Pantene Pro-V Classic Clean Shampoo
Summary
Pantene Pro-V Classic Clean Shampoo scores 15/100 -- a textbook conventional drugstore shampoo. The cleansing base is the harshest commercial pairing in widespread use: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate + Sodium Laureth Sulfate. SLES carries a documented 1,4-dioxane (IARC Group 2B probable human carcinogen) contamination risk from the ethoxylation manufacturing step. Dimethicone is a silicone polymer that builds up on hair and requires sulfate shampoos to remove (the classic conventional-shampoo vicious cycle). Methylchloroisothiazolinone + Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MIT) is the 'Kathon CG' preservative pair that was named the American Contact Dermatitis Society's 'Contact Allergen of the Year 2013' and is EU-restricted. Tetrasodium EDTA functions as a chelator and mild penetration enhancer. Undisclosed Fragrance with no itemized allergens. The Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) payload is genuine -- one of the most evidence-backed conditioning ingredients available -- but cannot offset the SLS+SLES+Cocamide MEA+Dimethicone+MCI/MIT toxic load. Owned by Procter & Gamble.
At a glance
Key ingredients 14
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)Very Bad
The most aggressive mainstream surfactant; primary skin/scalp irritant. EWG 1-2 for environmental persistence but 3 for human irritation.
See more about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) →Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)Very Bad
Ethoxylated sulfate cleanser; carries documented 1,4-dioxane (IARC Group 2B probable human carcinogen) contamination risk from the ethoxylation manufacturing step. EWG 3-6.
See more about Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) →Cocamide MEAVery Bad
Ethanolamine surfactant booster; California Proposition 65 listed for carcinogenicity. Carries N-nitrosamine contamination risk when stacked with secondary amines.
See more about Cocamide MEA →DimethiconeVery Bad
Silicone polymer; occlusive coating that builds up on the hair shaft and requires sulfate shampoos to remove. Environmentally persistent siloxane microplastic precursor.
See more about Dimethicone →Methylchloroisothiazolinone + Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MIT)Very Bad
The 'Kathon CG' preservative pair. MIT was named the American Contact Dermatitis Society's 'Contact Allergen of the Year 2013' after a documented epidemic of contact dermatitis cases. EU banned MIT in leave-on cosmetics in 2017 and limits MCI/MIT in rinse-off products to 0.0015%. EWG 5-7.
See more about Methylchloroisothiazolinone + Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MIT) →Tetrasodium EDTABad
Chelator; mild penetration enhancer and environmentally persistent. The clean alternatives are sodium gluconate, sodium phytate, or Tetrasodium GLDA.
See more about Tetrasodium EDTA →Fragrance (Parfum)Bad
Undisclosed fragrance blend with no itemized allergens. US labeling law allows manufacturers to hide hundreds of un-itemized compounds behind a single 'Fragrance' word, including phthalates, IFRA-restricted allergens, and synthetic musks.
See more about Fragrance (Parfum) →Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)Very Good
Provitamin B5; penetrates the hair shaft and demonstrably improves softness and elasticity (Greaves 1999). One of the most evidence-backed conditioning ingredients.
See more about Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) →Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideGood
Plant-derived (guar bean) cationic conditioning polymer. The cleanest commercially available cationic. EWG 1.
See more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride →GlycerinVery Good
Gold-standard humectant; plant-derived, EWG 1.
See more about Glycerin →Panthenyl Ethyl EtherGood
Ether derivative of panthenol; functions similarly as a humectant and conditioning agent.
See more about Panthenyl Ethyl Ether →HistidineGood
Amino acid; helps protect against UV-induced hair damage. Inert at use levels.
See more about Histidine →Cocamidopropyl BetaineGood
Coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant; the industry-standard gentler co-surfactant in sulfate-based shampoos.
See more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine →Citric AcidGood
pH adjuster at trace levels; helps maintain a slightly acidic pH compatible with the hair cuticle.
See more about Citric Acid →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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