What Is DMDM Hydantoin?

Scientifically known as dimethyl imidazolidinedione, DMDM Hydantoin is similar in function and concern to formaldehyde donors like imidazolidinyl/diazolidinyl urea. It is a formaldehyde releasing antimicrobial agent that is mostly found in hair products and other cosmetic products to increase shelf-life. DMDM is known to cause certain eye, skin, or even in extreme cases irritating the lungs. Some studies show that it may be carcinogenic in large doses.

Is DMDM Hydantoin Bad For Hair?

DMDM hydantoin while being a good agent at preserving a product’s longevity is also a formaldehyde releasing element that may cause hair fall, dry scalp, and weakened hair follicles.

11 Best Shampoos Without DMDM Hydantoin For Strong And Healthy Hair

1. Best Color-Safe: BIOLAGE ColorLast Shampoo For Color-Treated Hair

4.7 Image: Pureology BUY ON AMAZON | $37 Color-treated hair that needs intense care since hair dyes tend to dry out the natural oils from the hair. Thus, using shampoos that contain DMDM hydantoin could lead to damaged hair, making them more porous. Biolage’s ColorLast Shampoo is vegan and formulated without parabens. It helps to tone and protect hair while being free from any DMDM hydantoin. The shampoo helps in nourishing the hair with healthy properties like low pH and orchid extracts to restore moisture while making up for lost lustre. The color protectanting properties of this shampoo helps in preventing any fading of color up to 9 weeks. If you need further convincing, check this YouTuber’s review out. Pros

Paraben-free Maintains vibrancy of hair color up to 9 weeks Infused with orchid extracts Gentle, non-stripping low pH shampoo

Cons

Contains sulfate

2. Best Sulfate-free: OGX Hydrating + Tea Tree Mint Shampoo

4.4 Image: Ogx BUY ON AMAZON | $5.72 Dust, humidity, and constant changes in weather conditions can cause your hair to react adversely, ultimately resulting in dry, weakened, frizzy, fine, oily, or thin hair. To beat this, we recommend using the OGX Hydrating + Tea Tree Mint Shampoo that is infused with organic ingredients like Australian tea tree oils and milk proteins with added benefits of peppermint to help strengthen and moisturize your hair while preventing day-to-day bacterial formation like dandruff on your scalp. Regular usage of the shampoo might also help in diminishing visible split-ends and providing you a lustrous shine. Check out the review of this product on YouTube to know why it is one of the best out there. Pros

Infused with Australian tea tree oils Peppermint helps in promoting hair growth Sulfate-free shampoo Suitable for all hair and scalp types

Cons

Some may find the scent overpowering

3. Best Anti-Thinning: PURA d’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo

4.2 Image: Pura D’or BUY ON AMAZON | $29.99 The Pura d’Or Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo is packed with all that nature’s got to offer. A clinically-tested formula, it helps prevent hair thinning, breakage, and increases the volume, strength, and shine of your hair. The shampoo is infused with 17 key active ingredients and organic extracts, which keeps the hair healthy and nourishes it through and through. Packed with a mix of nettle, pumpkin seed, and black cumin seed oil, the product helps in thickening your tresses. With the addition of rosemary leaf oil, argan oil, and cedarwood bark oil, the shampoo also helps promote volume, healthier appearance, and repairs damaged and distressed hair. In this YouTube video, you will find a detailed review of this product. Pros

Contains biotin, pumpkin seed, black cumin seed oil, nettle etc Blended with premium-quality oils Suitable for all hair types Anti-thinning shampoo Free from parabens, gluten, SLS, DMDM hydantoin Ideal for fine, frizzy, damaged, and distressed hair

Cons

Some may find it slightly greasy

4. Best Soap-Free: Ethique Mintasy Solid Shampoo For Normal To Dry Hair

4.4 Image: Ethique BUY ON AMAZON | $13.11 Soap bars and shampoo bottles are one of the common distinctions we all witnessed growing up. However, as we strive to achieve a cleaner, less wasteful lifestyle, these minute differences are overcome with new innovations. Innovations like Ethique — a zero-plastic and zero-waste beauty brand that welcomes you to try their Mintasy shampoo bar. Using biodegradable ingredients and compostable packaging, these bars leave no traces behind. If you suffer from frizzy and dry hair, Mintasy can be your go-to damage control shampoo as it is packed with ample moisture-promoting ingredients like cocoa butter, peppermint oil, cacao butter, and a dose of samoan coconut oil that will not only cleanse your scalp of flakiness but also provide hydration boosting soft hair and improving hair texture. Pros

