Hair Ingredient Encyclopedia

Decode every ingredient in your hair products. 500+ ingredients analyzed for safety, compatibility, and effectiveness.

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Browse A-Z

Decyl Glucoside

9/10 CG Approved Clean
Surfactant
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Potassium Sorbate

9/10 CG Approved Clean
Preservative
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Sodium Benzoate

8/10 CG Approved Clean
Preservative
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Caprylyl Glycol

9/10 CG Approved Clean
Conditioning Agent, Humectant, Preservative
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Aminomethyl Propanol

7/10 CG Approved Clean
pH Adjuster
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Polyquaternium-7

8/10 CG Approved Clean
Anti-Static Agent, Conditioning Agent, Film Former, Thickener
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Ethylhexylglycerin

9/10 CG Approved Clean
Conditioning Agent, Preservative
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Phenoxyethanol

8/10 CG Approved Clean
Preservative
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Lactic Acid

8/10 CG Approved Clean
Humectant, pH Adjuster
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Citric Acid

9/10 CG Approved Clean
Chelating Agent, pH Adjuster
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Ingredient Encyclopedia FAQ

How do I check if my hair product ingredients are safe?

Use our Label Analyzer tool. Simply copy the ingredient list from the back of your product bottle and paste it in. You'll get an instant report showing the safety rating, CG-method compatibility, and potential concerns for every ingredient.

What does CG-method approved mean?

The Curly Girl (CG) Method is a hair care approach that avoids sulfates, silicones, and other ingredients that can dry out or weigh down curly hair. CG-approved ingredients are safe to use if you follow this method.

What are the worst ingredients for hair?

The most commonly avoided hair product ingredients include harsh sulfates (SLS, SLES), drying alcohols, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and certain synthetic fragrances. However, what's "bad" depends on your hair type — browse our Avoid category for the full list.

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