What Happens if You Ingest Hair Rinse or Conditioner?
The Bottom Line
Most hair rinses and conditioners are relatively safe. If you accidentally swallow them, you may experience no toxicity or possibly mild irritation in the mouth, throat, or stomach. More significant gastrointestinal irritation can occur with some color rinses that contain ammonia or hydrogen peroxide and deep conditioners that contain cationic detergents.
Hair rinse and conditioner: What are they made of?
Hair rinses produce a variety of effects on your hair depending on the type of rinse. They can cleanse, strengthen, nourish, moisturize, add shine, add color, or dissolve buildup. Some hair color rinses contain chemicals such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and p-phenylenediamine (PPD or PPDA). Rinses may contain herbs and/or other natural products such as apple cider vinegar, tea, rice water, and lemon juice.
Hair conditioners are used after the hair is washed with shampoo to improve the texture and appearance of hair. They are usually available as thick liquids, gels, and creams. The ingredients depend on the type of conditioner. The most common are rinse-out conditioners that are applied for around 5 minutes and that contain water, cetyl alcohol or similar conditioning agents, glycerin or similar humectants, emollients (such as coconut oil), proteins, fragrances, and preservatives. Deep conditioners that are applied to the hair for 30-45 minutes contain cationic surfactants, such as cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, behentrimonium chloride (BTAC), and cetrimonium chloride (CETAC).
Are these products toxic if swallowed?
Most hair rinses and conditioners are relatively safe if swallowed. Depending on the ingredients, swallowing them can cause an upset stomach, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Hair rinses with ammonia or hydrogen peroxide and conditioners with cationic surfactants may cause more significant irritation to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach.
What ingredients should I avoid in these products?
If possible, avoid products with ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or PPD.
Are allergic reactions to these hair products possible?
Some people experience allergic reactions to their scalp and skin from rinses and conditioners. They experience contact dermatitis manifesting with redness, itching, swelling, and rash.
What should I do if these products are swallowed or get in the eye?
If these products are swallowed, rinse out the mouth with water. If they get into the eyes, rinse with water for 10-15 minutes. Help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Wendy Klein-Schwartz, Pharm.D., MPH
Clinical Toxicologist
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
- Store hair rinses and conditioners up, away, and out of sight of children.
- Read and follow label instructions.
- Use the right product for your hair type.
- Don’t wash and condition your hair every day; wait until your hair is dirty or oily.
- Rinse the conditioner thoroughly out of your hair to avoid buildup of residue.
- Do not leave the rinse or conditioner in longer than the directions say.
- Avoid leaving the conditioner in your hair overnight, unless it is designed for overnight use.
- Keep rinses and conditioners away from your eyes.
- Do a patch test on your skin to check for allergy before using color rinses.
This Really Happened
While taking a bath, a 2-year-old girl grabbed the hair conditioner container on the side of the bathtub and swallowed a mouthful before her mother could take the container from her. She tried to spit it out, but the mother thought she had still swallowed some. The mother wiped her mouth out with a washcloth and gave her water to drink. She then called Poison Control to check if her daughter would be okay. Poison Control asked about the type of conditioner and whether her daughter had any symptoms. Since it was a rinse-out conditioner and the girl had no symptoms, Poison Control recommended that the mother wipe out her daughter’s mouth and give her a drink. She should not expect any toxicity.
References
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
- Store hair rinses and conditioners up, away, and out of sight of children.
- Read and follow label instructions.
- Use the right product for your hair type.
- Don’t wash and condition your hair every day; wait until your hair is dirty or oily.
- Rinse the conditioner thoroughly out of your hair to avoid buildup of residue.
- Do not leave the rinse or conditioner in longer than the directions say.
- Avoid leaving the conditioner in your hair overnight, unless it is designed for overnight use.
- Keep rinses and conditioners away from your eyes.
- Do a patch test on your skin to check for allergy before using color rinses.
This Really Happened
While taking a bath, a 2-year-old girl grabbed the hair conditioner container on the side of the bathtub and swallowed a mouthful before her mother could take the container from her. She tried to spit it out, but the mother thought she had still swallowed some. The mother wiped her mouth out with a washcloth and gave her water to drink. She then called Poison Control to check if her daughter would be okay. Poison Control asked about the type of conditioner and whether her daughter had any symptoms. Since it was a rinse-out conditioner and the girl had no symptoms, Poison Control recommended that the mother wipe out her daughter’s mouth and give her a drink. She should not expect any toxicity.