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Does Head And Shoulders Cause Hair Loss : The Truth Revealed

Medically reviewed
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Our content undergoes a rigorous editorial process, including fact-checking and clinical review by qualified medical experts.
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Our Editorial Team
Nebadita (Diet & Health Expert), M.S
AUTHOR
Andrew Greenberg
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by   Andrew Greenberg
Andrew Greenberg ✔ Verified Expert
Andrew Greenberg, MD, has been in practice for over 10 years. He is professional in the areas of superior cataract surgery, consisting of Femto-laser cataract…
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— Written by   Nebadita (Diet & Health Expert), M.S
Nebadita (Diet & Health Expert), M.S
Nebadita is experienced in the field of nutrition, health, fitness, and more. Nebadita earned Master Degree from National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and currently serving in the Eastern branch of ICMR. Know More. Learn about our editorial process..
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Updated on April 11, 2026
Why This Was Updated
We continuously monitor the health landscape and update our articles to reflect the latest evidence.

Updated on April 11, 2026

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— Published on March 9, 2022
Our editorial process ensures that the information we provide is well-researched and reliable. Learn about our commitment to quality in our editorial policy.
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The Fast Facts

  • Dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis can all cause these issues in the scalp, but all of them affect in a different way on our hair, causing the illusion that head and shoulder shampoos are the cause of hair loss.
  • These conditions of the scalp can be treat by using shampoo like head and shoulders, but if not treated properly, it can cause hair loss, which again can cause confusion for some people assuming that the head and shoulders are causing hair loss.
  • Seborrheic dermatitis is another common skin condition – more severe than just dandruff, which can affect the face, ears, chest and waist, but mainly the skull, it is characterized by a waxy or greasy scale and redness in patches.
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Head & Shoulder is probably the most popular anti-dandruff shampoo. This article will introduce heads and shoulders and explain how it works against dandruffs. Also we will reveal the truth does Head And Shoulders Cause Hair Loss?

One question many head and shoulder users have is whether it can contribute to hair loss. We will discuss the evidence for and against it. Finally, we will give some alternative suggestions for treating Dandruff.

Overview of Head and Shoulder Shampoo.

The Head & Shoulder brand was launched in the early 1960s. It was the first commercially available dandruff treatment that was easy to implement. Before the head and shoulders, dandruff sufferers used coal tar or egg oil.

These were the unpleasant treatments and could damage hair. Head and Shoulder was easy to use thus left the hair smelling pleasant and soft. In that sense, it was a significant advance in hair care. Presently, it is one of the most recognizable shampoo brands in the world.

The head and shoulder range presently includes various hair care products, such as conditioners, oils, styling gels and many others. Shampoo also comes in different versions. For example the clinical strength line was for heavy dandruff and the Supreme Line was for women.

All these head and shoulder products contain a variety of materials. However, most of them contain the same two basic active elements. We discuss them below.

There has been a significant controversy over the effectiveness of head and shoulder products. Many men claim that head and shoulder products caused or increased their hair loss and thinning. Before we investigate these claims, it is important to understand what A) is actually dandruff and B) how head and shoulders treat it.

Read Now: Does Hair Gel Cause Hair Loss : The Truth Revealed!

Does Head And Shoulders Cause Hair Loss?

Head and shoulder is one of the most recognized brand names when it comes to relief and prevention from dandruff and dry scalp. It is the most popular brand for most people suffering from these conditions, but it has convinced some that the chemicals present in shampoo are causing their hair loss. But perhaps it is not so.

Using head and shoulders is usually the result of trying to get rid of some kind of dry, flaky, itchy scalp.

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Even Sophia Varghese can be seen with her son showcasing her long, flowing, shiny, layer-free hair in advertisements announcing its benefits.

Hair Loss
Hair Loss

Dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis can all cause these issues in the scalp, but all of them affect in a different way on our hair, causing the illusion that head and shoulder shampoos are the cause of hair loss.

Dandruff is not harmful to hair in itself and does not even cause your hair loss. It is the acceleration of cell turnover rate in your scalp. Generally you don’t see that cells die and get out of your skull because they are too small, but when they die at a high speed and they collide, you will start to notice them.

Seborrheic dermatitis is another common skin condition – more severe than just dandruff, which can affect the face, ears, chest and waist, but mainly the skull, it is characterized by a waxy or greasy scale and redness in patches. If you have ever seen a newborn with a cradle cap, you have seen seborrheic dermatitis.

Psoriasis is even more inflammatory and can have thick silver or white crust or red plaque on the scalp and ears. Psoriasis is often found in other areas of the body such as elbows, knees, hands/feet, buttocks and waist.

These conditions of the scalp can be treat by using shampoo like head and shoulders, but if not treated properly, it can cause hair loss, which again can cause confusion for some people assuming that the head and shoulders are causing hair loss.

Most likely we need to check the root cause of what is causing your hair loss or thinning of hair, not shampoo.

What About Chemicals In The Head And Shoulders?

Some studies have been conducted on the relationship between hair loss and the use of dandruff shampoo, and these studies may also be the reason why some people believe that the head and shoulders are causing hair loss, but let’s take a look at one of them.

In this study, selenium sulfide was applied to the skull of a 37-year-old man and then the hair was examined and it was determined that many of these hairs were in a weak state, with anything broken on the shaft.(1)

The problem with finding out using this study is that the head and shoulders are damaging hair, that a solution containing 2.5% selenium sulfide was applied on a subject for four minutes and that subject had not washed its hair for more than a month.

Most head and shoulder products have zinc pyrithione as a 1% active ingredient and the new “clinical strength” version contains 1% selenium sulfide.

Most Americans wash their hair at least 1 time a week. Both zinc pyrithion and selenium sulfide are known as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial which is why they help in many skin conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. These elements actually reduce oxidative stress which can hinder hair growth.

Like anything in life, when chemicals are used properly and with the right dose, they can be beneficial, while using too much or incorrectly can have adverse effects.

Finally, head and shoulders or any other reputable shampoo, perhaps not causing your hair loss or thinning, although if you suffer more than only normal dandruff,  seek for proper medical advice on how to treat the underlying cause.

+1 Source

Freaktofit has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, educational research institutes, and medical organizations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy.

  1. Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff: A Comprehensive Review; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4852869/

Last reviewed on April 11, 2026

How we reviewed this article:

ⓘ SOURCES 🕖 HISTORY

FreakToFit follows strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and reputable medical organizations. We only use high-quality, credible sources to ensure the accuracy and integrity of our content.

    Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

    Current Version
    Apr 11, 2026

    Written By: Nebadita (Diet & Health Expert), M.S

    Reviewed By: Andrew Greenberg

    Mar 9, 2022

    Written By: Nebadita (Diet & Health Expert), M.S

    Reviewed By: Andrew Greenberg

    The information shared in this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical consultation. Always speak with a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns or treatments. Know More

    Nebadita (Diet & Health Expert), M.S

    Author
    Nebadita is experienced in the field of nutrition, health, fitness, and more. Nebadita earned Master Degree from National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and currently serving in the Eastern branch of ICMR. Know More. Learn about our editorial process..

    Andrew Greenberg

    Health Expert
    Andrew Greenberg, MD, has been in practice for over 10 years. He is professional in the areas of superior cataract surgery, consisting of Femto-laser cataract…

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