What Is Resorcinol?
Resorcinol is used in oxidative hair dyes. The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety calls it a strong sensitiser, and in 2010 said its use in oxidative hair dyes at a maximum on-head concentration of 1.25 percent will not pose a risk to consumer health, apart from its sensitising potential.
In a 2021 opinion that weighed evidence on endocrine disrupting properties, the committee said its assessment shows resorcinol is safe when used as an oxidative hair dye in products for hair and eyelashes up to 1.25 percent, and up to 0.5 percent in hair lotions and shampoos. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1197/2013, applying from July 11, 2013, lists resorcinol as a hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products, with the maximum concentration applied to hair after mixing set at 1.25 percent.
For workplace exposure, the NIOSH Pocket Guide lists symptoms including irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat and upper respiratory system, methemoglobinemia, cyanosis, convulsions, dizziness, drowsiness and dermatitis.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceIn 2010 the SCCS called resorcinol a strong sensitiser and said its use in oxidative hair dyes at up to 1.25 percent on-head will not pose a risk to consumer health, apart from its sensitising potential. EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety ↗
- Government sourceIn 2021 the SCCS said, considering endocrine disrupting evidence, that resorcinol is safe as an oxidative hair dye up to 1.25 percent and up to 0.5 percent in hair lotions and shampoos. EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety ↗
- Regulatory filingRegulation (EU) No 1197/2013, applying from July 11, 2013, lists resorcinol as a hair dye substance in oxidative hair dyes with a maximum applied concentration of 1.25 percent after mixing. European Commission, Regulation (EU) No 1197/2013, via web.archive.org ↗
- Government sourceThe NIOSH Pocket Guide lists resorcinol exposure symptoms including irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and throat, methemoglobinemia, cyanosis, convulsions, dizziness, drowsiness and dermatitis. NIOSH, CDC ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.