Alcohol Checker
Paste your product's ingredient list below to check for good vs bad alcohols.
What is Alcohol Checker?
Alcohol Checker is a free online tool that analyzes your hair product's ingredient list to identify alcohols. It distinguishes between drying alcohols (bad for hair) and fatty alcohols (good for hair).
Understanding the difference between these two types of alcohols is crucial for maintaining healthy, moisturized hair.
Are all alcohols bad for hair?
No! This is a common misconception. There are two types of alcohols in hair products with very different effects:
Drying Alcohols (Bad)
Evaporate quickly, strip moisture, cause dryness and frizz
Fatty Alcohols (Good)
Moisturize, soften, and condition hair
What are drying alcohols?
Drying alcohols are short-chain alcohols that evaporate quickly, taking moisture with them. They're often used to help products dry faster or to degrease hair.
Drying Alcohols to Avoid:
- • Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol)
- • SD Alcohol / SD Alcohol 40
- • Alcohol Denat (Denatured Alcohol)
- • Ethanol / Ethyl Alcohol
- • Propanol / Propyl Alcohol
- • Benzyl Alcohol (in high amounts)
What are fatty alcohols?
Fatty alcohols are long-chain alcohols derived from natural fats and oils. They act as emollients, emulsifiers, and thickeners, adding moisture and slip to hair products.
Beneficial Fatty Alcohols:
- • Cetyl Alcohol
- • Cetearyl Alcohol
- • Stearyl Alcohol
- • Behenyl Alcohol
- • Myristyl Alcohol
- • Lauryl Alcohol
Good vs bad alcohols in hair products
Not all alcohols are created equal. Drying alcohols (short-chain: isopropyl, denatured, ethanol) evaporate fast and strip moisture. Fatty alcohols (long-chain: cetyl, cetearyl, stearyl) actually moisturize and soften hair. The key is knowing which is which — and that's what our checker does.
If you're looking for a shampoo completely free of drying alcohols, try our alcohol-free shampoo finder. For a full ingredient breakdown, use the ingredient checker.
Why drying alcohols damage hair
Drying alcohols evaporate quickly, pulling moisture from the hair shaft as they do. Over time, this leads to brittle, frizzy strands prone to breakage. They're especially harmful for curly hair, high porosity hair, and color-treated hair. Check for sulfates and parabens too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check for Other Ingredients
Use our other ingredient checkers to make sure your products are safe for your hair type.
Find your routine: curly hair · wavy hair · high porosity · low porosity · thinning hair