Are Your Products Expired?

So if there is no mandatory labeling on bottles, how are you supposed to know if the product is actually bad? Extremely expired bottles of shampoo and conditioner typically smell funny or even acrid and feel funny between your fingers. However, they tend to go bad before strange smells come about.

Always check to see if there is an expiration date on the bottle. The expiration symbol will typically be located near the products UPC and will display the drawing of a little container with a number inside of it, like 6, 8, or 12. That means you have 6, 8, or 12 months of use after you open the bottle, double that if you don’t touch it.

If there’s no label, a good rule is to keep unopened bottles for no more than three years and an opened bottle for at most 18 months. Anything after that you may be pushing your luck! If you use “natural” versions the rules are quite different. This is because regular hair care products have additives and preservatives included to help extend their lives. Natural products forego these rules which means you have to keep a sharp eye (and nose) out.

As for extending products’ life, try to buy items that are in spray containers or tubes. The less chance oxygen or water droplets have to get inside to hurt the product the longer your stuff will last. Although you may be tempted to add water or other chemicals to your product, do not do so unless the manufacturer says to. Also, store them in cool, dark places when you’re not using them as constant light might further the deterioration process along.

Hopefully all this doesn’t scare you away from your favorite shampoos and conditioners. It just pays to know a little more about some of your beloved hair care products. Now you can be sure your hair will have the protection it needs all year long!

Are you guilty of storing some old, expired and useless hair care products? Come on into the salon and we’ll get you set up with brand new stuff!