A plain bottle with its cap set aside on a shaded stone shelf

Does shampoo expire?

Shelf life, expiration dates, and storage, per the FDA.

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It does not change our guidance. Affiliate Disclosure

No required date for cosmetics

The FDA says "there are no U.S. laws or regulations that require cosmetics to have specific shelf lives or have expiration dates on their labels." The FDA says manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products are safe, and it considers determining shelf life part of that responsibility.

What shelf life means

The FDA says shelf life generally means the length of time you can expect a product to look and act as expected and to stay safe for use, and that it varies with the type of product, how it is used, and how it is stored.

What shortens it

The FDA says preservatives can break down over time, emulsions of water and oil can separate, moisture such as in a bathroom may make it easier for bacteria and fungi to grow, and temperature changes, sunlight, and air can change color and texture and may cause products to smell.

Storage

The FDA says not to leave cosmetics where they are exposed to heat, such as in a hot car, because heat can make preservatives break down and cause bacteria and fungi to grow faster. The FDA also says to keep containers and applicators clean.

Antidandruff shampoos are different

The FDA says drugs, including products that are both drugs and cosmetics, must be tested for stability and are required to have expiration dates printed on their labels. It says an antidandruff shampoo is both a cosmetic and a drug.

If a product changes

The FDA asks people to tell it about a problem with a cosmetic product, such as a bad smell, color change, or other signs of contamination. We have no source that gives a time limit for shampoo.

Sources: FDA, Shelf Life and Expiration Dating of Cosmetics; FDA, Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?); FDA, How to Report a Cosmetic Product Related Complaint.

FAQ

How long does an opened shampoo last?

We have no source that gives a time for shampoo. The FDA says shelf life varies with the type of product, how it is used, and how it is stored.

Should I buy resold shampoo?

The FDA says to be wary of products offered for sale in flea markets or resold over the Internet, which may be past their shelf life, already used, diluted, or tampered with.

General information, not medical advice. Follow the label. We suggest testing a new hair product on a small patch of skin first. Keep it out of your eyes, and stop use if irritation occurs. For hair dye, the FDA says to do a patch test every time and never to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. See a doctor or dermatologist about scalp problems or hair loss.

A plain bottle, a blank ivory carton, and a brass magnifying glass on stone

Reading a shampoo label

Order, colors, fragrance.

A frosted glass bottle and a plain white bottle standing on a stone ledge

Is shampoo a cosmetic or a drug?

The claim sets the rules.

A white tube and rolled towel beside a clear unlabeled glass dish of pale lilac liquid

How to use purple shampoo

Label first, then the basics.

Next: reading labels