An American study shows that many dry shampoos contain the cancer-causing chemical benzene, it writes Bloomberg. But how do you know if a product contains the dangerous substance?
Tests of 34 different brands of dry shampoos carried out in the Valisure analytical lab in Connecticut, USA, have shown that a full 70% of the products contain the cancer-causing chemical benzene, which can cause, among other things, leukemia, it writes Bloomberg.
In the lab, they have tested dry shampoos from popular brands such as Batiste and Not Your Mother’s, and then discovered various high levels of the chemical – in some cases very high.
This is how you know if your dry shampoo contains dangerous chemicals
How do you know if your dry shampoo is harmful? According to Bloomberg, we should look for isobutane and propane in the list of contents – these substances are so-called “fuels” and are likely the ones behind the problem.
Bloomberg writes that many chemicals can act as so-called “propellants”, and these include isobutane, propane and butane. Butane and propane come from refining crude oil, and benzene is a known contaminant of these. The liquefied gases should be purified before being added to beauty or skin care products, but they are not always.
Although the above chemicals are not a guarantee that your dry shampoo contains dangerous levels of benzene, they do increase the risk. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to use a dry shampoo that comes in powder form instead of as a spray – or why not try making your own dry shampoo?
