Do Hair Products Expire? Reading the Open Jar Symbol
Yes, hair products do expire, though most do not have a printed “use by” date. Instead, look for a small open jar icon with a number and the letter M, such as 6M or 12M. That is the period after opening: how many months the product is expected to stay safe and work properly once you have opened it. Products with a shorter overall shelf life carry a “best before” date or an hourglass symbol instead. As a rough guide, shampoos and conditioners last around 12 months once opened, clays, waxes and pomades 12 to 24 months, and natural beard oils 6 to 12 months. Any change in smell, colour or texture means it is time to bin it.
Most men keep a styling product until the tin is empty, however long that takes. Usually that is fine. Sometimes it is why the product has stopped working.
The symbols, explained
The open jar (period after opening)
A small drawing of a jar with its lid off, with a number such as 6M, 12M or 24M either inside it or beside it. This is the number of months the product should be used within after first opening. Under the cosmetics rules that apply in the UK, products that last longer than 30 months unopened generally carry this symbol rather than a date.
The hourglass or “best before end of”
Products expected to last less than 30 months must show a date of minimum durability, often marked with a small hourglass or the words “best before end of”. After that date, the product may not perform as intended even if it has never been opened.
No symbol at all
Some single-use items, aerosols and products with no meaningful risk of deterioration are exempt. If an ordinary jar or bottle has neither a date nor a symbol, treat it with a little caution, particularly if bought from an unfamiliar online seller.
The government guidance on cosmetic products in Great Britain sets out the labelling rules manufacturers follow.
Why products go off
- Preservatives weaken. Anything containing water needs preservatives to stop bacteria and mould. Over time, and with every opening, they work less well.
- Oils oxidise. Natural plant oils in beard oils, balms and some pomades react with air and turn rancid. You can usually smell it.
- Contamination. Every time you scoop clay with your fingers you introduce bacteria. In a warm, steamy bathroom, that adds up.
- Separation and drying. Water evaporates from pots left with loose lids. Emulsions separate. Hold and texture change.
How long common products last once opened
Always follow the symbol on your product first. Where there is none, these are reasonable rules of thumb.
| Product | Typical life once opened | Signs it has gone |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo and conditioner | 12 months or so | Watery, separated, sour smell |
| Water-based pomade, gel | 12 months or so | Dried out, stringy, loses hold |
| Clay, paste, wax | 12 to 24 months | Hard, crumbly, grainy, odd smell |
| Oil-based pomade | Often 24 months | Rancid or crayon-like smell |
| Beard oil (natural oils) | 6 to 12 months | Sharp, stale or paint-like smell |
| Beard balm | 12 months or so | Grainy texture, stale smell |
| Sea salt and texture sprays | 12 months or so | Cloudy, clogged nozzle |
Six signs to throw a product away
- The smell has changed. Sour, sharp, musty or like old crayons. This is the most reliable sign.
- The colour has shifted, often yellowing or darkening.
- The texture is wrong. Separated layers, lumps, a grainy feel in what used to be smooth, or a hard crust.
- It no longer performs. A clay that used to hold all day now drops by lunchtime.
- Your scalp or skin reacts with itching, spots or redness after a product you have used for months.
- There is visible mould or anything growing on the surface. Bin it immediately.
If irritation continues after you stop using a product, see a pharmacist or your GP. The NHS page on contact dermatitis explains what a reaction looks like.
How to make products last
- Store them out of the shower. Heat and steam speed up deterioration. A cupboard or bedroom shelf is better.
- Close lids properly after every use.
- Use clean, dry fingers, or a small spatula for jars.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight, especially oils in clear bottles.
- Write the opening month on the base with a marker. It is the only way you will remember.
- Do not add water to stretch a drying product. It dilutes the preservatives and invites bacteria.
Buying sensibly
If you use a tiny amount of clay a day, a large tub may outlast its useful life. Smaller sizes often make more sense. Our guide to how much hair product to use will help you estimate how long a tin really lasts, and our guide to clay, wax, pomade and paste will help you pick the right one in the first place.
Old or unsuitable product also makes a cut look worse than it is. A good cut needs the right product, in the right amount, applied the right way. Every visit to Highgate Cuts begins with an assessment, where the barber looks at your hair and what you need and makes recommendations, and that includes what you are putting in it at home. Bring the tin if you are unsure.
Questions we get asked
Is it dangerous to use expired hair products?
Usually the main problem is that they work less well. Products that smell off, have changed texture or show mould can irritate skin and should be thrown away.
Do unopened hair products expire?
Yes, eventually, though most last a few years sealed if stored somewhere cool and dry. Check for a best before date.
What does 12M mean on shampoo?
Use it within 12 months of opening it for the first time.
Can I bring my products to my appointment?
Yes. The Highgate Cuts team is happy to look at what you use and suggest changes. Email us to book a haircut in Highgate.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
