GoodSwap Get notified

Beauty ingredient · Hair colorant

Lead acetate

CAS
301-04-2

A lead compound once used in progressive hair dyes for men.

  • Heavy metal compound
  • Expert review pending
Very high concern Level 4 of 4 How concern levels work

Banned or revoked by a major regulator, or classified by IARC as Group 1 or 2A at relevant exposure. The concern level sets how many points lead acetate costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Heavy metalRegulatory

    The FDA no longer allows lead acetate in hair dyes (effective January 6, 2022); lead compounds are prohibited in EU and Canadian cosmetics; Prop 65 lists lead acetate (cancer). [1][2][3][4]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
United States Authorization revoked Color-additive listing for hair dyes terminated (rule effective January 6, 2022). Jan 6, 2022 [1]
European Union Banned Prohibited in cosmetic products (Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). (entry 289, lead and its compounds). — [2]
Canada Banned Prohibited on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. — [3]
Washington State (US) Banned Intentionally added lead not allowed in cosmetics from January 1, 2025. Jan 1, 2025 [5]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (4)
  • lead
  • lead acetate
  • lead compounds
  • plumbous acetate

Sources

  1. Termination of Listing of Color Additives Exempt From Certification; Lead Acetate (86 FR 56183)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Oct 8, 2021 · Law

    “we are amending the color additive regulations to no longer provide for the safe use of lead acetate in cosmetics intended for coloring hair on the scalp.”

    federalregister.gov

  2. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 30, 2009 · Law

    “cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  3. Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: prohibited and restricted ingredients

    Health Canada · Aug 13, 2025 · Regulator

    “The following ingredients are only permitted in cosmetic products under the conditions of use specified below:”

    canada.ca

  4. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

  5. Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 70A.560 (Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act)

    Washington State Legislature · Law

    “(a) Ortho-phthalates; (b) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; (c) Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) and chemicals determined by the department to release formaldehyde;”

    app.leg.wa.gov