longer the case. I really wish I had looked this up sooner.
I just started using head and shoulders a couple of months ago… it has definitely helped my dandruff problem. I have noticed my hair getting thinner though… I’m a 24 y/o male, so this isn’t completely unexpected, however my genes should be good. My shower also has very hard water, which some people claim causes hair thinning. I’m not sure about H&S… I’ll probably give it up for a few months and see.
Though, at the same time, I think people will connect hair loss to their particular environment. Since H&S is a very popular shampoo, we’ll see a lot of people claiming it to be the problem. I noticed the same thing with hard water. 160 posts here seems like a lot, but that is over a span of nearly 3 years. So that makes me wonder. Regardless, I’m going to put H&S on hold for a bit.
Hi,I started using Head & Shoulders shampoo last year. After a few months on H&S My hair started rapidly thinning.
I’ve been using H&S for two years and have lush thick beautiful hair.
wow, i’ve been using head and shoulders for 2 years or so, and my hair has been thinning since, i’m not sure if it’s normal, i’m 18 and have no family history of hair loss. i never really made the connection..
My problem doesn’t have anything to do with hair loss. But skin…I’ll explain, I’ve used H&D for the first time 2 weeks ago, on the next day my hands were swollen and red. Skin began to dry and I could peel them like an apple. One week lates I was using it again, same story repeating, but with this time, sorry, my nails unsticks, my hands are like crocodile skin. I have a receveid a cortison treatment.
William Rassman, MD:
At: http://www.naturalnews.com/003210.html
It says this: “These finding were presented December 5th at the American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting.”
Until someone has those in their hands, I guess there will be doubt.
wow, i cant believe i came across this site! i am 25 yr old female and was searching on thinning hair and came across this. i am completely stunned! what do i have in my shower right now that i have been using for the past 2 months?! H&S! i was concerned about my hair thinning at the crown with clumps coming out in the shower, brush, etc. now i hope i have found the culprit! i am going to trash that blue and white bottle immediately! good luck to all of you who are having similar problems with this! if anyone has used a different shampoo and has gotten their hair back to the way it was, please post and let us know what is good out there. thank you in advance and good luck again to all of us who are suffering!
I’ve been using Head & Shoulders for just 2 months and noticed my hair has been falling at an alarming rate. Ive been scared shitless and noticed the hair on the sides of my head thinning. SOME PLEASE SUE THESE ASS HOLES
I’ve been using Head and shoulders for years and yes my hair has been falling out by the handfuls. I stopped using it about 3 months ago and the hair has stopped falling out.
I guess I’ll have to wait about a year to see if it will grow back.
I have had to switch to using apple-cider vinegar and water mixture to control the dandruff.
I have used H&S before and it helped. I stopped using it about 5 years ago and recently had to start using it again to control my dandruff. I used it a grand total of 5 times and had noticed a lot of my hair was falling out. My daughter began to notice my hair was thin and I knew it was bad since she had noticed. Then one day my scalp began itching uncontrollably and began itching all over. I realized I was having an allergic reaction to it. I began to swell all over and I was miserable. I went to the doctor and he asked why I hadn’t gone to the emergency room because by then my throat was closing up on me. I believe they have changed what they put in the shampoo because I have never had anything like this happen before with H&S in the past. Yes I know mine was an allergy but still I lost a lot of hair and am still losing my hair.It is weird telling people dandruff shampoo could have killed me. I find it rather odd all of these people experiencing hair loss. It has got to be the shampoo. I don’t believe it is a coincidence or people just losing their hair because of family history of it.
YES YES YES, H&S sucks spread the word around. I too have noticed the exact same results: dandruff problem solved, hair thinning at a freakishly increasing rate as I continued using the product. dandruff is not a problem for me as balding is. :S :S :S
After using heads n shoulders for 2 weeks, i still lose hair. I lose about 10 to 20 strands of hair everytime i shower and i lose hair when i stroke my head.
Im only 16 and ive been stressing out ever since my friends started to notice my scalp of my sides were starting to reveal.
Anyone knows if ur hair grows back to the natural state?
holy crap, ive nevr used head n shoulders, but my mom used it befor and she loss hella hair. i thought it wuz only bad for her but i guess its the same for everyone.
I’m a 24 year old guy and I know that balding is a very real possibility at this age, but I used Head & Shoulders with Hydrazing Formula and I noticed A LOT of hair starting to fall out. Much more than is usual by simply running my fingers through my hair. But what’s odd is that I noticed very short hairs that had just begun to grow again, about 1/2 in. in length, and these were falling out as well. Hairs that have just entered their growth phase after dormancy should NOT fall out after 1 month of growth. The only explanation I have is that H & S caused the hair to fall out. I’m not going to use this s*%t ever again.
Hi i am 23 years old…
I am using Head & Shoulders for past 3 months…
Now Hair fall problem has been stared…
So i am really very confused to choose a another shampoo…
Please suggest me a good shampoo which should i get in India..
Thanks in Advance….
I am taking pre-nursing classes and learned that selinium (an ingredient found in some shapoos such as head & shoulders) can cause hair loss when used in upper intake levels. Selinium is a trace mineral needed in small amounts for proper health and nutrition…in SMALL amounts. The amount in head & shoulders I am not sure of, but I honestly think it’s much more than recommended. Personally, I have used this product for years for dry scalp. Low and behold this 27 year old female (me) has lost half of the hair thickness I used to have. I’m just glad I found the link now before I lost even more!
What shampoo should I use that will not induce any balding?
I’m a 58 year old woman who has been using H&S for years and years - could be 20 or more - with absolutely no problems….until the last 2 or 3 months when i noticed my hair type changing from curly to thin, fine and straight and my hair falling out very much more than usual - ie onto my clothes (impossible now to wear black), into my dinner, and noticeably on the floor. This cannot be normal hair loss. At first I put it down to hormonal changes - but everything is normal, thyroid etc and I’ve been taking vitamins and even pollen!! My head is extremely sore and itchy and gets worse everytime i use the shampoo. Today I googled H&S problems and am astonished by this site. Has the manufacturer changed the ingredients of the shampoo recently perhaps? Anyway I’m now going to throw the bottle away. I am very worried that it might be too late though!
Wow, lots of complaints against head and shoulders my hair has also fallen out by the dozens i guess now i know to stop head and shoulders.
Hi, my name is Sam.
The first time I used H&S my hair got all dry and bleh, then a couple days ago I decided to try it again because i had a little dandruff. I have now been itching like crazy lately, is this an allergic reaction to the shampoo? :S
This isn’t about my hair falling out or anything but I just want to know.
A quick update 6 days on. I went out and bought a bottle of shampoo from my nearest Health shop - all natural ingredients - and from day one my hair has not fallen out as before and my scalp is no longer sore - in fact an incredible relief and my hair is beginning to have the same bounce as before. I’m afraid I have to agree with the other comments - that H&S is far too strong and not good for everyone. I would write directly to the company but cannot find an address.
I am 34 and my hair started receding slowly about 8 years ago. In the last few months my
I went through some major stresses that I an sure contributed, but this seemed very rapid. By chance, after cutting my hair I washed it leaning over the bathtub, getting shampoo rundown on my face. This caused a mild red skin reaction (one I had been experiencing and attributing to mild eczema). I was curius to see if there was any correlation b/wa hair loss and shampoo I used. I used Selsun Blue daily and my head seems irritated now. Anyway, I found through my research that the active ingredient in Selsun Blue is Selenium Sulfide (common in dandruff shampoos). It is a FACT that Selenium Sulfide causes hair thinning and an increase in normal hair loss. selsun Blue even warns of it (just not on the label). Miners who mine for Selenium were found to have lost their hair as well. I believe H & S contains Selenium Sulfide. If so, there is your culprit. I stopped using it yesterday, having started several months ago. Hope I coould help.
I am not balding and I am not a user of head and shoulders. However I have been doing some research into some information a hair dresser gave me about the three WORST things to use on your hair and well head and shoulders was one of them. I have to admit I felt like it was a high pressure sales gimmick than an actual truth.
The reality is - no one makes us use anything - it’s a choice. If something isn’t working for you and is causing negative side effects - STOP using it.