100% soap-free Restores pH balance Suitable for color- treated hair Certified vegan and cruelty-free Travel-friendly

Cons

The longevity of the bar could be unsatisfactory for some

5. Best Moisturizing: Redken 5th Avenue NYC All Soft Moisturizing Shampoo

4.6 Image: Redken 5th Avenue Nyc All Soft Moisturizing Shampoo BUY ON AMAZON | $92 Dry hair can be difficult to manage and maintain owing to factors like unwanted frizz, lack of moisture, and an itchy scalp. Redken’s All Soft Moisturizing Shampoo formulated with argan oil aims at providing and locking the moisture in your scalp and hair from the root to the tip. It leaves you with lustrous, soft, and moistened tresses. The product is gentle on your scalp and does not irritate your crown. With this shampoo, you’ll also experience the ease of managing your previously untamed and frizz-prone type hair. Pros

Contains argan oil Gentle on the scalp Boosts hair moisture and reduces frizz Leaves hair soft and shiny upon washing

Cons

Not an all sulfate-free formula

6. Best For Oily Scalp: Vanicream Free & Clear Shampoo For Sensitive Skin

4.4 Image: Vanicream BUY ON AMAZON | $10.99 Oily scalp calls for some high maintenance as some tend to have dry hair with an oily scalp or oily hair with oily scalp. This always raises the question of how one takes proper measures into keeping the scalp clean without drying out the hair and scalp completely or maintain a healthy shine without overly looking greasy. The Free & Clear shampoo promises to wash your worries away as it is clinically approved and is free from ingredients like parabens, formaldehydes, gluten, lanolin, or sulfates. The shampoo is gentle and avoids any scalp irritation and helps remove dandruff, lessen itchiness, and cleans the scalp of any impurities. The shampoo also helps eradicate any form of buildup from previously used conditioners and hair styling products.Pros

Free from dyes, synthetic fragrance formaldehydes, parabens, sulfates, Does not contain lanolin, protein or gluten Dermatologist tested Ideal for oily scalp Gently removes and prevents flakiness and product build-up

Cons

Some may find that they need to use a lot of product

7. Best Gentle: ACURE Coconut & Argan Shampoo Bar

3.1 BUY ON AMAZON | $8.49 Now here’s a new addition to help you KonMari your bath routine. An all-in-one shower bar from Acure, it helps lessen your worries about creating waste while providing you with just the right amount of nourishment for your hair and body. This coconut oil-based shampoo bar is free from palm oil and is gentle on your hair and skin. The bar is absolutely 100% vegan and cruelty-free while containing 0% parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, petrolatum, and formaldehydes. The bar is also enriched with the goodness of sunflower seed oil, argan kernel oil, acai fruit, and goji berry fruit extracts that help smoothen coarse hair texture. Pros

Vegan Contains coconut oil and argan oil in abundance All-in-one soap bar for hair, body, and face Not tested on animals Free from parabens, sulfates, petrolatum, and formaldehydes Gently cleans the hair and scalp and keeps them soft

Cons

May not be hypoallergenic

8. Best For Wavy And Curly Hair: Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore + Bamboo Fibers Shampoo

4.4 Image: Maui Moisture BUY ON AMAZON | $7.09 We love a head full of lustrous curly hair but maintaining the ringlets might need extra attention and care. This shampoo from Maui Moisture strengthens and restores damaged hair with the fruitfulness of castor and neem oils. The shampoo is ideal for wavy or curly hair as it is infused with exotic bamboo fibres to renew and soften treated or styled hair. It is gentle and is free from silicones, parabens, mineral oils, and dyes. Opulent with aloe vera, coconut water, castor and neem oils, the shampoo helps densify and thicken hair. Pros

Made with castor oil and neem oil Free from parabens, mineral oils, and dyes Softens and thickens hair Bamboo fires are infused to help fortify weak hair

