5 HEALTHY SHAMPOOS YOUR HAIR WILL LOVE
I am an avid co-washer and have been for many years, but after speaking with a friend who was new to some of the natural hair care concepts that I have been bolstering for years now, I realised there is a gap is knowledge for some people. Co-washing seemed like a big step for my friend, so I also mentioned that there are also much gentler shampoos available made especially with great ingredients that care for our hair. Then I thought, why not share this information with the masses too! So here we are!
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
Let start with some ingredients that may very well be in your current shampoo (yikes!) that you really ought to avoid (say whaaatt?). Some of these ingredients are scientifically proven to be bad for your health, and some are more detrimental to your curly hair:
Sulfates
These are surfactants or cleansing agents and are what produces the foaming action in your shampoo. Sulfates produce the foam that we are so used to with cleaning products. It traps the oil and dirt to remove it from your hair. Sulfate-free shampoos will produce little or no lather for this reason. Two of the most common sulphates are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Both are known to be harsh cleansers that strip hair of it's natural oils and can cause irritation to the scalp. Avoid these where you can and look for surfactants which are sulfate-free and use gentler alternatives.
Parabens
These are added to shampoos as a preservative to add to its shelf life. Even though parabens are known to have some antibacterial properties, they are easily absorbed through the skin and travel through the bloodstream, and can therefore affect some bodily systems. They are known to mimic oestrogen which could affect the estrogen levels in the body and affect breast cell tissue growth. Parabens can also affect the endocrine system, which manages the hormone levels in our bodies. Finally, it can cause dermatitis, redness, itching and other skin related conditions for people with sensitivities. Again, it would be sensible to source a shampoo that is paraben-free.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives (FRPs) are another type of preservative frequently used in shampoos and other hair care products to prolong shelf life. Formaldehyde is considered by many experts and government bodies to be carcinogenic in humans, and are banned from use in certain countries. They are also proven to cause or worsen skin conditions like dermatitis.
Polyethylene Glyols (PEGs)
PEGs have various uses in shampoo and can be used as a thickening agent, stabiliser or emulsifier within cosmetics. They are derived from petroleum and other materials, where the process to produce PEGS are known to also produce toxic byproducts, which can lead to contamination. Fundamentally it's best to avoid petroleum based products where you can - it's a no-no from our perspective. Finally, PEGs can strip your hair of moisture which in turn will lead to brittleness and breakage.
Dimethicone
This is a silicone product which is added to shampoos (and other hair care products) to coat the hair shaft to act as a type of protector. The aim of silicones is to mimic healthy hair by causing the hair to shine as it is coated with the product. However, by doing so, silicones block and prevent moisture and nutrients penetrating the hair shaft, and instead it attracts dirt and residue weighing down the hair, and over time, causing it to look limp and lifeless. This then contributes to product build up on the hair, which then requires strong cleansers to remove it, encouraging the cycle of dry, brittle hair.
5 HEALTHY SHAMPOOS
Here are 5 natural shampoos which will still result in the cleansing you are looking for, while also being kind to your tresses, and your body! If you are interested in conditioner washing, for even more gentleness, you can read more about it in our blog.
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