With the rise of the natural hair movement, women have become increasingly conscious of what they use on their hair. That’s why reading ingredient lists of hair products is so important. Not every product labelled ‘natural’ is good for you. Some may contain harmful compounds as explained below.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Sometimes listed as Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate. It’s used to create foam in shampoos. The problem is that they strip natural oils from the scalp and hair, resulting in dryness. Using sulphate shampoo often leads to hair damage, brittle strands and allergic reactions if you have sensitive skin.
Parabens
These are preservatives that prevent bacteria from growing in shampoos. They’re absorbed by the scalp and have been linked to increased growth of breast cancer cells.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl betaine is found in most shampoos (even the ones claiming to be natural) as a foam booster. It causes rosacea, skin irritation, allergy and eczema.
Formaldehyde
This is used as a preservative in many hair products. It has been proven to cause liver toxicity, cancer and gastrointestinal problems.
Dimethicone
Dimethicone is plastic that’s used in numerous hair products to makes hair look shiny. Unfortunately, it contributes to product buildup that makes your hair feel greasy. It weighs down your hair, making it heavy, limp and lifeless. In addition it stops moisture and nutrients from being absorbed by the strands since it sits on top of the hair.
Alcohols
Certain types of alcohols make the hair dry. Watch out for those that have ‘prop’ in the name, such as isopropyl alcohol and propanol. However, other alcohols like cetearyl alcohol and stearyl acohol aid your hair in moisture retention.
Synthetic Fragrances
Most products that contain these fragrances contain many hidden chemicals which irritate the scalp, cause hair loss, mess up reproductive systems, cause cancer and asthma.
