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

Formaldehyde

1/10 Not CG Avoid
Preservative
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Methylparaben

6/10 CG Approved Controversial
Preservative
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Cyclomethicone

7/10 Not CG Controversial
Conditioning Agent, Solvent
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera)

10/10 CG Approved Clean
Conditioning Agent, Humectant
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Hyaluronic Acid

10/10 CG Approved Clean
Humectant
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Conditioning Agent, Emollient
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Conditioning Agent
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Conditioning Agent, Emollient
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Conditioning Agent, Emollient
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Panthenol (Provitamin B5)

10/10 CG Approved Clean
Conditioning Agent, Humectant
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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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