Serums and Hair Styling Products

May 2026

Carli D. Needle, Anna Brinks, Jadesola Olayinka, Kristen I. Lo Sicco, Jerry Shapiro

hair styling products polymers emollients waxes surfactants preservatives emulsifiers fragrances contact dermatitis

TLDR Hair styling products can cause skin irritation.

Hair styling products, which are a significant part of the global beauty industry, are used by most individuals to temporarily transform hair appearance, texture, or volume. These products typically contain polymers for strength and structure, and emollients/waxes for flexible styling. However, common ingredients like surfactants, preservatives, emulsifiers, and fragrances can cause contact dermatitis on the face and scalp.

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