Men and women alike, healthy hair can be an important source of self-confidence. In some cases, your hair might even be your most prized accessory. That’s why taking good care of your hair and scalp is so important, and the first step to maintaining beautiful, shiny hair is your washing routine.
Some people, typically those with an oily scalp or who engage in physical activity often, prefer to wash their hair every other day or even every day. If your scalp tends to lean toward the dry side, washing your hair twice or even once a week can do the trick. Different hair washing schedules can work for different people depending on their needs, but in order to prevent hair damage and even hair loss, the details that everyone should be paying attention to are the ingredients in their products.
Harmful Shampoo and Conditioner Ingredients: Can They Cause Hair Loss?
First and foremost, not every substance referred to as a “chemical” is harmful. In fact, there are chemical compounds contained in all kinds of everyday items, from the products we put on our head to the medications we take to the foods we eat. Many of these safe chemicals even have long, unfamiliar scientific names. Therefore, just because you can’t pronounce every ingredient in your shampoo and conditioner doesn’t necessarily mean it’s causing hair loss or damage to your scalp.
However, there are several ingredients commonly used in hair products that can have negative effects on hair health and even cause hair loss. Make sure to read the back of your shampoo and conditioner bottles closely and, if possible, get ready to shop for a new brand.
As far as the ingredients that should be included in your hair care products, vitamin E, vitamin B5, keratin, and collagen amino acids can improve hair health overall in addition to preventing hair loss. Plus, utilizing products with DHT blockers, such as DHT-blocking shampoo, can slow the progression of genetic hair loss as well as hair loss caused by harmful chemicals.
Top Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Wash Products:
Sodium lauryl sulfate.
Also known as SLS, this compound is commonly used in hair products because it creates that nice soapy lather we’ve come to equate with cleanliness. It also reacts to water and natural hair oils in a way that makes it a very efficient cleansing agent.
Despite its perks, SLS actually leads to dryer, thinner hair over time due to its tendency to break down the natural oils found on the scalp and the hair shafts. This makes hair more prone to breakage as its connection to its follicles is weakened.
Chemical fragrances.
This type of additive can go by multiple names; however, most ingredient lists will make it clear when certain compounds have been added for the sake of “fragrance.”
Both women and men prefer to use hair care products that smell good, and often even base their decision of shampoo and conditioner on what the products smell like.
Avoiding chemical fragrances is very important because these compounds are known to cause hormonal imbalances in users. Not only can hormonal imbalances cause unwanted symptoms like mood swings, weight fluctuations, and decreased energy, they can inhibit hair’s natural growth cycle, leading to hair loss in many cases.
Parabens.
Parabens are an extremely common type of preservative often used in hair care products, and the word “paraben” is usually disguised in longer terms such as methylparaben and propylparaben within lists of ingredients. Similarly to chemical fragrances, this compound can affect hormonal balances in men and women alike.
Additionally, parabens have been linked to serious health concerns including breast cancer. If your current hair care products contain any type of paraben, you might want to replace them with all-natural alternatives free of preservatives.
Diethanolamine.
Commonly shortened to DEA, this chemical is used often in hair washing products and other cosmetics because it creates a luscious creamy texture. Even though DEA is a known carcinogen, many hair product companies continue to use it for its textural properties.
DEA is known as one of the more dangerous chemicals commonly used in hair care and should be avoided if possible. It can irritate your scalp and affect health in a variety of ways, including stalled hair growth and hair loss.
Phenoxyethanol.
You may recognize the second half of this compound term, “ethanol,” as one of the materials used in gasoline. If you’re thinking it can’t be healthy to have chemically similar compounds in your shampoo and running your car, you’re right—phenoxyethanol, though it works powerfully as a fragrance and preservative, causes serious skin, eye, and lung irritation, drastically increasing your risk of hair loss.