As for Randall - you are cheeky and manipulative. I suppose you thought your salsa recommendation was brilliant. Geeeesh. After reading all your posts - I came to realize that you must have something personally invested in the promotion of head and shoulders shampoo. Any run of the mill person couldn’t have so much energy and care invested in a hair product. Fess up !! Why do you care so much ???
After loosing my hair for 2 years and blaming my blood pressure medicine I finally stopped using Head & Shoulders shampoo. That is after changing blood pressure medications, discontinuing the medication for a time, conducting my own trials as to what would be causing the hair loss. I was convinced that it was the medication. I stopped using the head & shoulders 2 months ago and I’ve finally stopped the “noticeable shedding” at my computer. My wife and kids have also said my hair looks thicker. Yes it is thicker! It’s growing back! WooHoo! With no family history of baldness why did I have to go through 2 years of worry and struggle about my thinning hair? Shame on P&G, the product makes no mention of possible hair loss with product use.
I started loosing my hair somewhere in mid of nov after i change to the new packaging of Head & Shoulders shampoo. I suspected stress due to my sudden hectic work life.
My pillows were camouflaged with fallen hair; when washing my hair, the fallen hair covered my entire palm even with a smooth glide on hair to clear excess water. I goggled and search for reasons for massive hair loss, fearing pre symptons of cancer. Luckily cancer was not a sympton.
Yes, the hair fall was so bad that my usual hair thickness thin by half within one month! Yes, I can gauge it by tying up my hair with my usual hair clip.
Oh, I also noticed white patches or flickers of milky white substance near the folic of fallen hair, and it feel slightly oily too. Shouldnt Head & Shoulder clear dandruff and oil instead of creating???
I have already ceased using Head & Shoulders. Pray that my hair will stop falling drastically and restore back gradually to my usual thickness and volume.
Without a question, Head and Shoulders causes thinning hair and stunts hair growth.
I actually use the CVS generic equivalent of H&S, so I should specify that at the beginning, but I assume they’re identical, so interpret this however you’d like.
I’m 24, with no history of hair loss, but hair loss on my mother’s brother’s side.
Anyway, I started using H&S and within a month I was worried that my hair was started to thin and recede. The only difference in my hair treatment was that I was getting dandruff and started using a daily H&S regime. The dandruff went away, but so did hair in the corner’s of my facial hair line and towards my centre “swirl”. This was combined with overall lack of hair robustness and thin spots all over. I stopped using H&S completely and I am VERY pleased to say that my hair is recovering well. I haven’t had a haircut since I stopped using H&S, but I’m fairly confident that my hair has regained its thickness. M hair is back to normal, and thank God.
My suggestion is that anybody who suspects H&S is a factor to stop using it immediately and start treating your hair with normal shampoo and a regrowth formula.
Dandruff isn’t worth baldness!!
Just notice a few typos…
*starting
regimen
corners
My
Hi Dan I am intrigued by your post as I have found very similar traits. I am interested to hear what shampoo you have changed to. I suspect, after using H&S for a couple of years with no visible evidence of hair loss that the new release of products are causing it.
As a sidenoter, to clarify earlier posts, it is Soft Water that makes your hair feel thinner, not hard water. Hard water (which is predominantely found throughout Europe) is generally considered to give your hair more body/bounce and to be thicker. Places like Australia where there are reduced Calcium levels means water is softer, and hair thinner.
fab i think you are right, i have been using H&S for about 4 years and have never had a hair loss problem until they changed something in their formula, about a year ago i think.
when i think back this is the time i have started losing hair.
I have used Head and Shoulders for years and have experienced some thinning of my hair. I thught it was just thinning caused by the dramatic hair loss that I experienced after pregnancy (most of it grew back). I have always had incredibly thick hair, almost too thick, and wasn’t too concerned until I noticed my part getting wider. Recenty I started using H&S every day and noticed my hair coming out everywhere. It was all over the shower, the floor, and on my clothing. I had to pull my hair back to cook to make sure none of it fell in the food. I ran out of H&S decided to buy a hair thickening shampoo. My hair stopped falling out almost immediately and I realized that it was the Head and Shoulders causig my hair loss. Now after 4 months of not using H&S my hair is actually growing back and I have a lot of hair that is only a few inches long mixed in with the rest of my hair. I have a rather fuzzy look going on now, but better fuzzy than bald. I made sure that the rest of my family stopped using it too. I found this website, when I sought to prove to my family that my suspicions were right. Amazing!! Now they finally believe me and have stopped using it too.
Head and shoulders def. causes hair loss! I am 19 and a woman. The hair on the top of my head began to thin dramatically about 6-8mos after using H&S. Now i went back to Pantene and the hair is back!
Yep, I was using head and shoulders and my hair started falling out. Hair loss started slowly then my hair would come out to the point id have to pick it up in the shower afterwards. Also I had allot of hair loss after showering. I stopped using Head and Shoulders and the hair loss ceased. I switched to Selsin Blue and only use this occasionally. It works better than the Head and Shoulders and no hair loss. I dont work for the company that makes Selsin. Anyway problem solved no more loss of hair, hair is growing back. Ill never use Head and Shoulders again. It does cause hair loss.
I think I have something to contribute to this discussion but before I beghn, I’ll introduce myself. I am 24 years old and I’ve been using Head & Shoulders Intense Solutions (Selenium Sulfide) since 1998. It has helped my dandruff tremendously. I have always had extremely thick hair. I experienced no hairloss from 1998 until early 2007. The hairloss started gradually but in the past six months has really hit hard. I have no family history of baldness on either side of the family.
As an engineer, I am well versed in both the principles of logic and the concept of sound scientific inquiry. This entire discussion brings to mind the common argumentative fallacy “cum hoc ergo propter hoc” which is a latin phrase that means “with this, there for because of this”. Millions of people use Head & Shoulders and almost every shampoo on the market contain sulfates and sulfides. What I believe we have here is a subset of genetic hairloss victims who use Head & Shoulders. I would surmise the vast majority of visitors to the the baldingblog are experiencing hairloss (or researching it for someone else). It is reasonable to assume that a vast subset of those visitors use Head & Shoulders.
This brings about the idea of a collective hysteria. Humans have long adapted a survival mechanism for “following the herd”. A group of people all running in panic towards a certain direction will certainly incite you to join them because you trust the judgement of a group much more than you would a single person. If you are experiencing hair loss and you use Head & Shoulders, and you are reading the personal accounts of hundreds of others who attribute their hair loss to the same product, this is all that is required for you to become unwaveringly convinced of an unproven cause-effect relationship.
Yes, I’m a skeptic at heart, but at the same time, where there is evidence that an unproven cause-effect relationship may exist, I’m eager to pursue the implications via sound scientific inquiry. Unless you prove this cause-effect relationship via experimentation and discovery, no amount of personal anecdotal evidence in the world is enough to prove it.
What about my personal opinion? I think there are some compelling anecdotes to point out. The way I’m balding is very unsual. It’s an uneven patchy thinning on the front, sides (above and behind the sideburns where i really scrub in the shampoo since that’s where my dandruff is the worst) and below my natural swirl. I do not have a receding hairline (I actually have an excellent square hairline) nor do i have any crown thinning. I’ve noticed other men and women on here experiencing this unusual HIGHLY DIFFUSE thinning pattern. Also, and I’m not sure how much credence we can give to these personal accounts but I’ve read a handful of accounts on here of people who actually experienced degrees of regrowth after ceasing use of the H&S. I’m NOT saying this proves anything, but it’s compelling nonetheless. Finally as the user assaf pointed out on February 16th of this year, it is his hypothesis that they changed their formula some time in the last few years which is consistent with a change in odor of the product I’ve noticed and it also coincides with when I started noticing the diffuse thinning. Again, this does not convince me of a cause-effect relationship but…
I will be conducting my own personal inquiry by discontinuing use of H&S for one year and using a non-sulfate shampoo. If I experience clear evidence of hair regrowth or if the constant shedding i’ve experienced in the last six month retards, then I will investigate the proper avenues for demanding a scientific inquiry into this possibility.
