happy hair, clear skin
i have had a ton of clients asking about acne safe hair styling products lately so decided to write a quick post about what we've found so far. i found a couple of promising brands via an article written by teen vogue on acne safe hair products. you can check out the article here.
the tricky thing about hair products is that even when they contain safe ingredients, they are more likely to be cloggy because of their intended use. these products are designed to stay in your hair through sweat, humidity, working, twerking, etcetera. while it's great that a product can withstand all of this it can also be making it travel from your hair on to your face and body, causing breakouts. whether you are using an sS approved product or experimenting with something that looks safe, here are a few helpful tips to prevent hair induced breakouts.
biggest considerations:
-
make sure to change your pillowcases! use one side of the pillow, flip it the next day to use a clean side, then switch your case and repeat.
-
cleanse + tone into your hairline and behind your ears! these are often neglected parts of the face that only get washed when we shampoo. use your facial cleanser and toner to prevent buildup and make sure you are rinsing shampoo, conditioner, and facial cleanser thoroughly from these areas.
-
avoid touching your face after touching your hair! when i'm getting ready for the day i do my hair, then wash my hands using acne safe soap and THEN do my makeup etcetera. be mindful of this throughout the day as well.
-
having your hair tied back off of your face and using no product is your best bet. this list should be used as a reference for what products to use if you must for a hot date or a wedding. on the day to day we prefer that you aren't using styling products at all. (or at least until you are completely clear, then can introduce a hair product (or other variable, one at a time for at least a month) to isolate any new breakouts to it).
-
manufacturers often times will change ingredient lists without announcing it so make sure to check the ingredients each time you refill. tip: a change in formulation is often accompanied by packaging changes!
tried and tested acne safe shampoo & conditioners
these products have gone through our testing products and received the sS stamp of approval!
- shikai shower gel - double duty shower gel + shampoo available at sS (we suggest testing each fragrance to see if you react; yuzu is our fave)
- skinSALVATION's with & within conditioner available at sS (as a rinse-out and leave-in)
- earth science unscented shampoo (can be drying, add 1 drop of acne-safe oil at a time and shake very thoroughly if need be)
promising shampoo & conditioners
the ingredient listings LOOK safe but by no means have yet been tested by sS to ensure their safety. exercise caution as you use these products during the initial clearing process, or after you are clear introduce them as a single variable in your regimen and see if you break out.
thankfully, shampoo breakouts appear pretty quickly, along the hairline and neckline, and scalp. once you stop using the cloggy shampoo and switch back to an acne-safe one, it clears pretty quickly. areas like the jawline, back and chest might need extra exfoliating and/or extractions to completely clear.
"regular" hair stuff
- trader joe's tea tree tingle shampoo and conditioner looks safe, although there is a call to boycott them for union busting and ripping off small indie brands. (i know, very sad and suprising - REI too).
dandruff hair stuff
your scalp might be flaky because it's just dried out from a combo of too much: daily washing, hot water, shampoos that are too drying. the scalp could also just need some good exfoliation and/or moisturizing. or, it could be actual dandruf.
consider listening to this podcast featuring naturopathic doctor jennifer greenberg explaining the nuances of treatments for different types of dandruff and eczema.
happy cappy baby shampoo can help with sebborheic dermatitis, aka dandruff.
conventional dandruff brands like head & shoulders, nizoral, selsun blue are usually comedogenic with sodium laureth/lauryl sulfates, fd&c colors or fragrance.
promising hair sprays, foams, gels
the ingredient listings LOOK safe but by no means have been tested by sS to ensure their safety. we don't recommend that you use these products during the initial clearing process. after you are clear you can introduce them as a single variable in your regimen and see if you break out.
*make sure you wash any leave in product from your hair before going to bed! even products that look safe can break you out if transferred to your pillowcase and then your face, night after night.
starting here below, has not been updated yet! (may 6 2025)
promising gels, waxes and pomades
the ingredient listings LOOK safe but by no means have been tested by sS to ensure their safety. we don't recommend that you use these products during the initial clearing process. after you are clear you can introduce them as a single variable in your regimen and see if you break out.
*make sure you wash any leave in product from your hair before going to bed! even products that look safe can break you out if transferred to your pillowcase and then your face, night after night.
- giovanni wicked texture pomade this product has been used by several sS'ers and is safe!
promising leave it treatments
the ingredient listings LOOK safe but by no means have been tested by sS to ensure their safety. we don't recommend that you use these products during the initial clearing process. after you are clear you can introduce them as a single variable in your regimen and see if you break out.
*make sure you wash any leave in product from your hair before going to bed! even products that look safe can break you out if transferred to your pillowcase and then your face, night after night.
promising products for color treated hair
the ingredient listings LOOK safe but by no means have been tested by sS to ensure their safety. we don't recommend that you use these products during the initial clearing process. after you are clear you can introduce them as a single variable in your regimen and see if you break out.
promising products for curly hair:
the ingredient listings LOOK safe but by no means have been tested by sS to ensure their safety. we don't recommend that you use these products during the initial clearing process. after you are clear you can introduce them as a single variable in your regimen and see if you break out.
this list is ever growing. we will update it as products are tested to let all of you out there know if things gained the sS stamp of approval or if they may cause breakouts. we value your input and experiences. please let us know if you have tried any of these products in the past or if you introduce them into your life. if you come in for a treatment, mention what you're using in your hair and we can identify if you are having breakouts around your hairline as a result.
may happy hair and clear skin be with you all!
x