Can expired hair products cause hair loss? There is no scientific proof that using expired shampoo and conditioner directly causes hair loss. However, expired hair products can change the composition of your hair texture and scalp microbiome, which can then lead to thinning hair and hair loss.
Shampoo and conditioner can actually expire. It's generally good for 2-3 years once opened and 3-4 years unopened.
Dull & Limp Strands
Without the right ingredients to boost radiance and lift, your locks can become weighed down and lacklustre. If your hair has lost its bounce and brilliance, it's a sure sign that it's time to revamp your hair care routine with products designed to restore shine, volume and vitality.
If there's no label, a good rule is to keep unopened bottles for no more than three years and an opened bottle for at most 18 months. Anything after that you may be pushing your luck!
To lose hair due to expired shampoo or conditioner, the product would have to be so old that it has grown hazardous bacteria that can cause hair problems. Thus, the answer is a resounding ``technical'' yes. Because a poor conditioner could block your hair pores and follicles, your hair may start to fall out.
Expired products can, however, irritate the skin and/or scalp, particularly if you have sensitive skin, not working in the way they normally should. What this means for a shampoo is that it may not get your hair as clean as you'd like, and for a conditioner, it may leave your hair looking dull.
Most conditioners don't directly cause hair loss unless they contain harmful chemicals. When you wash your hair, the cuticles swell, allowing the shampoo to clean the scalp. During rinsing, friction between strands can cause damaged hair to shed. Daily hair shedding is normal and healthy, making room for new growth.
Can you leave a conditioner in your hair? Leaving conditioner in your hair for too long can be damaging to the health of your hair. While some conditioners are designed to stay on overnight, leaving them in for longer than recommended can cause an accumulation of product, leading to dryness, breakage, and split ends.
The use of expired shampoo can cause your hair to look dirty and dull. Expired shampoo may also cause irritation or itchiness to your scalp and eyes owing to the chemical change and allergens. You may get a scalp infection in the worst-case scenario, depending on the bacteria's virulence factors.
Conditioner is bad for hair when you use too much, don't rinse it properly, use it too often, or you use the wrong conditioner for your hair type. Simply put, “over-conditioning” is more damaging than not using enough conditioner as it can heavily coat the hair shaft in conditioning agents like: silicone.
An open bottle of shampoo or conditioner usually lasts between six months and a year, Petrillo says—but if the bottle hasn't been opened, it may last up to two or three years. "You will want to look for a PAO (period after opening) date, which is usually labeled as 6M, 12M, 18M, or 24M," Petrillo says.
Signs and Symptoms of Over-Conditioned Hair
You'll notice your hair becoming unmanageable, soft, limp, or flat.
Buildup. Sebum, dead skin cells, and product residue on the hair and scalp can also add significant weight to strands so they fall limp.
Conditioners are great products that offer a variety of advantages when applied correctly. If you do want to keep the conditioner in your hair overnight, make sure it is a leave-in conditioner. However, if using a rinse-out conditioner, do not leave it on for more than 20 minutes at a time.
If you're looking for natural alternatives to store-bought conditioners, try using ingredients like coconut oil, honey, aloe vera, or even plain yogurt. These moisturising and nourishing components can work wonders on your hair without the harsh chemicals.
While you definitely want some natural oils to remain in your hair, not washing your hair will allow oil, dirt and grime to build up on your scalp. This can lead to a greasy appearance and unpleasant odours, as well as conditions such as dandruff and an itchy scalp.
You might not even realize it, but toothpaste does have an expiration date. Contrary to popular belief, toothpaste is not a non-perishable thing like most people seem to think. Toothpaste typically has an expiration date that is approximately two years from the manufacture date.
As a rule of thumb, assume your shampoo is too old if it has an odd odor, looks clumpy, has changed color, or doesn't seem to be lathering as it once did. This might be difficult to notice if your shampoo is in an opaque bottle and you cannot see the separation.
Extremely old shampoos and conditioners typically smell funny or even acrid, and feel funny between your fingers. However, they often tend to go bad even before they start to smell strange. Always check to see if there is an expiration date on the bottle.
Coconut oil can have many benefits for your hair and scalp. It is used to relieve dandruff, restore luster to dry and damaged hair, tame frizz, and protect hair against styling damage. It is safe to use on all hair types.
Leaving conditioner in your hair overnight can leave behind grimy residue, a mixture of proteins, silicones, and other chemicals present in the product. Continuous exposure to this residue may result in split ends, breakage, allergic reactions, and permanent damage to the hair cuticle.
Some conditioners contain silicones, parabens, sodium Laureth sulfate, benzophenone, cetrimonium chloride, Diazolidinyl urea, and isopropanol, which can damage hair and cause allergic skin reactions. Do not use a conditioner if it irritates the skin; instead, look for sulfate-free products.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.