Climbazole

klim-BAZ-ole

Conditioning Agent 7/10 Safety Not CGControversial Synthetic Vegan

What Is Climbazole?

A synthetic antifungal agent used in anti-dandruff products. It effectively controls Malassezia yeasts while being gentler on hair than many traditional anti-dandruff actives.

Source: Synthetic organic compound

Origin: Synthetic

Also known as: Climbazole

What Does Climbazole Do to Your Hair?

Inhibits Malassezia fungal growth on the scalp through disruption of fungal cell membrane synthesis. Effective at low concentrations and works well in combination with other anti-dandruff actives like piroctone olamine.

Best For

Dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, flaky scalp

Not Recommended For

None known at standard concentrations

Concentration Matters

0.2-0.5% in anti-dandruff products

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

7/10
AvoidCautionSafe

Generally safe at standard cosmetic concentrations (0.5%). EU restricts use to 0.5% in rinse-off products and 0.5% in leave-on products. Some regulatory caution exists around higher concentrations.

FDA Status: Generally Recognized As Safe

FDA permits use in cosmetics. EU restricts to 0.5% maximum in cosmetic products.

EWG Score: 3/10

HairAide Verdict

An effective anti-dandruff ingredient that works well in combination with piroctone olamine. Safe at regulated concentrations. A good option in the modern anti-dandruff toolkit.

Products That Contain Climbazole

Anti-dandruff shampoos, medicated scalp treatments

Alternatives to Climbazole

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

Piroctone Olamine, Zinc Pyrithione, Ketoconazole

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Climbazole safe for hair?

Yes, Climbazole has a safety rating of 7/10 and is generally considered safe for use in hair products. Generally safe at standard cosmetic concentrations (0.5%). EU restricts use to 0.5% in rinse-off products and 0.5% in leave-on products. Some regulatory caution exists around higher concentrations.

Is Climbazole bad for curly hair?

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

Is Climbazole CG-method approved?

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

What can I use instead of Climbazole?

Some alternatives to Climbazole include: Piroctone Olamine, Zinc Pyrithione, Ketoconazole

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 →