9 Ingredients in Your Shampoo That Could Be Destroying Your Precious Hair ...

Does your crowning glory look more like the booby prize? Constantly having a bad hair day can leave your spirits feeling just as limp as your locks. But the problem could have a simple explanation: it's the ingredients in your shampoo. Some of the most common ingredients are not hair-friendly. So if every days is Bad Hair Day, try avoiding these common culprits …

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1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

You'll see SLS as one of the main ingredients in many shampoos (it's what makes them lather). However, it's a strong detergent that will strip essential oils from your scalp. Also avoid ammonium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which will have a similar effect.

2. Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA)

Do you have scalp problems or allergies? These nasty chemicals could be to blame. They can irritate your scalp and leave your hair dry and brittle. Who wants hair like that? So look for a shampoo that doesn't contain either one.

Frequently asked questions

3. Formaldehyde

Yes, the stuff they use to preserve the dear departed is also used to preserve your shampoo! It's another potential allergen and even a potential allergen. So it's best avoided and not put anywhere near your skin.

4. Parabens

Without preservatives, a shampoo wouldn't keep for very long. Parabens are substances intended to extend the shelf life of a shampoo, but there's a question mark over their safety. They may disrupt your hormone balance and cause irritation.

5. Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone

When customers began to grow concerned about the safety of parabens, chemists created MI and MCI instead. However, a significant proportion of people are allergic to these chemicals (I'm one of them). And since they're now in many liquid products like shampoo and shower gel, it's a real nuisance having to avoid them.

6. Dimethicone

We all want a shampoo that leaves our hair glossy and smooth. Unfortunately, sometimes that's achieved with this ingredient. It's a synthetic polymer that coats the hair (hence the shiny effect), but may cause irritation - and even worse problems.

7. Propylene Glycol

Otherwise known as anti-freeze. Yes, the stuff that you put in your car may also be in your shampoo! But while your car may love it, it's bad news for your skin and may cause an allergic reaction. Spare your hair, and only put it in your car.

8. Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is a by-product of the oil industry: While it's not bad news for everyone, as a very high-quality grade is used in the cosmetic industry, it can drag your hair down. It's common in products for ethnic hair, so if you're having problems with your hair check if you're using a product containing it.

9. Alcohol

If alcohol is listed as one of the first few ingredients in a shampoo, avoid it. Too much alcohol in a shampoo can have a drying effect, as well as irritate your scalp. Who wants an itchy scalp and hair that's been stripped of its moisture?

So rather than looking for a miracle shampoo to solve your hair problems, consider that it may be your shampoo that's actually causing the issue in the first place! Look instead for a shampoo that doesn't contain these harmful ingredients and will be gentle on both your hair and skin. What hair problems drive you mad?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Do you know any shampoo or other product that make your hair grow fast ?

Don't use shampoo that much. It's all about the conditioner

Are there any specific hair products to use??? I have normal/fine hair that is to my hips. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I don't like sulphates in my shampoo because I'm so not into having sulphates in my shampoo

Parabens have been used for decades and only a handful of cases have ever been able to be linked, and even then it's just a "possibility that this could have caused it because we have no other clue on what really did" type of thing. They are in everything and don't change the look, feel or healthiness of your hair. You are not ingesting or rubbing it all over you and leaving it on anyway, that's what does real damage with most of these products.

I'm lazy.. Anybody able to find a brand that doesn't contain any of the listed ingredients?!

Some alcohols are ok/good for hair... Cetearyl, Cytyl and Stearyl are ok to use and have moisturizering/de-tangling properties. Dimethecone is ok as long as you don't let build up happen because of it, I use Abba Detox Shampoo to remove it weekly.

Thursday Plantation makes a terrific natural shampoo with tea tree oil. Never tried the companion conditioner though.

Avoid sulfates especially with dry hair. There's nothing that grows hair. For under 10$ a bottle the best ingredient wise I've found are the Loreal ever lines, there's 4 lines I believe for different hair types. Organix also is sulfate free, I personally only like the coconut milk one, but again they are each suited for different hair types. Treseme's natural line is good, all the conditioners in the brand are silicone free but the natural line is also sulfate free, though they are all gentle and have a very low percentage of sulfates. My absolute favorite is the body shops banana shampoo and conditioner. Just make sure before you switch brands, always use a clarifying shampoo as your first wash, then the next time use your new products. Switching products without getting rid of any build up or silicone left on the hair can cause the products to not work as well. Also when buying, just look at the ingredients on the shampoo, if the first three aren't sodium lauryl sulfate, then it's a good shampoo. Ingredients lists are by percentage, so if it's way low in the list it's not going to dry your hair out at all, and is just used to create the suds. Any shampoo that doesn't bubble and get foamy gas zero sulfates.

Is there a product you recommend @Alison ? Or anyone else know of any?

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