Methylisothiazolinone (MI or MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI or MCIT) are two preservatives used in hair care and other personal care products.
Preservatives help keep people safe by preventing the growth of bacteria and mold in products.
HOW MI & MCI WORK
Both MI and MCI are effective preservatives that are commonly used in personal care products. They have several useful properties:
- Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone contain antibacterial and antifungal properties that help control/prevent microbial growth in water-containing solutions such as shampoos, conditioners, or creams.
Together, these preservatives help ensure that shampoo, conditioner, and other personal care products remain safe and effective throughout their shelf life.
MI, MCI & YOUR HEALTH
Like many preservatives, MI and MCI have been subject to some scrutiny due to their allergenic potential. It’s important to note that these concerns relate to the use of leave-on products like skin creams and sunscreens, and not in rinse-off products such as shampoos or conditioners, which are washed off and diluted with use. Nevertheless, leading authorities established guidelines for safe use ranges for rinse-off products. These guidelines were published in 2021*.
HOW H&S USES MI & MCI
Most Head & Shoulders products, including H&S Classic Clean, H&S Clinical Strength, and H&S BARE, do not use MI/MIT or MCI/MCIT. However, the limited set of H&S products that do use these preservatives do so in compliance with guidelines published by leading safety authorities*.
Click here for more information on MI/MIT and MCI/MCIT.
*Burnett et al. International Journal of Toxicology, 2021, Vol. 40 (Supplement 1) 20S–33S