Cons

Specially formulated for curly hair

9. Best Cruelty-Free: Avalon Organics Volumizing Rosemary Shampoo

4.3 Image: Avalon Organics BUY ON AMAZON | $17.99 Silky, healthy, and voluminous hair is not much to ask for, as it is to achieve, especially with sudden weather changes that tend to degrade the health of our hair. The Avalon Organics Volumizing Rosemary shampoo is strictly formulated to cater to thinning and broken-down hair. Formulated with a myriad of hair care essentials like rosemary oil, quinoa protein, calendula, aloe vera, and vitamin E, this shampoo thoroughly cleanses and maintains the porosity of hair while retaining volume, Free from phthalates, SLS, and animal testing, this shampoo helps restore the pH balance of the hair while nourishing them with the wholesomeness of the natural ingredients. Pros

Free from parabens, SLS, and phthalates Cruelty-free Balances pH levels Thoroughly cleanses hair and scalp Provides ample moisture

Cons

Some may find the consistency slightly watery

10. Best For Fighting Dandruff: Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo

4.4 Image: Maple Holistics BUY ON AMAZON | $11.95 A greasy and flaky scalp is perhaps the biggest hair enemy which requires extra care and tea tree is known as the oily scalp’s best friend. With Maple Holistics’ tea tree oil shampoo, you can now wash your hair worry-free as this product contains botanical keratin, rosemary, and lavender oils without any sulfates and parabens. This shampoo works its way to deep-clean your scalp while boosting hydration and health without stripping away your hair’s natural oils. You can also use this shampoo for color-treated hair, bleached hair, excessively damaged hair, or a sensitive scalp. Thanks to plant-based essentials in this shampoo, your hair is going to feel extra nourished and soft to the touch with regular use. Pros

Ideal for oily and greasy scalp Infused with natural oil extracts from rosemary, lavender,and argan oils Helps prevent dandruff Paraben and sulfate-free formula

Cons

May take a long time to show results

11. Best For Colored Hair: MATRIX Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo

4.6 Image: Matrix BUY ON AMAZON | $20.0 The Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid backs color-treated hair with sulfate-free technology to help retain the vibrant dyes. With its milky and foamy formula, this shampoo gently cleanses your hair and ensures no fading of your dyed hair, while restoring the vibrancy and shine of your hair. Now you can experience salon level hair-care treatment from the comfort of your bathroom. With a special ingredient called pearl powder, this shampoo is an assured best shampoo without DMDM hydantoin for colored hair. Pros

Free from sulfates Ideal for colored or dyed hair Contains pearl powder Gentle formula

Cons

Contains synthetic fragrance

Shampoos without DMDM Hydantoin are seemingly on the rise, and we suggest you stay informed about this ingredient that one could do away with in a shampoo bottle. Since this component is not a big necessity nor adds up to the betterment of your hair’s health or provide any nourishment, shampoos could certainly be manufactured without its inclusion. Now that you know the what, the why, and the why not about DMDM hydantoin, let’s find out how you can save yourself from falling into buying a shampoo with DMDM hydantoin.

How To Choose Best DMDM Hydantoin-Free Shampoo

Read the ingredients list

Look for the full ingredients list of a product.  Look for the keywords “1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethyl”. This is the most commonly used formula in shampoos when it comes to DMDM Hydantoin. Instead choose shampoo with ingredients that are mostly sourced from natural extracts or organically sourced. Ingredients like plant oils, organic tea, root extracts, olive, fruit extracts, etc are a good place to start.

Not all chemicals are bad

Check for surfactants or the kind of sulfates if used in a product. Some of the commonly substituted chemicals are: sarcosines, betaines, sultaines, disodium, decyl or lauryl glucoside, etc.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of this article, Vaishnavi Kothuri, is a hair care fanatic. She is passionate about learning the key ingredients and their benefits in hair care products. She has carefully researched the products and checked user feedback on brand websites and trusted online forums to compile the list of the best shampoos without DMDM hydantoin. If you have eczema or sensitive skin, these preservative-free shampoos are ideal for you. Is DMDM hydantoin safe for the hair? Yes. However, if you have allergic reactions towards formaldehyde, avoid using products with DMDM hydantoin, as it can damage your hair and scalp. Do all shampoos have DMDM hydantoin? No, but most products contain DMDM hydantoin to maintain their longevity.

Best Antifungal Shampoos Best Shampoo And Conditioner Sets For Dry Hair Best Medicated Shampoos To Buy