Just like everything else that's man made on this planet, believe it or not your hair products also have an expiration date. Unfortunately, there isn't a "use by" date printed on the labels of many hair products so you'll have to use your senses and your sound judgment to decide when its time to toss your beloved stash of hair goodies.
Below are four tips to help you decide when its time to hold, and when its time to fold.
A Distinct Change in Odor
If your hair products are starting to smell rancid or moldy then it's definitely time to toss. Something I've noticed about my hair products when they start to go bad is that the fragrance will totally disappear and in some cases, there is a distinct chemical smell as some of the hair products start to spoil. I don't think it would be wise to use these products on your hair, and you should probably throw them out immediately.
Substantial Change in Appearance or Consistency of the Product
For most natural hair products, a natural separation of the ingredients may usually occur. There may be hair products in your stash that you've been holding on to for several months that have started to separate. If you not only notice a substantial separation of the oils, colors and/or a change in consistency, it may be time to toss them.
The Product was Stored Incorrectly
When a product spoils fast, sometimes its because the item wasn't stored correctly. Some products recommend that you store them in a cool, dry area and some may even need to be refrigerated. Although it may seem practical to leave hair products such as shampoos, conditioners and detanglers in the shower for convenience, the constant heat and humidity from the shower could breed bacteria growth.
Product has Exceeded Shelf Life Recommendations
Keep in mind that most products that use all-natural and organic ingredients will tend to have a shorter shelf life than those that contain synthetics. When in doubt, follow the recommended shelf life listed on the label, or you can contact the company to inquire of expiration dates.
How do you determine when it's time to toss your hair products?