I leave you all with this final bit of advice. In life, be careful about jumping to conclusions using logical fallacies as the one outlined above. If the ground is wet every time it rains, and the ground is wet, does that mean it rained? If turning off a light switch causes my finger to ache and I scream out in pain, does darkness hurt me? Good luck to you all and I hope this is a case that we can one day close.
Yes I have noticed the exact same correlation with using head and shoulders daily and thinning hair, no genetic history in my entire family line so I think its safe to say be careful!
Yeah I find that my hair gets incredibly dry and brittle as well as my scalp drying out with use of H&S. I have been using it on a semi-regular basis and been having the same issues mentioned here. Am going to stop now, also have nil history of any famaily what so ever suffering from hair loss so unless I am adopted or a genetic freak, I am going to make the call that H&S is certainly not helping at all.
I find it interesting that people are mostly having this issue recently, ie; not many years ago, which may indeed suggest some sort of new ingredient in the bottle.
Rather than just post comments on this blog -I have written two previous ones - I did manage to track down an email address for H&S on the Proctor and Gamble site. I sent a query - not a complaint - and received a phone call from the company very soon after that. They were, of course, very concerned and asked for the lot numbers on the back of the bottles - luckily I had kept two half-finished bottles. I was told that the laboratories always check out complaints etc………and for my trouble they sent me a 10€ cheque!!! It would probably have more effect on the company and product if everyone were to complain directly. As for the comments from Alex - Yes I agree -but i had already made my mind up about the product before reading all the comments - they just confirmed my fears…….and I can report that my hair has continued to improve drastically since stopping.
okay so i am 14 and i used head and shoulders twice and each time i was in the shower like 20 hairs fall out and i know that not alot but for someone like me who losoes less then 10 hairs each time thats alot, and to Randal yes head and shoulders does have chemicals what do u think amoniun laurel sulfate is, what do u think the 1% mateial that stops the dandruff all CHEMICALS
and when i i brushed my hair 10 strands fell out everytime so i immediatly stoped the shampoo and now i use organix which i lovee
and for those who want a really good tip is use warm salt water to rinse your hair then rinse that out then rinse with vineagar and water then after 2-3 appications thought out 2 weeks dandruff is gone
Hi,
I am 35 from Singapore. Like many, I experience thinning of my hair and hair loss(above my forehead) after 3 month of daily wash with H&S anti-dandruff shampoo.
Suspiciosly, I stop using the shampoo today and realized from this website that many has this problem too. Not worth taking a risk, I will go back to the shampoo that I use early.
Very much agree with Dan : ” Dandruff isn’t worth baldness ” !
Well I don’t know for sure about HS causing my recent increased shedding of hair but I do know that each time i used the product (everyday for two weeks) it felt very harsh on my scalp and my hair felt thinner and more brittle. I would go home from college on the weekends to visit my folks and there I would use my regular shampoo “pantene” and the harshness wasn’t there. I stopped using HS just yesterday actually and decided to try using a new product “dove” and the harshness again wasn’t there. Also, in addition, the brittle feeling wasn’t present at the end of the shampooing session. And finally during those two weeks of HS usage, yes, I too noticed a more dramatic amount of hairloss. There was still more than usual yesterday after the switch but compared to the last two weeks, it was cut to half almost..so I’ve counted (~60 hairs per a session to ~30). Again I’m not certain there is a correlation but at least I think this validates as a forewarning for anyone that trys this product.
oh by the way, those times I went back home and used the pantene, there was less hairloss as well sooooooooooo…haha yeah not die hard proof but again seems suspicious, no?
I’m a 20 year old male, with a family and personal history of thick hair. I started using Head a Shoulders just over a year ago, and noticed my hair started thinning. Google sent me here when I searched, and I see a trend, so I may discontinue my use.
im a filipino… so im wrote in tagalog…… marami na akong ginamit na shampoo….. isa na yung head and shoulder na menthol….. pero di mabisa……. nang lumabas ang bagong head and shoulder dry and itchy scalp care….. lalong dumulas at hindi na nangangati ang ulo ko…… this is real
thanks to head and shoulder dry and itchy scalp care….. thanks a lot…..
I am a 27 year old female with medium to long hair. I have never had any problem with hair loss just the normal few strands falling out here and there. Approx. 4 months ago I started using head and shoulders because of a dry itchy scalp..and it has taken it totally away. However, google has led me here because I have been wondering what could possibly be making me loose my hair by the thousands everyday. Seriously….when washing…it falls out enough to make me worry.
Now I read all of this and now pretty much have confirmation that its the head and shoulders shampoo…what else could it be?
Tomorrow, I will be going to the drug store and buying something new.
I will post on here to let you all know if the shedding stops once I stop using this product..hopefully its not too late!!!!
OMG I’m so glad I found this blog. I have been losing SO MUCH HAIR! While im in the shower, while I brush my hair, while its just out, while its in a pony tail, EITHER WAY, i have loose hairs on the end and when I pull them out they just come out in a whole bundle of like fifty and im liek WOW this happens so often too liek four or five times daily so its difficult. THANK GOD I SEARCHEED THIS. I gotta stop using this crap
To Alex: “…common argumentative fallacy?” While there is a modicum of reason within your statement, you committed the fallacy when you equated being an engineer with the ability to
reason and being versed in logic. The two are not related. Perhaps ego should be included in logical fallacies.
So its me again!! The date today is April 3..so its been approx 13 days since I posted on here.
The very next day I went out and bought new shampoo and conditioner…nothing expensive just something other than. I am happy to say that my hair falls out approx 50 percent less already…seriously!!!!!!
That is the only confirmation I need!!!! I don’t care what anyone else says about there not being any chemicals in H&S that can make your hair fall out…I have just proven to myself that obviously there is something in it that my hair doesn’t like.
The only thing I can say is try it for yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy hair washing!!!!!!
I think it is good for dandruff but not to be used on a daily basis.
Like many others on this page, I came across it by searching for anything that contained “Head and Shoulders” and “hair loss.” Again, similar to many others, I became suspicious of my shampoo after I began noticing hair loss to the point of a plainly visible scalp at age 21 (now 22).
What made the difference for me was that I’d been using Head and Shoulders classic for a few years, but had only within the few months before noticing the hair loss switched to their new “Ocean Lift” formula.
Now, that’s enough to make someone suspicious, but the following put me over the top:
Genetically, there is probably a link to baldness in my family. However, the hair loss I was experiencing was not in the same location on my head. Mine was somewhat higher, and a friend of mine that noticed even made the same comment - that it was almost so high on top of my head as to be hard to see in the first place.
A few showers later with that in mind and I realized that’s exactly where I put the first “glob” of Head and Shoulders before I spread it out across the rest of my head.
And so the experiment with a new shampoo begins…
Perhaps I should also add one more thing: I use (well, used) Head and Shoulders daily.
I shudder at the thought of what that was doing.
Hi, I have had a full head of hair my whole life too. I am 25 and have been using H&D for about once a week for one year. My dad told me along time ago not to use H&D, saying it makes your hair fall out, and I thought it was crap. I wish I had listend to my dad!! My hair is thinning everywhere most on top of my head. I do not notice it falling out as others have, but I think that the product weakens the hair’s roots and they are easily pulled. I think that dandruff may do that as well but H & D makes it worse! I comb my hair maybe 4 times a day, and I hear the hair being pulled out when I comb and since i didn’t notice alot of hairs ar once I didn’t think it was anything. I didn’t notice until I combed my hair and in the light I could see through it. I didn’t bleieve my dad until this happened and I read this site. I am going to stop using the head and shoulders and am going to see a dermatoligist. Good Luck to everyone!!
Wow.. i never usually post on these things unless it were happening to me and everyone thank you so much for your posts… they have helped me to reach a conclusion on my hair loss problem… i have been freaking out about my current loss in hair due to my once a week useage of H&S… yes only once a week for 6 months and i’ve lost over 50% of my full bodied hair that i once had this time last year and have photo’s to prove the loss, my boyfriend has been experiencing the same thing SO I told him to stop usind the product.
