Zinc Pyrithione

zink peer-ITH-ee-own

Conditioning Agent 6/10 Safety Not CGControversial Synthetic Vegan

What Is Zinc Pyrithione?

An antimicrobial and antifungal compound that is the most widely used active ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoos. It effectively controls the Malassezia yeast that causes dandruff.

Source: Synthetic zinc compound

Origin: Synthetic

Also known as: ZPT, Pyrithione Zinc

What Does Zinc Pyrithione Do to Your Hair?

Targets and inhibits the growth of Malassezia fungi on the scalp, the primary cause of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Also has antibacterial properties that help maintain a healthy scalp microbiome.

Best For

Dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, flaky scalp, oily scalp

Not Recommended For

Color-treated hair (can strip color), dry hair (can be drying)

Concentration Matters

1-2% in anti-dandruff shampoos

Hair Type Compatibility

1A Straight Fine
1B Straight Medium
1C Straight Coarse
2A Wavy Fine
2B Wavy Medium
2C Wavy Coarse
3A Curly Loose
3B Curly Tight
3C Curly Corkscrew
4A Coily S-Shaped
4B Coily Z-Shaped
4C Coily Tight
Color-treated: Use caution

Method Compatibility

Curly Girl (CG) Method: Avoid
CG Avoid

Safety & Regulation

6/10
AvoidCautionSafe

Effective and generally safe for scalp use at standard concentrations (1-2%). EU banned it in cosmetics in 2022 due to environmental toxicity classification, though it remains permitted in the US. Can be drying with overuse.

FDA Status: Approved

FDA approves as an OTC anti-dandruff active ingredient at 0.3-2%. EU banned it in cosmetics effective March 2022.

EWG Score: 5/10

HairAide Verdict

Highly effective for dandruff control and one of the most proven anti-dandruff ingredients. The EU ban is based on environmental concerns not human safety. Still widely available and effective in the US.

Products That Contain Zinc Pyrithione

Anti-dandruff shampoos, medicated scalp treatments, 2-in-1 products

Alternatives to Zinc Pyrithione

If you want to avoid Zinc Pyrithione, look for products with these ingredients instead:

Piroctone Olamine, Ketoconazole, Selenium Sulfide, Salicylic Acid

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zinc Pyrithione safe for hair?

Zinc Pyrithione has a safety rating of 6/10. It's generally acceptable but may cause issues for some hair types. Effective and generally safe for scalp use at standard concentrations (1-2%). EU banned it in cosmetics in 2022 due to environmental toxicity classification, though it remains permitted in the US. Can be drying with overuse.

Is Zinc Pyrithione bad for curly hair?

Zinc Pyrithione is not CG-method approved. Curly hair types may want to avoid this ingredient or use products containing it sparingly.

Is Zinc Pyrithione CG-method approved?

No, Zinc Pyrithione is not approved for the Curly Girl method.

What can I use instead of Zinc Pyrithione?

Some alternatives to Zinc Pyrithione include: Piroctone Olamine, Ketoconazole, Selenium Sulfide, Salicylic Acid

Get Our Free Ingredient Decoder Cheat Sheet

Take the guesswork out of reading product labels. Our printable cheat sheet helps you decode ingredients while you shop.

Check What's In Your Products

Use our free Hair Product Label Analyzer to check any product's ingredient list instantly.

Analyze My Product →