A Number Of Hair Care Products Are Being Recalled. Here's What You Need To Know

Within the ever-growing haircare market, new trends are constant. Every week there seems to be a new product launched, and with that every week it seems a new ingredient or hair product is cancelled. The rise and fall of viral products is constant. From claims that the product doesn't actually work to claims that someone had their own traumatic experience with it. 

It can be tricky to keep up with the revolving door of products and knowing who to trust and who's been cancelled. Which is why the average consumer depends on reliable household names. You know, those brands that we've been familiar with since childhood. They get the job done, and no matter how many times they attempt to revamp and release trendy products, you know you can rely on their staples. So, it's naturally alarming to read a headline claiming those trusty reliables aren't only being questioned, but they're getting recalled (via CNN).

Procter & Gamble may not be a name that rings any bells. However Pantene, Aussie Hair, Old Spice, and Secret certainly do. Considered household brand names, we've all owned one of their products at some point or another. Which is particularly why this story was so alarming. On December 17, 2021 P&G announced that they would be recalling a number of their aerosol products from a variety of brands (via NBC News). 

Along with a list of the recalled spray products, P&G announced that the reason for this recall was not actually due to consumer complaints, but simply them being extra cautious upon realizing that the range of products contained Benzene (via CNN). The notice included an explanation, "Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it can result in cancers, including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life-threatening" (via FDA).

This isn't the first time a company has had a product recall due to the same ingredient, Johnson & Johnson have also had to recall some of their sunscreens this year due to the same realization (via The Washington Post). The P&G notice called for anyone that owns a product from the published list to discard it and they are offering refunds to all customers (via CNN).