I have since stopped using H&S since i realised my hair was falling out at a rapid rate.. i’m talking 20-30 strands when washing and 10-15 everytime i’d run my fingers through my hair… and started using other products, only 3 weeks into using another product, though my hair still seems to be falling out… I would really appreciate the names of some organic alternatives or just the names of other shampoos that has helped others with their hair re growth and stopped this constant loss in hair.
Me thinks a dermi would be best to ask but if people are getting awsome results from a product i would love to hear it! H&S is a bad product!
All the best, thanks for reading!
P.s. I must say that i loved Jo-Ann’s comments (81) about body hair.. i must pitch this to my boy who has a disturbing amount of body hair lol!
I have been using Head & Shoulders for 45 years. I’m still not bald, and when I was working I washed my hair every night. My father and brother never used it and both are bald. Ive heard these stories for the last 40 years. My hair was really thick when I was young and started thinning at the age of 16, before I ever used H & S, but I still have hair now.I have a friend who went totally bald at the age of 22, and he never used H & S. I think this is just something someone started 40 years ago that has no leg to stand on.
Hi to all!!
I always used to use head and shoulders, and kept my full and dark hair. However during that time I used it about twice a week.
Then, about 6-7 months ago (in Chile) things began to change and I noticed my dandruff got worse so naturally I began to use more head and shoulders, and entered into a vicious circle.
All the men in my family have thick hair, and I have been using huge amounts, but have unfortunately sought Head and Shoulders as the remedy.
Now I can see my scalp, and I never have before, and my hair has become so much thinner that it’s actually a different colour, much lighter than it was before.
I’ve been changing shampoos, but always going back to H&S because it did always use to work for me (refreshing mint). i am also convinced that something has more or less recently changed in the formula, and also, it seems to have become much more difficult to find H&S conditioner.
Perhaps this is a tactic of theirs to increase sales? Make us lose more hair, but at the same time buy more to stop the hair loss? In the age of rampant commercialism that we live in it wouldn’t surprise me.
Anyway, even though a few days ago, in the vicious cycle I mentioned, I bought more H&S I won’t ever again. The question is, what do I do now? Luckily I always had a lot of hair, and even though I’ve lost huge amounts it’s still not enormously noticeable. I’m going to try to go the herbal way, but definitely not herbal essences, as other contributors have also warned.
I think more than anything else we’ve all been victims of the desire to make big money, which changed an initially brilliant product ( I swear that it did work before, it really did, and fantastically) into something horrible.
Stop while you still can!!!
Sorry, in my third paragraph it should be I have been losing huge amounts, not using huge amounts.
I’m a 25 year old female and I’ve been using H&S for about 5 months. I noticed my hair thinning on top and at first thought it was due to the oral contraceptives I was taking, but I no longer think this is the case; one, because my pills are extremely low hormone; two, I’ve been taking them for nearly 3 years with no hair-related side effects; and three, OCs are sometimes given to women to HELP with thinning hair.
Also, I was in a car accident about 10 years ago and had to undergo brain surgery. As a result, a lot of my hair is already thin on top/crown and won’t regrow over my scars. I need every hair I can get, and losing hair unnecessarily due to shampoo is inexcusable.
I’ve never used H&S for any length of time (too pricey for me) but I got a good deal on a big bottle. If H&S doesn’t cause hair to thin, then it’s one HECK of a coincidence for my case. I’m discontinuing my use of it as of today.
(In response to Tony’s comment #212) I’d be skeptical of this whole H&S hair loss thing if I hadn’t experienced it myself. Like most of the products we put on or in our bodies, the side effects we will experience are different for every individual. What’s good for one person may cause another to go bald. I believe these people here can testify to that.
I also think Head and Shoulders maybe causing me to bald. I’ve been using the product over the last year and have already notice that my hair is thinning dramatically. I have no family history of baldness what so ever and am understandably concerned. I think this topic definitely deserves some credible scientific investigation.
My situation echoes many of the claims from above. I have been using head and shoulders daily for a few months and have noticed a drastic thinning on the top of my head. My hair falls out very easily if I comb or pull gently on it. I’m glad I noticed very early (I’m currently 24) so that I could investigate the cause, the thinning the top is just noticeable from certain angles when my hair is wet, and when dry its mostly hidden thanks to my previously VERY thick hair by diameter and quantity per surface area (my barber often jokes that I should pay extra because my hair needs a lawn mower instead of electric clippers).
My oldest brother has been using head and shoulders for a few years, and has experienced an even more drastic balding in the exact same fashion. I have two other brothers (one is older than me, and the other is younger) who do not use head and shoulders and are not displaying any noticeable hair loss at this stage. I don’t claim to know much about the science behind hair loss at the moment, but we do not have a history of baldness in the family. All living male relatives still have a relatively full head of hair (and the females!).
However, because I adhere strictly to objective/scientific standards, I will not immediately make the assumption that Head and Shoulders is the cause, despite the apparently strong correlation. Remember people; correlation does not prove causality! There seems to be a very strong basis to investigate the product further, using a rational, scientific approach, not to claim that it must be the cause. Will start looking into it further for myself, but it would be fantastic if Dr. Rassman would provide a little more commentary on the issue than saying it has become a hot topic. Hopefully there is some science going on that can debunk the myth or demonstrate actual causality so that we can lay this query to rest.
Good luck!
I am 22 years old and within the past 8 months have noticed dramatic hair loss and thinning. I have been using h/s for about that time. My recommendation for everyone is to see a dermatologist and stop using it. There are different causes of hair loss. Genetics, poor nutrition, stress, even hormone imbalances.My doc checked my hormones and everything ok. I see the dermatologist today actually. I have been devastated over my recent hairloss and hope that everyone including myself find something that helps. Read over some blogs at earthclinic.com. Some herbal remdies include apple cider vinegar, rinsing with it and oral, cocunut oil, biotin…make sure ur taking the right vitamins(talk to your dr), other contributions to hair loss are excessive vitamin A as well. I believe that maybe h/s has contributed to my recent hairloss….I sure hope that’s all it is. I wish everyone luck..keep posting
I am 28 and been casually using H&S for about 6 months. That is, I will use is a couple of times a week and another shampoos on alternative days. Anyway, I have noticed a thinning around my crown. It isn’t bald but when I run my fingers through my hair, it feels a little thinner in that region. After reading this blog, I will be switching to a herbal shampoos. H&S is Thailand made crap by the sounds of it. I always had this feeling that it was a dodgy product.
I totally agree with the claim that head and shoulders thins peoples hair, I started using it for about two months before I got married because I wanted to have flawless hair, and to my dismay it started to thin the top part of my hair right away. My hair has always been nice and thick and all of a sudden it was thinning, at first I thought it was because stress, but then I realized that that had never happened before. So then I stopped using head and shoulders and my hair is slowly starting to return back to normal, I am thankful that my hair is going back to it’s normal state, but one thing is for sure I will never ever use head and shoulders again. It’s rough on the scalp and what I consider to be a “Dangerous Product.” I would not recommend it to no one.
Ditto to all of the above. I was in university when I thought to try H&S, after a few times of use my hair in the front started to receed so badly that others noticed. I immediately stopped using it, and THANKFULLY my hair grew back, not to the fullness as before, but atleast there wasn’t a bald spot in the front. I will never buy this stuff again.
Wow, i bought H&S last week, and i noticed my hair has been extremely thin the last couple of days… and i’ve been shedding a lot…
I thought it might be H&S, so i googled it and found this, wow… im gonna stop ASAP…
i already have thin hair
Hi all,
Just wanted to give you a little update as it’s been almost 1 year since I stopped using H&S. I had been regularly using the classic H&S for most of my life with no problems. After purchasing the “Restoring Shine” version of H&S my hair fell out like crazy (at age 26). Fortunately, It’s now about 90% as thick as it was previously. In a couple weeks I went from having dark, thick Irish hair to being able to see my scalp at all times.
Currently, I get my hair cut every 3 or 4 weeks and the barber even uses the ‘thinning sheers’ to thin out the top. Bottom line, stop using H&S. They obviously changed something in their new formula that has negatively effected a lot of people. If I were to guess, most of you will experience similar results a few months after you toss the shampoo in the trash. I’m also keeping my half full bottle in case anyone needs a test/evidence for a lawsuit.
