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TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo

Common questions

Is TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo healthy?

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo scores 13/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo scores 13/100 -- a conventional drugstore shampoo with a uniquely concerning surfactant booster pair: TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-Sulfate.

How does TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo compare to other hair care?

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo ranks #46 of 47 hair care in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is BASED Shampoo at 97/100.

Which ingredients drive TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Ceramide NG count in its favor; Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Cocamide MEA, Dimethiconol are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo

TRESemmé
13 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 5
Harmful ingredients 8
Owned by Unilever
Category Hair Care
Summary

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo scores 13/100 -- a conventional drugstore shampoo with a uniquely concerning surfactant booster pair: TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-Sulfate. The triethanolamine (TEA) compounds carry an N-nitrosamine contamination risk, similar to but distinct from the Cocamide MEA family found in Pantene. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is the primary surfactant (1,4-dioxane contamination risk). Some export variants add DMDM Hydantoin (a formaldehyde-releasing preservative -- formaldehyde is an IARC Group 1 known human carcinogen) and Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer (a synthetic film-former classified as a primary microplastic by ECHA). The marketed Hydrolyzed Keratin + Ceramide NG + Arginine + Lysine HCl active stack is genuine but appears well below the preservative system in concentration -- performative. Owned by Unilever.

Key ingredients 14

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) →
Dimethiconol
Very Bad

Silicone polymer; builds up on hair and requires sulfate shampoos to remove. Environmentally persistent siloxane microplastic precursor.

See more about Dimethiconol →
TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-Sulfate
Very Bad

Triethanolamine (TEA) compounds; carry N-nitrosamine contamination risk when stacked with secondary amines, similar to the Cocamide MEA family. TEA itself is EWG 5-6.

See more about TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-Sulfate →
Fragrance (Parfum) + 4 disclosed allergens
Very Bad

Undisclosed fragrance plus 4 itemized fragrance allergens (Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool). EU mandates disclosure of these when concentration exceeds 0.01% in rinse-off products.

See more about Fragrance (Parfum) + 4 disclosed allergens →
Cocamide MEA
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 →
PEG-45M
Bad

Polyethylene glycol; carries documented 1,4-dioxane contamination risk from the ethoxylation manufacturing step. Penetration enhancer.

See more about PEG-45M →
Phenoxyethanol
Bad

Synthetic preservative; EWG 4. EU restricted in baby products; potential dermal irritant.

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Disodium EDTA
Bad

Chelator; same penetration-enhancement and environmental-persistence concerns as Tetrasodium EDTA.

See more about Disodium EDTA →
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Neutral

Coconut-derived surfactant — milder than sulfates, though an occasional allergen.

See more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine →
Glycerin
Good

Humectant that draws moisture to the skin — a beneficial base ingredient.

See more about Glycerin →
Ceramide NG
Good

Skin barrier ceramide delivered topically. Genuine when at functional concentration; in this formula appears low in the INCI, likely performative.

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Arginine + Lysine HCl
Good

Amino acids; buffering and minor moisture-binding activity. Inert and well-tolerated.

See more about Arginine + Lysine HCl →
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Good

Plant-derived (guar bean) cationic conditioning polymer. The cleanest commercially available cationic. EWG 1.

See more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride →
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Very Good

Enzymatically broken-down keratin protein fragments small enough to penetrate the hair cortex and bind to damaged sites. Genuine repair activity (Wickett 1991).

See more about Hydrolyzed Keratin →

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