A recent study from the Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals has identified several problematic chemicals in hair oil products bought in-store and online in Denmark.

Hair oil is used by many people as a treatment to moisturise, add shine, and prevent breakage. The organisation reviewed the ingredient lists of 38 products and ranked the products according to their rating system, where ‘A’ is best, ‘B’ is middle, and ‘C’ is worst.

7 hair oils received an ‘A’ rating, meaning they were free from a number of problematic chemicals. 14 received a ‘B’ rating, because they contained some chemicals that may cause allergies or may be problematic for the environment, and 17 got a rating of ‘C’, due to the presence of suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or other problematic chemicals. The 7 that received the ‘A’ rating were all from Danish brands.

EDCs are chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of the hormone system. Exposure to EDCs has been linked to adverse health impacts such as certain cancers, reduced fertility, and impaired brain development. Other examples of EDCs include certain bisphenols, PFAS and phthalates.

Ten of the hair oils contained siloxanes, which are a group of chemicals that are often used in products to make our hair smooth and soft. However, the Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals highlights that they cannot break down in the environment, and many are suspected EDCs. In the EU, several siloxanes are classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).

31 of the hair oils contained fragrance or plant extracts, which can cause allergies, especially if massaged into the scalp. Two of the fragrance substances are also suspected endocrine disruptors.

Compared with similar tests conducted in other EU countries (Norway, Austria, Slovenia and Czech Republic), Denmark performed the best, with 17% of reviewed products receiving the ‘A’ rating. Norway performed worst, with over 60% of the products receiving a ‘C’ rating. In Austria, only 30% of the products were ranked ‘C’, but none received an ‘A’ rating.

CHEM Trust supports ongoing efforts to ensure the most hazardous chemicals are not used in consumer products.

Read more about how to reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals in cosmetics and toiletries here.

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