Regards,
Brad
[...] be the cause of my hair loss. Although blogging isn’t the same as scientific proof (yet), the BaldingBlog (there’s a blog for everything these days) posted about a possible correlation between the use [...]
my mother has very beutiful hairs,long shiny thick and best.but i lost all of my hairs after using head and shoulder.its really worst shamoe in world,,i will sugesst u all leav it immidetely…i am sure its reason of hair falll
My grandfathers past away in their mid to late 70s with lots of hair still and also have over 10 uncles none of them are bald or have thinning hair. I grew up using Head and Shoulders shampoo because that’s what my father used and my hair has always been thin on the top I’m 25 now its getting worst. I’ve stopped using the product and hope that my hair will improve.
My hair has been falling out by the handful, I finally narrowed it down to the dry scalp care head and shoulders shampoo. My hair is already VERY fine…I don’t need to be losing it! I can’t believe that sooooo many people have been experiencing the same thing and noone has sued! I will never buy my shampoo from the grocery stores, drugstores or big box stores ever again. There is something to be said for hairdressers and their opinion on products. I went on proctor gambles website and found that they make several products I had to stop using due to reactions. Secret gave me a rash, I broke out from pantene, noxema and olay. I am praying my hair grows back. Thank god I found this webpage, I now know its the product and not my hair just randomly falling out in huge clumps.
I stumbled upon this site after I googled dandruff shampoo and hair loss.
I used to have a very thick head of hair. I’m 47 years old and have used dandruff shampoo once every other week for years,,,,,but in the last year I started using store brand H & S generic brand. Well,,,,I can tell you I was shocked when I noticed how thin my hair has become recently.
I will stop daily use now. I am convinced that my hair loss is from the dandruff shampoo. I’ll go back to using premium salon shampoo and use dandruff only when needed.
Thank you for the comments.
hi
i have used H&S for 3 months and also lost a lot of hair has anyone’s hair grown back?if so how long did it take to see it?
This is amazing I have quite long hair and have used H&S for quite some time due to dry scalp I have noticed large amounts of hair falling in the shower.
Even before finding this site which by the way was via a google search on H&S and hair loss, I did have my suspicions which have now to a certain degree been proven to me by other comments posted here. I know it’s not medical proof but it’s good enough for me, read on.
Around 3 days ago I decided to try my girlfriends shampoo and conditioner and noticed from that first wash on rinsing that I wasn’t losing the big clumps of hair that I would with H&S. I will not be using H&S again ever! What I have been using is a shampoo to remove product build up by KMS.
What I don’t understand is why this hasn’t been brought to the attention of any current affairs tv programs. It seems like the kind of story they would jump on.
The general public who may be using these products need to at least be informed of these concerns. My guess would be that in general the connection has not yet been made with most users of this product.
For years I have been struggling with thinning hair, thinking its could be diet heredity or pulling my hair back I changed everything to grow my hair back, dieted took vitamans nothing seem to work I was content with thinning hair. For about 11 years now I have been off and on using head and shoulders. Until about 2 years ago I never thought about the correlation. When I am on the shampoo my hair thins. When I am not I noticed thicker hair. Now mind you I will go off the shampoo for over a year and try other products. Naturally the other products keep my hair thick but don’t work as well against the dandruff. Just five months ago, stupidly of me, I had a coupon for the head and shoulders new formula buy the shampoo and get the conditioner for free. I have had more hair loss than ever. I haven’t been using it for three months tada my hair is growing back and faster like my hair normally does grow. No matter what studies are done. On head and shoulders loss hair, off grow back hair. Sounds to me head and shoulders thins hair don’t ya think.
Hello, i ve been using this H&S for a while and my hair keeps falling anytime i shower and gets thinner and thinner. i ve read some comments here and i ve seen that people started using other ones and they stopped the thinning and the falling. what shampoos do you guys recomend other than H&S???
I’ve read many of these comments and have been persuaded to stop using H&S. Although I’ve read numerous comments saying they’ve switched to herbal shampoos, I’m wondering if they could be more specific as to which herbal shampoo they used? I’m also hoping it would be one of those shampoos that are sold in many stores so it would be easier for me to get one myself.
sounds like you guys are just made that you’re balding
I started using head and shoulders refresh to lighten my hair as I heard it would lighten colored hair gradually. After about a week of using it, I actually started having terrible dandruff which I’ve never had b4. A week later, I noticed hair loss. Lots of hair loss. My hair thinned out all over. I will never again use anything by head and shoulders. Since I discontinued use, the hair loss has subsided quite a bit. It hasn’t been to long so I haven’t notice the thickness returning to my hair yet. I’m crossing my fingers that I will recover.
I(I’m 18) recently started using head and shoulders ocean lift about 3 weeks ago around 2 times a week. I have planned on growing my hair longer from the beginning of the summer. After having a shower today I noticed that more of my hair has been falling and I suspected it was the shampoo(also due to the irritated feeling that I have got on my head/forehead). Thank god I just confirmed it from reading all the posts above. I told my brother(only 20) to stop using his because he is almost bald and I hope it actually is from the shampoo in his case. I hope I am able to continue to grow my hair from now on. Does anybody recommend a good shampoo to use that can help me have strong hair so that it won’t fall? Randell, you obviously do not know what you are talking about by trying to make everyone believe it is not from Head and shoulders.
Hi, I came across this website and there seems to be many people with the same complaint as I do. I started using the new Head & Shoulder shampoos that are supposed to help you in maintaining a healthier scalp. All I have been left with is thinning hair and an itchy scalp. Every time my scalp itches, hair comes off very easily with pieces of dandruff. I don’t know what to do! I’m 21 years of age and there’s no history of hair loss in my family!! This is really scary and I need help!
There’s no one balding in my family on either parent’s side. I started using H&S and a few months later, I have odd patches of balding on my head. It’s certainly NOT male pattern baldness, but freaky H&S pattern baldness. Never using that stuff again.
Can just 1 person who says this stuff causes hair loss provide a direct link to proove your claim?
Theres plenty of links on here proving it can HELP hair growth!
Where is are the links to studies proving there is a problem? no, you just whining about it is not proof.
But hair loss is a normal fact of life for most or many people. Men and Women loose hair and thin over time.
So unless someone shows me a study that proves anything, I call BS on you guys. I feel bad you’re going bald but I have a hard time believing something on the market this long wouldnt have some scientific evidence of causing hair loss if that were true~!
Even just stress can cause hair loss. The fact that you’re posting on here and even worrying that it caused hair loss probably raised your blood pressure, caused stress and created even more hair loss.
Also, I found that simple Olive Oil rubbed into my hair once in awhile kept my scalp moisturized and no more dandruff. My moms dad did this and always had long curly locks, Ive never seen a man his age have so much hair.
Dandruff can be from too much oil too, esp with young people. So read up before adding oil.
Im 26 and always had dandruff in some form. Every couple weeks my scalp gets itchy with small white flakes which is DRY scalp, using Olive Oil just knocks it out. Esp after you keep using it for awhile it keeps your hair very healthy and shining and smells pretty good too imho. I started getting complements on my hair after doing this, which Ive never had before.
Just dont use chemicals, modified oils or anything strange. Keep it natural baby!
There was an experiment done recently with a very small amount of H&S added to a live fish tank….unfortunately, the fish “rolled” over.
I’m 21, but a few years ago I would use this shampoo off and on. I always loose hair in the shower, but I began to notice a large increase in hair loss when using H&S. I thought I was crazy because I had never heard of anyone else with the problem, but I stopped using it anyways. Recently I have been thinking about going back to it because I liked the way it smells (I know some people hate it, but I like it), but I was worried my hair would fall out again. Curious, I decided to look it up, and I ended up here. Now I will deffinetly stay away from the shampoo.
I see a lot of people saying that it’s just natural for humans too loose hair, but how do you explain loosing a greater amount of hair only when using this shampoo? I’m also curious to know if the people who are doubting these claims have used the shampoo for any significant amount of time so test it out. Also, Zinc may help with hair growth, but maybe there is something else in the shampoo that ‘overrides’ the zinc? (I’m shooting in the dark here, I have no idea how that stuff works but thought I’d put it out there for those that do.)
