Shampoo expired?

[gthlvrmx]

I grabbed my Neautrogena Anti Residue Shampoo and I noticed it looks like jello. It wasn't as runny as it used to be. Well, I wanted to clarify my hair so I just washed my hair with it. My hair did feel stripped and dryer (even in the water so I think it worked?) but then as I was taking my shower I thought to myself "Does shampoo expire?". I did a quick search on google and some say yes but I can't find an expiration date anywhere on the shampoo bottles or conditioner bottles we have. I mixed the clarifying shampoo with our recently bought regular shampoo just in case the clarifying shampoo was expired but I really wanted the clarifying effects. Does shampoo and conditioner expire? Where can you tell if it expires? What happens to hair if you put expired shampoo on it? I think I may have had this anti residue shampoo for around 2 years. Oops. I hope my hair will be ok.

[eadwine]

There should be a jar drawing thingie on there stating a number. That is the number of months it'll stay good.

[gthlvrmx]

There should be a jar drawing thingie on there stating a number. That is the number of months it'll stay good.

I can't find it on the shampoo or conditioner bottles. Where exactly would it be on the anti residue shampoo?

[gthlvrmx]

I kept checking the Suave strawberry conditioner bottle and there is no jar drawing and it's not on the neutrogena bottle either.

[pastina]

the ones where you'd need to worry about the expiration dates are the ones with active ingredients. (think dandruff shampoos). and even then, the ingredients are most likely just less effective. i'd really doubt that just since they're past their ideal functional date that they're going to cause damage.

[Arctic]

Usually shampoos should stay good for 12 to 24 months after opening the bottle. I don't think your hair will suffer, but it might have started to grow some bacteria/fungus which might have a negative effect on your scalp.

[gthlvrmx]

the ones where you'd need to worry about the expiration dates are the ones with active ingredients. (think dandruff shampoos). and even then, the ingredients are most likely just less effective. i'd really doubt that just since they're past their ideal functional date that they're going to cause damage.
Oh ok that calmed me down. Thank you. There are no active ingredients in this anti residue bottle.

Usually shampoos should stay good for 12 to 24 months after opening the bottle. I don't think your hair will suffer, but it might have started to grow some bacteria/fungus which might have a negative effect on your scalp.

24 months, so 2 years. It's been around 2 years since I got this bottle of shampoo, maybe even longer.

[gthlvrmx]

OK update, I called Neutrogena and the employee told me that there is no expiration date on the shampoo, it doesn't expire. If the bottle is the same color, everything is the same and the consistency of the shampoo is still like regular shampoo then it is still good. My shampoo moves a bit slower than I remembered so I am going to get another bottle and wash my hair again with it. I am assuming the Suave bottles also don't expire since there is no expiration date.

[lapushka]

Some of my shampoo has an expiration date, other bottles do not. If it's not shifted/separated, and the consistency is still normal, I'd say it's fine.

[gthlvrmx]

Some of my shampoo has an expiration date, other bottles do not. If it's not shifted/separated, and the consistency is still normal, I'd say it's fine.

It's not shifted/separated but it does move slower than normal. If I put the bottle upside, the shampoo very slowly moves down. A little too slow for me though, I remember it moved faster when I bought it.

[silvurgrin]

It's probably just thickened due to water loss. What if you add a little distilled water to it and shake it up? That should bring it back to a normal consistency.

[Arctic]

It's probably just thickened due to water loss. What if you add a little distilled water to it and shake it up? That should bring it back to a normal consistency.

Nooo, never add water, it's a surefire way to get a product grow mold and bacteria. (Unless you use the product right away, ofcourse.)

You know, I think this is a question of terminology. In general expiration date is a quite specific date, and in general shampoos and hygieny products do not have that kind of date. Usually the term used is shelf life, I think. So technically the help desk was right, there is no used by date. Also apparently in USA there is also no law that requires a shelf life expectancy printed in shampoos and such. If you google, you will usually see that for opened bottles about 12 months is recommended. For unopened bottles a while more.

I personally would be uncomfortabel rubbing something that might be ridden with bacteria and mold on my sensitive skin. If you have only few half used bottles, I would just throw them away, and from now on try to use up products in timely manner. I have seen moldy conditioner, and just the though of it makes me shiver.


PS. The shelf life or a cosmetic/hygiene product is ofetn marked like this:

http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Makeup-Shelf-Life.jpg

...where the numer inside the image of a opened jar tells you how many months after opening it stays good in general.

[Nique1202]

There's a difference between "expiry" and "best before" dates. Expiry is usually only required for products like baby formula that can cause REALLY BIG PROBLEMS if they're eaten in less than ideal condition. Best before dates are usually only required for food items that may lose quality within 3-6 months. It varies some by country, but non-food products do not necessarily need or have data on how long a bottle will stay useful. Even manufacturers don't always do testing to see how long their products will keep their original quality for stuff like shampoo and conditioner. That's why you might not have been able to find the "jar" picture: it's probably not required by law in your country, so manufacturers don't bother.

