Does Shampoo Expire? [Risks Of Using Expired Shampoo]

Are you wanting to know does shampoo expire? Do you have a half-used bottle of shampoo in your shower, and you’re worrying what would happen to your hair if you were to use an expired bottle of shampoo?

Keep on reading to find out the expiration dates for hair products like shampoo, and how you can prolong the shelf life of your shampoo. 

Why Do Hair Products Have Expiration Dates?

All beauty products have a shelf life, rather than an expiration date that you’d usually see on food or drink items.

Beauty products don’t have a specific expiration date on them (like you’d see on a packet of chips), but they have shelf life indicators, which are there to ensure both safety and effectiveness.

All beauty product formulas degrade over time, after they’ve been opened, even after clothing the lid.

Hair product manufacturers test their products during development, to decide on the shelf life.

You will see a “PAO” symbol (period after opening) on all beauty products, which looks like a jar with a lid half off.

This is where it’ll tell you how long the product is good for, after you’ve opened the product. 

Using expired hair care products can expose you to bacteria or mold, especially in water-based formulations, and you definitely don’t want to be using any beauty products that have mold growth or bacteria. 

Does Shampoo Expire?

Yes, shampoo does expire, and as a rule, unopened (new) shampoo bottles will have a shelf life of 2 to 4 years.

An opened bottle of shampoo will last between 6 months and 2 years, depending on the formula.

Natural and organic shampoos use natural preservatives, and that means they’ll have shorter expiration dates.

Always check for the “PAO” symbol on the back of the bottle (as I mentioned above), and you’ll usually see a time frame between 6M and 24M.

You could use a Sharpie pen and jot on the back of your bottle/tube the month you opened a product, so you can keep tabs on when you did first open it. 

Signs To Look Out For When Your Shampoo Has Expired

If you’re not following the “PAO” symbol guideline on the back of the bottle, you need to be looking for signs the formula has gone bad.

Like separation, discoloration, or lumps, as these suggest that the shampoo formula has expired, and is no longer safe to use.  

Also check the smell, if it changes, or has a milder or rancid smell, that’s another sign of expiration.

If your shampoo doesn’t lather as well as it used to, the formula may have also expired.

Tips To Prolong The Shelf Life Of Your Shampoos

Ensure you store your bottles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Always tightly close lids and caps, to minimize moisture exposure and contamination, especially in a bathroom. 

You could opt for tubes or pump bottles for your shampoo, instead of open containers, as they tend to limit the air exposure to the formula.

As I mentioned above, regularly check the expiration date or the period after opening (PAO) indicators on the packaging, and throw away any products that are showing signs of spoilage, like odors or discoloration.

Lastly, never add water or other products to the formula, as this can actually introduce bacteria and compromise the product’s stability (aka shelf life).