The silicone (Dimethicone) in Head and shoulders can cause the hair loss. You must wash your hair and scalp soundly to get it out with a no silicone shampoo like herbal essances drama clean refreshing shampoo.
Hi, I am 21. I started using H&S about four months ago. I have always had freakishly thick hair. I have never had any hair loss before using this product. At first, it made my freakishly thick (very curly) hair smooth and easy to style. Suddenly,I started noticing my hair falling out. In less than three weeks, my hair line has receded drastically. What used to be freakishly thick and curly hair is now so weak it breaks when I touch it. It’s not even curly anymore. It has even changed the color of my hair from black to a sickly red blondish color. Also, I am getting these strange little lumps on my scalp that hurt when I touch them. It looks so terrible that I have no choice but to wear a hat or shave it all off. I would like to add, it is normal for people to lose hair. However, it’s not normal for it all to fall out at once. These people who are promoting this product should be removed from this page. H&S WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE! THAT COMPANY SHOULD BE SHUTDOWN FOREVER!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think you need to conduct a study when some of these people losing hair are children. In fact, one was 11.
I was reading the back of my H&S bottle because I wanted to see where it was made. It says “Made in U.S.A. of US and/ or IMPORTED ingredients” Wonder where the imported ingredients are coming from? I have a hunch they are coming from China. They have given us really great products, haven’t they? From led toys to poison baby milk formula. I don’t know for sure, but I’m going to find out. I will post more when I do.
I have never used head and shoulders before and i am experiencing hair thinning. I dont know much about it except the fact it has so much controversy on it. I’ve read all these comments and for the record anyone reading this should be weary of “randall”. As stated in a few other comments, his are very controdicting and to be honest it wouldnt suprise me if he was jus trying to help advertise the product. Or maybe its just the fact that he doesnt know how to swallow his pride and admit he’s wrong. But in all honesty most of you should use the product simmilarly and only about 2 times weekly in order to make more precise results. Using it daily for extended periods of time can be harmful in any dandruff shampoo. Perhaps its a bad shampoo or perhaps not. It also depends on your ammount of dandruff and the present condition of your scalp.
For those who are offering honest comments on this subject or anyother hairloss subject, I thank you. But there will always be some jerk out there trying to advertise their products bc, in part, most of them dont know what it feels like to have what ppl like us have so they dont care as long as they get a quick coin in their pockets. My advice: listen to their words and statements carefully and see how they react to certain questions or statements made against them. Good luck to all of you.
ps: sometimes when u have nothing else to turn to, its always best to accept who u are and what you’ve been given. The gift about being this way is the fact that we know that we dont need a mirror to show us whats really important in life.
Okay, I called the Head & Shoulders 1-800 number. I asked the nice lady I talked to where the “Imported Ingredients” came from. This is what she replied,”Oh,I can’t really tell you where the ingredients come from because I don’t know.” she also said “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, It’s just that we don’t know where they come from, we just distribute the product.”
I feel that I quoted with 100% accuracy. So, according to her, Head and Shoulders, that distribute in the U.S.A., are clueless as to where it comes from and what’s in it. Further more, when I asked who I could call to find out she told me she wouldn’t know where to start.
I am thinking about sending it to the lab at the local college and letting them test it.
I searched for where the Head and Shoulders factory was and I can’t find any records of one in the U.S.A.. All I can find are web-sites saying they export Procter and Gamble U.S. made Head and Shoulders.However, according to the phone call I made yesterday, Procter and Gamble just distribute it. Even though the bottle says made in the U.S.A., it clearly isn’t.
I wish that you, who ever is reading this, could try and help me track down where the factory is that makes Head and Shoulders.
Also, I think it’s strange that Head and Shoulders recently came out with a new shampoo called HAIR RETAIN that is suppose to keep your hair from falling out.
I do believe the reason why some people experience hair loss from using Head and Shoulder is due to the active ingredient pyrithione zinc. I honestly believe some people are allergic to it and in turn it causes inflammation response and then hair loss. Take me for example, I used to use one of the pantene shampoo which contains pyrithione zinc. I experience scalp inflammation and hair loss everytime I use it. And I have been testing it for several times. So people, if you are experience due to the used of head and shoulders, in future, please remember not to purchase other brands of shampoo that contains pyrithione zinc, because obviously, you might be allergic to that ingredient.
Pantene is also owned by Procter and Gamble, the company that owns Head and Shoulders.
No wonder….
any shampoo or conditioner is not the problem, water is the main problem if your water is not clean and if your using shampoo to wash your hair by that water then its 100% guarantee you will lose your hair
Then where are all the blogs for water related hair loss? I wish people would stop posting any irrelevant reason they can think of to take the blame off HEAD AND SHOULDERS. Unless you have lost massive amounts of hair from using HEAD AND SHOULDERS, you shouldn’t post messages on this page.
This product definately causes hairloss - how can the company continue selling this rubbish? I have had issues for 8 years and recently stopped using is with slow but steady progress.
head ans shoulders should at the very least be made to put a warning on their product.
I am convinced that this is my issue also.. i have been using H&S for about a year now and every since i have had a huge amount of hair loss like atleast 30-50%. I am going out today to buy new Shampoo i will never use H&S ever again!
I’m 15 and didn’t think anything was wrong when my hair started falling out in clumps in the shower, until i found this article! H&S is going in the garbage!
Hi. I am 24 years old, soon to be 25. I never had any problem with thinning hair or hair loss, but frequently I had dandruff problems as a kid, especially in the wintertime when the heat in the house and other buildings would dry me out and cause the scalp to be itchy and flaky. So for most of my life I used a standard Suave shampoo, then as a teenager head and shoulders in the winter, with Suave in the summer time when dandruff was not a problem. Then in college (age 18-22), the dandruff problem was more prevalent all year round, so I used head and shoulders just about all year, occasionally mixing in a non-dandruff shampoo. When I would get a very short haircut (a crew-cut), I did notice a little bit of thinning towards the back/top, which was nothing I had ever seen before, but it was very minor so I ignored it. And when the hair grew in you couldn’t really see it.
I continued using head and shoulders all throughout college. It was only after my graduation, the year after college, at age 23, where I continued using head and shoulders daily, that I got a shaved “#2″ haircut and noticed that suddenly my hairline had receded. And I had gotten crew cuts consistently for about 5 years up to that point without any signs of this. How did I suddenly have a receding hairline from one haircut to the next with such a dramatic change in such a short period of time? I was surprised, but the next time I got a haircut, the barber didn’t cut it as short, so as to hide the receding hairline on the two sides at the front.
Well, now it’s been several months since that last haircut, I still was using the same H&S shampoo frequently, and now as I have let my hair grow in a little, I see 2 things. On the one hand, I suddenly started to shed massive amounts of hair in the shower, like never before, to the point that the drain gets clogged from one use of the shower (and the water level rises in the tub until I wipe the hair from the drain), and 2, I can see on the back/top part of my head that minor thinning I saw in college is now greatly magnified, and I have what amounts to a quasi bald-spot. I am afraid what it will look like when I get my next haircut. But I can already see that I have lost a great deal of hair and that whatever is left over there is very thin. The only way to avoid a baldspot in that area is to “combover” with the hair at the very back, forward over the baldspot/thinned out space.
Upon seeing this and coupling with the immense globs of hair that fall out in the shower, I put two and two together and started to suspect my head and shoulders dandruff shampoo might be the culprit. My father still has a full head of hair albeit with a bit of receding hairline, but NO BALD SPOT and no hairloss in the back/top area. And he also did not have a receding hairline until much later in life. Other males in my family on my mother’s side still have full head of hair in old age, and those women who lost hair in their aging process did so at older ages, NOT in 20’s 30’s or 40’s.