As with food, the best way to tell if you can still use a product (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, whatever) is keeping an eye on the smell and appearance. You said it's much thicker? Maybe it smells different or the colour has changed a bit? You do mention that it reacted differently with your hair. Either way, toss it. It's not worth using a product that's not at optimal quality because it could have bacteria or fungi in it that could cause major problems if they decide to make a new home on your scalp.

[gthlvrmx]

Nooo, never add water, it's a surefire way to get a product grow mold and bacteria. (Unless you use the product right away, ofcourse.)

You know, I think this is a question of terminology. In general expiration date is a quite specific date, and in general shampoos and hygieny products do not have that kind of date. Usually the term used is shelf life, I think. So technically the help desk was right, there is no used by date. Also apparently in USA there is also no law that requires a shelf life expectancy printed in shampoos and such. If you google, you will usually see that for opened bottles about 12 months is recommended. For unopened bottles a while more.

I personally would be uncomfortabel rubbing something that might be ridden with bacteria and mold on my sensitive skin. If you have only few half used bottles, I would just throw them away, and from now on try to use up products in timely manner. I have seen moldy conditioner, and just the though of it makes me shiver.


PS. The shelf life or a cosmetic/hygiene product is ofetn marked like this:

http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Makeup-Shelf-Life.jpg

...where the numer inside the image of a opened jar tells you how many months after opening it stays good in general.


There's a difference between "expiry" and "best before" dates. Expiry is usually only required for products like baby formula that can cause REALLY BIG PROBLEMS if they're eaten in less than ideal condition. Best before dates are usually only required for food items that may lose quality within 3-6 months. It varies some by country, but non-food products do not necessarily need or have data on how long a bottle will stay useful. Even manufacturers don't always do testing to see how long their products will keep their original quality for stuff like shampoo and conditioner. That's why you might not have been able to find the "jar" picture: it's probably not required by law in your country, so manufacturers don't bother.

As with food, the best way to tell if you can still use a product (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, whatever) is keeping an eye on the smell and appearance. You said it's much thicker? Maybe it smells different or the colour has changed a bit? You do mention that it reacted differently with your hair. Either way, toss it. It's not worth using a product that's not at optimal quality because it could have bacteria or fungi in it that could cause major problems if they decide to make a new home on your scalp.

Well, I think I am safe, it doesn't smell terrible. The color looks different but I think it might be the plastic bottle that looks different because the hard water and soap got on it for a few months maybe so there's white crud on it from the water and soap. It does look thicker(based on how slow it moves when I tilt the bottle, not the actual look) to me but maybe it's just me. My mom said it's totally fine after comparing it to our new shampoo. I think this shampoo was always a little bit more slow moving actually, so I think I am ok. The lady on the phone said that if I didn't react to it after using it, then it's fine and if it still did it's job then it's ok. It created a lather just fine and I got the white bubbles/foam from it. Thank you for your comments! I think I may have just gotten worried over nothing serious, but it's good information to know about! I never knew about the jar drawing :p

[endlessly]

Depending on the shampoo, I'm sure it can expire. Mine has an expiration date since it's made from natural ingredients, but I know most conventional shampoos and conditioners just have that strange code on them telling the manufacturer when it was made. Certain ones should have that jar picture eadwine spoke of, and that will let you know once the product has been opened how long you have to use it by. Once it has the consistency you described, I would say it's probably time to throw it and get a new one, just to be on the safe side.

[sapphire-o]

Mine last for several years at least. I always buy them in very large size. Although I keep them all in a dark closet so they're not exposed to light or moisture. I have a liquid dispenser in my shower and I use those to fill them half full each time. That way none of the products are exposed to the heat and humidity for too long before they're used up. 2 years should be perfect fine for a commercial product, unless you have left the lid open for extended period and let shower water get in.

[eadwine]

And rule of thumb: no product should be used after you doubt its content; your health is more important than a $5 or even $10 bottle of shampoo, so if you are in doubt: toss it and buy a new one.

[lapushka]

Yes, but what if there are people in the store who open conditioners / shampoos to "smell" them? I think manufacturers should nix the jar and month statement for that reason, or *seal* the stuff!

[Frankenstein]

I've wondered if shampoos/conditioners have expiration dates but I always assumed they didn't since I often used old-ish ones (2-3 years) with no problem. However, after reading this thread I was inspired to dig out a s/c set that's been sitting in my cabinet unused for about 5 years (don't ask why, I have no idea...) After inspecting it to make sure it looked and smelled okay (no mold!) I gave them a go in the shower tonight. The shampoo was fine but the conditioner was a bit odd; I squeezed the bottle about 6 times and half the time it came out super runny... the other 3 times pretty thick to where I thought the bottle was clogged up; it had a normal consistency before as I recall. These products had only been used once or twice and had been stored in a cabinet where no moisture or light could affect them though. As far as I can tell, they haven't had an adverse effect on my hair.

[lapushka]

If my conditioner/shampoo is pretty old, I make a note to shake the bottle well. That's done to any bottle before a wash anyway!

[truepeacenik]

I buy a gallon every year or two. Since I have gone to a heavy dilution, I'm looking at three years on this gallon.

This thread has me thinking about storing the in use bottle in the fridge in warm months. It is 4 oz shampoo to 12 oz water.