Benzene in Dry Shampoo: The Recalls, What Caused Them, and How to Check Your Products

Between 2021 and 2022, some of the biggest names in hair care pulled aerosol dry shampoos from U.S. shelves because of benzene, a chemical linked to cancer. Lawsuits followed, and years later many people still aren't sure whether their dry shampoo is safe. Here's the verified timeline and a practical way to check what's in your cabinet or on your salon shelf.

Quick answer

  • Procter & Gamble recalled aerosol dry shampoos and dry conditioners on December 17, 2021. Unilever recalled aerosol dry shampoos on October 18, 2022 (FDA: P&G; FDA: Unilever).
  • Benzene wasn't an ingredient. The companies traced it to the propellant that sprays product out of the can.
  • Both companies said they had received no adverse event reports, and that daily exposure at the levels detected would not be expected to cause health problems.
  • Independent lab testing in 2022 found benzene in many batches across many brands, with levels that varied widely (Valisure).
  • To check: compare production codes or UPCs with the recall lists, and look at when you bought the product.

What is benzene, and why does it matter?

Benzene is an industrial chemical also found in car exhaust and cigarette smoke. It's classified as a known human carcinogen, and long-term exposure is linked to leukemia and other blood disorders. As the recalls themselves note, it can be absorbed by breathing it in, swallowing it, or through the skin (Unilever recall notice via FDA). Risk depends on how much and how long. A trace in a product is not the same as heavy workplace exposure, which is why recalls and cancer lawsuits are separate questions.

Timeline: the dry shampoo recalls

November 2021: antiperspirant sprays first

Before dry shampoo, P&G recalled certain Old Spice and Secret aerosol antiperspirants and body sprays over benzene in November 2021 (Cosmetics & Toiletries).

December 17, 2021: P&G dry shampoo and dry conditioner

P&G voluntarily recalled U.S.-made aerosol dry shampoo and dry conditioner sprays under Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences, Waterless, Old Spice and Hair Food, roughly two dozen products in total. The company said "unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can" (FDA-posted announcement).

  • How to check: the first four digits of the production code on the bottom of the can tell you whether it's included. P&G published code ranges for each product.
  • Reimbursement: through brand websites or P&G consumer care (1-888-674-3631, per the notice). Programs may have ended, so check the brand page for current status.

March–April 2022: Suave antiperspirants

Unilever recalled two Suave 24-Hour Protection aerosol antiperspirants over "slightly elevated levels" of benzene (Unilever; NPR, April 1, 2022). It wasn't a hair product, but it's part of the same propellant story.

October 18, 2022: Unilever dry shampoos

Unilever voluntarily recalled select aerosol dry shampoos made before October 2021 under Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head) and TRESemmé. The company again traced the elevated benzene to the propellant (FDA-posted announcement).

  • How to check: match the UPC against Unilever's recall list (UnileverRecall.com, per the notice).
  • Reimbursement: through that site or (877) 270-7412, per the original notice.

Note: Some articles describe a "2021 Unilever dry shampoo recall." The dry shampoo recall was in October 2022 and covered products made before October 2021.

The independent testing: Valisure's petition

On November 1, 2022, Valisure, a commercial testing lab, published results and filed a citizen petition asking FDA to act. It reported (Valisure; petition document):

  • 148 batches from 34 brands tested.
  • 103 batches (about 70%) had detectable benzene.
  • 11 batches from 3 brands were above 20 parts per million (ppm), and 3 batches were above 100 ppm.
  • Levels varied greatly between batches, and even between sprays from the same can.

Poison Control noted that some samples from brands including Not Your Mother's, Sun Bum, OGX, Batiste and Paul Mitchell tested positive, while other samples from the same brands did not. It also said "there is no evidence that occasional use of dry shampoo is harmful" (Poison Control).

Keep in mind: Valisure's results are one lab's findings, not FDA determinations. A positive batch doesn't mean every can of that brand is contaminated. As of September 2026, we could not confirm a final FDA response to the petition.

Lawsuits: what settled, and what that does and doesn't mean

  • Batiste (Church & Dwight): a class settlement worth $2.5 million in cash plus up to $600,000 in vouchers received final approval on October 18, 2023 in federal court in Illinois. The company denied wrongdoing and agreed to source propellant with no more than 2 ppm benzene (AboutLawsuits).
  • Paul Mitchell: a class case was reportedly dismissed in September 2024 because plaintiffs couldn't link the bottles they bought to contaminated batches (Lawsuit Information Center).
  • Unilever: a proposed $3.625 million consumer class settlement was reportedly denied preliminary approval without prejudice in February 2026, with the judge questioning whether the class and product list matched the contamination evidence (Lawsuit Information Center, August 2026). Source note: this is a plaintiffs' law-firm site. Check court dockets for current status.

These are mostly economic refund cases. Settlements are not findings that any product caused cancer.

How to check your products: step by step

  1. Find the product type. The recalls involved aerosol (spray-can) dry shampoos and dry conditioners, not powders or foams.
  2. Check the brand and date. P&G's recall covered specific production codes. Unilever's covered products made before October 2021. A can bought recently is unlikely to be old recalled stock, but check anyway.
  3. Read the code. For P&G, find the production code on the can bottom and compare the first four digits with the brand's recall table. For Unilever, compare the UPC barcode number with the recall list.
  4. Search FDA's recall database. FDA posts company recall announcements at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts.
  5. If it's recalled, stop using it. Follow the company's disposal and reimbursement instructions. Don't puncture or burn aerosol cans.
  6. Worried about symptoms or exposure? Talk to your doctor, or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control).

Lower-exposure habits (for anyone who uses aerosols)

  • Spray in a well-ventilated area, and avoid breathing in the mist.
  • Consider powder or non-aerosol dry shampoos if you're concerned.
  • Salons and barbershops that use aerosol stylers all day should prioritize ventilation and extraction, since staff exposure adds up far beyond a customer's.
  • Store aerosols away from heat, and keep stock rotated.

Why regulation changed after this

In 2022, Congress passed the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), which gave FDA mandatory recall authority over cosmetics and required serious adverse event reporting (FDA). The 2021–2022 recalls were voluntary. There's still no specific U.S. benzene limit for cosmetics. FDA's 2 ppm benzene limit, which applies where benzene use is unavoidable, is drug guidance (FDA drug FAQ).

What we don't know yet

  • Whether FDA formally answered Valisure's dry shampoo petition.
  • How widely propellant suppliers now test for benzene across the whole industry.
  • The real-world exposure from typical use. Levels varied a lot even within one can.
  • We didn't find additional dry shampoo benzene recalls after October 2022 during our research, but recalls can happen at any time. Always check FDA's database.

FAQ

Is dry shampoo safe to use now? The recalled products were specific batches. Poison Control says there's no evidence occasional use is harmful. If you're concerned, use it in ventilated spaces or choose non-aerosol formats.

Was benzene an ingredient in dry shampoo? No. Companies said it came from contaminated propellant gases.

Which dry shampoos were recalled? P&G (December 2021): Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences, Waterless, Old Spice and Hair Food aerosol dry shampoos and conditioners. Unilever (October 2022): Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI Rockaholic and Bed Head, and TRESemmé aerosol dry shampoos made before October 2021.

Did Batiste get recalled? We could not confirm a formal Batiste recall in FDA's records. Batiste's maker settled a class action without admitting wrongdoing.

Can I get a refund? Reimbursement programs were set up at the time. Check the brand's recall page for whether they're still open.

This article is for general information and isn't medical or legal advice. If you have health concerns about exposure, talk with a doctor.

Sources