I am only 24 years old and I am going bald? In a matter of 1 year I went from a full head of hair to a noticable receding hairline and a baldspot in the back? Something is seriously wrong here, and it may be my consistent use of this shampoo, almost daily for over 5 years. Based on certain pieces of evidence, without elaborating, it is likely that I do have a generally high testosterone level compared to most people, and that plays a huge role in hairloss. But how high can it really be? Based on genetics this should not be happening to me at such a young age. And it is certainly rare for it to happen so soon and so rapidly based solely on slightly higher amounts of male hormones floating around.
I am going to switch to a different shampoo and see what happens. I don’t care if dandruff comes back at this point. I just want my hair back. Just a normal head of hair like I always had….
So all that led me to do a google search for “head and shoulders and hair loss” after researching a little bit about what factors contribute to hair growth/loss, and it took me here, where I see that so many people have had a similar problem.
The tests show that in low dosage pyrithione zinc is good for killing fungus and stopping dandruff problems without side effects, sure, but have they tested what it will do with consistent daily use over long periods of time? Did they bother to survey what kind of side effects might occur if a person decided to make H&S their daily shampoo for years at a time? No. And I think we are the evidence that they should!
I am 21 and have always had thick hair. A few months ago I got a case of dandruff so i used head and shoulders intensive shampoo. Within two weeks I had very noticeable amounts of hair falling out. I strongly suspected it was the shampoo because losing hair had never been an issue to me before. I came upon this website and this confirms my suspicions. I will never use head and shoulders again and I strongly suggest for someone to help expose this product.
I would also like to add that the directions on the back said it was encouraged that the user applied it daily and could repeat if desired. No warnings indicated that it was powerful enough to induce hair loss.
YES!!! No doubt in stating head n shoulders have corelation with hair loss…. I m experiencing the same… Something is there!! Beware !!!!1
Yes !! There is some co-relation between head n shoulders and hair loss….. Beware !!!!
Interesting comments. I am a 58 year old female who has used Head & Shoulders for approx. 35 years. About a year ago, I noticed my hair thinning significantly on top and around the hair line. In a desperate attempt to find out what the cuase was, I found this blog. I can’t say that any of the potential causes of female hair loss fit for me, except for Head and Shoulders use. I discovered this site approx. 7 months ago and immediately discontinued H&S. Today, my hair has slowly started to return. I must say that my experience does coincide with the changes to Head and Soulders and the introduction of Ocean Lift, as many others reported. I don’t know if the shampoo was the cause of my hair loss but it appears that many others have had the same experience and I do see a big improvement since discontinuing. If not the shampoo, during my panic, I did notice what appears to be an epidemic of female hair loss …………..did the water really change?
I’ve used Head and Shoulders DAILY for at least five years and my hair hasn’t fallen out at all.
I wonder how many of these stories are completely fake…
I was waiting for someone to finally post a positive comment about Head and Shoulders but lo and behold, it’s likely a “fake” one, by someone who fears for the financial success of this product. Gee, you don’t like that treatment, do you? Now consider how the sincere posters here feel when you got defensive with your garbage post.
There is no real reason for anyone here to put up a fake story. There is plenty of reason for someone (like you) to “defend” the product (dishonestly) and to call into question the experience of its users, to discredit those with complaints. We all know the motive you may have, likely financial. Can you name any logical reason to take your accusations seriously?
There is no “evil conspiracy” to ‘take down’ Head and Shoulders. There is obviously a whole slew of people who experienced negative effects from the use of the product and feel harmed and upset by it. I for one have been harmed enough and do not need your attack as an addition to that. To have hair fall out is a pyschological disaster. You clearly have no compassion for those people who experience it. You are probably the same d-bag (Randall) who was originally posting contradictory statements in order to exonerate the product, at the beginning of this page. I read those and laughed. After being caught in your own lies and discredited by your own stupidity, now you are attacking everyone else here under a different identity. Not clever.
Bloody hell I am glad I came across this blog! I have been struggling with dandruff for about 12 years now and I had used head and shoulders in the past to no avail but was considering going back and giving it another try - after reading these stories there is NO WAY. I have recently stopped using nizoral after about 2 years of use because I have found it becoming increasingly ineffective. I have recently discovered that slathering my scalp in coconut oil before a shower does wonders for the itching and redness but the flakes persist. Maybe a combination of the oil and nizoral will do the trick.
I started using H & S when I moved in with my girlfriend seven years ago. I had the thickest head or curly hair you have ever seen. It use to be very difficulty to handle. However recently I noticed how thin it had become. There is no history of baldness on either of my parents sides. All the men died with full heads of hair. I have no doubt that H & S is responsible for the hair loss that I experienced. I have stopped using it. Hopefully the damage is not permanent. This product should be banned…..
I started using H&S about 2 years ago and was amazed how it kept my flaky scalp under control and my hair was in great condition. But about 4 months ago I started to notice my hair thinning at the front. This seemed strange as no one in my family is bald, in fact my grandad still had a full head of hair when he died at 92!
So I searched the internet and was amazed to find a lot of people reporting a belief in a connection between the shampoo and thinning hair. I stopped using it and switched to T-Gel. T-Gel smells bad so I used a conditioner afterwards but within a couple of weeks I actually had new hair growth where it had previously thinned.
I don’t know if it was just a one off but it seems unlikely.
I have had the complete opposite experience than most people posting on this site. I am 52 years old and until about 2 years ago, I had used Head and Shoulders daily since I was in junior high. Two years ago I decided to try other shampoos without harsh chemicals such as ammonium lauryl sulfate. For a one or two month period after switching shampoos, I noticed a lot of hair in the drain after showering. I had not lost hair like that in a long time. I noticed my hair was getting thinner on the top of my head in the typical male pattern baldness areas. It does not seem to have receded any more, its just sparser than it used to be. This thinning may be related to my age and the fact that hair naturally thins as we age, but I don’t know for sure. It just seems too coincidental. So I am going BACK to using H&S. However, I will only be lathering up once, not twice. Unless your hair is really dirty or oil, lathering up once is enough. I think doing it twice is a ploy by the manufacturer to get you to use more shampoo so you have to buy more.
I have been using H & S for about 2 weeks and I wash my hair once or twice a week usually. I have noticed as most of you all that I am losing a great deal more of hair since using this product. I am appalled to see the number of complaints and will discontinue using this product. In addition, I will write the H & S company and may even cite this blog page in my letter. I want a refund and I want them to change their product. I have always had thick strong hair but this product is trash.
I have been using H&S for 10 years. Recently when I STOPPED using it and my hair slowly seemed to get thinner and I got a patchy loss right on the top, which I guarantee is from me scratching my head from dandruff. H&S does make my hair look thicker because it cakes something onto the hair and scalp.
If you’re having an allergic reaction to it, you should not use it. It’s possible the hair loss is genetic, or that after 10 years, your skin doesn’t like it anymore. Many people have an allergic reaction to Tide laundry soap, even after many years. My brother had an allergic reaction to Oxy cleaning pads after 5 years. It’s called “Contact Dermatitis.”
I also have had similar experience. By no means did H&S cause the hair loss but it certainly wasn’t helping. It seemed to put something on the scalp and wasn’t helping the itch and irritation. Certainly the loss was greater when I use H&S. That’s not to say I wasn’t suffering from hair loss before using H&S but H&S seemed to excacerbate it. I have since stopped using it and my condition seems to have improved somewhat but you can’t completely reverse the damage done (from scratching and whatever effect of H&S) nor reverse the course of aging. Til now, I’m not a 100% certai if H&S really made it that much worse but what I do know is that it wasn’t helping and when you have thinning hair, H&S actually accentuated it since it coats something on the skin making it very oily and shiny.
i stumbled upon this site after doing a google search worried that there was a correlation between H&S and hairloss. in the past week i started noticing massive amounts of hairloss and thinning. i was using the shampoo everyday. i will be going to the doctors on wednesday. with this many people reporting hairloss there is absolutely a link between the two. this subject would not have this many comments otherwise. i am a 25 year old male. many people complimented me on how thick my hair was and even my barber recently noticed a difference. if there is ever a class act count me in. i will discontinue and see what happens to make sure it is not in the genes.
