Triclosan

try-KLO-san

Preservative 2/10 Safety Not CGAvoid Synthetic Vegan

What Is Triclosan?

A synthetic antibacterial and antifungal agent that was widely used in personal care products before being banned by the FDA in consumer antiseptic washes in 2016.

Source: Synthetic chlorinated organic compound

Origin: Synthetic

Also known as: Irgasan, 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol

What Does Triclosan Do to Your Hair?

Was used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial to prevent bacterial and fungal contamination. Also provided anti-dandruff benefits. However, concerns about endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and environmental persistence led to regulatory action.

Best For

None recommended (being phased out)

Not Recommended For

All hair types

Concentration Matters

0.1-0.3% where still used

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

Method Compatibility

Curly Girl (CG) Method: Avoid
CG Avoid

Safety & Regulation

2/10
AvoidCautionSafe

Significant health and environmental concerns. Linked to endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and environmental bioaccumulation. FDA banned it in consumer antiseptic washes in 2016. Being phased out of most cosmetic products.

FDA Status: Restricted

FDA banned from consumer antiseptic washes (2016). Still technically permitted in some cosmetic applications but being widely reformulated.

EWG Score: 8/10

HairAide Verdict

Avoid entirely. The endocrine disruption and antibiotic resistance concerns are well-established. Safer and more effective alternatives exist for every application triclosan was used for.

Products That Contain Triclosan

Being removed from most products; historically in anti-dandruff shampoos

Alternatives to Triclosan

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

Piroctone Olamine, Tea Tree Oil, Zinc Pyrithione

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Triclosan safe for hair?

Triclosan has a safety rating of 2/10 and may be problematic for many hair types. Significant health and environmental concerns. Linked to endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and environmental bioaccumulation. FDA banned it in consumer antiseptic washes in 2016. Being phased out of most cosmetic products.

Is Triclosan bad for curly hair?

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

Is Triclosan CG-method approved?

No, Triclosan is not approved for the Curly Girl method.

What can I use instead of Triclosan?

Some alternatives to Triclosan include: Piroctone Olamine, Tea Tree Oil, Zinc Pyrithione

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 →