I have used H& S for 35 years also, and no hair loss, however, I am the only one of my many siblings to have early and extensively grey hair. I look older than my elderly mother! Today I read the fine print on the bottle which states to ‘rinse five minutes if your hair is bleached, tinted, grey, or permed.’ What? so now I am researching H& S and found this link. Interesting.
If Head & Shoulders products are being exported from China, we don’t know what ’secret ingredients’ they contain. Like I said in previous post, if you call the 800 numbers and ask them were the ‘imported ingredients’ come from, they tell you they don’t know. Or, as my last attempt went, they get very defensive over that question.
what they forgot to put on the bottle
MADE IN CHINA.
I used Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 for dandruff for about a month and noticed my hair started to recede and thin. I am only 19 years old, and saw hundreds of hairs on my pillow and sheets. The slightest touch to my hair would cause more to fall out, and it the individual hairs themselves started to get thinner and frailer. Needless to say, I started freaking out and tried to think what could be causing it. I go to college, and figured it could be stress, diet, drinking, etc. Then I thought, why not check to see if H&S has anything to do with it since I bought the shampoo right before leaving for college. Sure enough, this blog popped up. Even after a month without the shampoo my hair was falling out, just at a slower rate. I went to the dermatologist, and she said my scalp was red and scaly, so she gave me cortisone, which is very helpful. MY HAIR IS GROWING BACK, and it is looking fuller and thicker everyday. The recession seems to be diminishing, and though my hair isn’t 100 percent, I am confident it will be in due time.
I ran out of my salon shampoo and had been too lazy to stop by to purchase more, so, therefore, I just purchased a bottle of the H&S volume (the purple bottle) and have been using now for about three months. At first, I have to say that I loved it. I have never had any type of problem with dandruff or antyhing, but my parents always used the shampoo, so I figured what the heck since they came out with new lines. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I have been loosing so much hair, I had to buy a hair stopper for my tub. My mother’s bathroom was being remodled so she had to use mine, and even commented on the amounts of hair in my tub! Needless to say, I have stopped using this product. One thing I did notice, was that the shampoo dried my hair out, all of it. I never in my life had to use conditioner but maybe once every four months and now, I have to use it everyday. I am hoping that the dryness will ease up after a while, but I have noticed a huge difference in hair loss since I stopped using this product.
I have been using Head and Shoulders anti-dandruff for about 1 month now. I just noticed a sudden hair loss. I am currently 16 years old. My parents have no sign of balding whatsoever. I know for sure this is not genetics. I know it wasn’t iron deficiency or stress. So, the next culprit was my shampoo. After searching online, I came upon this page. I will immediately stop the use of Head and Shoulders shampoo and try out Avalon Organics shampoo.
I’m not sure what to think. I stopped using it after 9 years back in October, it’s now January and my hair seems to be a tad thicker. I have the same issue as a few others said, it’s just thin on top, but not actual bald spot or recediing hairline, just keeps getting thinner…. I switched Shampoos out of curiosity without even researching it first. It made me thing that where I use it, is where i am thinning. I’m a guy who quickly washes his hair in the morning.. i keep it short so I really don’t scrub like crazy on the sides just mostly in the top… I’ll post back in another 90 days with an update.
I’m Asian, and have been a user of H&S for a good 3-4 years because of recurring dandruff. Initially, I used the regular one but after a few months, became ineffective so I switched to the H&S Intensive Solutions. It was really effective in shooing away the dandruff, but coincidentally, this is where I started losing a lot of hair — probably 10-20 strands in the shower, another 10-20 while sleeping and who knows how many during the course of the day.
I’m 26, male, and have a history of male pattern baldness on my dad’s side, but my brother, who’s 2 years older than I am still has thick hair. Sometimes he tells me he experiences occasional hair fall but then it stops, and he uses a ton of products on his hair everyday. I never use gel or anything since it causes dandruff, and I’d like to think I live a pretty healthy lifestyle.
Now, my hairline has really gone up and hair on the top of my head has considerably thinned that my colleagues at work rag me about it, it’s embarrassing. I’d like to believe I’ll go bald at some point, but not this early, especially since I got my mom’s hair thickness before I used H&S.
One of my best friends works for Procter & Gamble, and he told me their formula for H&S Intensive Solutions is really the company’s best shampoo formula. But only last year, they phased out the product in the country because of “lack of interest” from consumers. Only that time did it dawn on me that maybe the thinning had something to do with the shampoo. As a friend though, I don’t want him to know that I’m accusing the company that he works for as the culprit for my hair loss.
I just switched yesterday to a herbal shampoo. I’ll see in the coming weeks if it has any effect. Hopefully, even if it takes a couple years, I get to grow my hair back.
So… I’m a 37 yr old female who used to have a super think long head of hair; when in a tight braid it was 2 inches across. It’s now more like an inch in a loose braid. I don’t wear it in braids but it’s to just to point out that it’s that noticeable becaue it’s more than 1/2 of what I used to have. Weird that I finally realized it took almost two years to get to this point. I still have lots of hair but no where near what I had before - it’s still a blessing that my hair remained somewhat thick. I attributed it to finally catching up to my age, life stresses etc… but it was still not normal in my mind as I always had the regular hair loss every day BUT the difference was I also had baby hairs that would grow back. I never thought of H&S until my sister said I should probably give it a break, because there were no more baby hairs growing just my long 22″ hair falling. I’ve stopped using it… it was my shampoo for over 15 years but now after 3 months I have baby hairs again sticking straight up from my hair part. Unexplainable how it reacts to people in different life stages with little use or lots of use… FOR ME I won’t use it again! I won’t knock the product because it worked for a very long time on my itchy scalp but I will give people a verbal warning that if they notice any change to stop immediately; my view is that it should have that stated on the bottle. I now use Ojon once a week (you can find it on the shopping channel or at Sephora). It smells like roasted nuts/bark which isn’t the most appealing smell to have around your nose but it’s all natural and it’s been working on some south american people for centuries.
I’ve been using Head and Shoulders every day for more than 8 yrs.No hair loss at, quite the opposite my hair is shiny and smooth….Maybe its allergic reaction to some people out there.
After a stylist advised me to use Head & Shoulders on my
7-year-old daughter, after only 2 weeks, she started losing hair. Even after brushing it, running her hands through her hair caused more to fall out. She’s never lost this amount of hair in her life, so I see the only correlation being with Head & Shoulders. I think a warning should be put on the bottle.
After noticing my hair thinning out rapidly this last month, I started to get very anxious… even my hair dresser asked me what was going on as she was used to dealing with an extremely thick head of hair! I started to think back and do research. My mom’s father is completely bald, so I figured it must be genetics, however, both my parents hair went whit in their early 20’s. I’m 21 right now, and my hair is jet black. So I did more research and thought maybe it is my shampoo. I have Head and Shoulder’s “Citric Breeze” and have been using it for around 6 months, but it has only been these last couple of months I’ve used it regularely. Boom, noticed rediculous amounts of hair leaving. I mean REDICULOUS!
More research found that pyrithione zinc, it’s active compount is not good for you at all! Zinc itself is KNOWN to cause hair loss whether ingested or just in contact with. They KNOW this yet it’s still in the shampoo? There is also some guess work that sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate dries out hair and damages it and its another main ingrediant to H&S.
Conditioner can combat the drying effects but try to get a shampoo without ANY for of zinc in it!
Also Head & Shoulder deserves to be called many a nasty name. What jerks.
I started using head and shoulders maybe 5 days ago and already I am experiencing dramatic hair loss. Help?
In the past 6 months, I’ve been losing a lot of hair in the shower. I couldn’t understand what was causing the sudden hair loss until i realized that I’ve been using Head and Shoulders for about 6 months. After putting two and two together I found this blog and gasped at how many people are saying the same thing. I will never use this product again!
i m using pantene classic care…its good for hair???
I recently started to use Head and Shoulder “Citrus Breeze”.
Not because I have dandruff but because I like its scent
I noticed some thinning on top; when I went to get a haircut last week, he looked at my hair, and out of nowhere, he asked me:
” Are you using Head and Shoulders”
I then asked him: ” how do you know that?”
He told me: ” well you used to have thicker hair”
That was it, I didn’t think twice before tossing it out