What is harmful and what is good for our hair? Are shampoos with sulfates really an absolute evil, and oils a blessing for our hair? Do we need conditioners and hair dryers with ionizers? We could have told our fortunes on the coffee grounds, but instead we decided to get the opinion of a person who really understands all these subtleties. Namely, a chemist!
So, our questions are answered Anastasia Shchelkunova, Master of Chemistry in chemical technology of biologically active compounds . Anastasia is currently introducing a drug for the diagnosis of malignant tumors. We took a moment to ask her questions about hair care that concern many girls.
Question 1. Everyone says that Lauryl Sulfate is harmful, but it is added literally everywhere: in shampoos and shower gels. How is it harmful to skin and hair?
Sodium lauryl sulfate is known to be a surfactant (surfactant). Basically, the surface of our skin is contaminated with oil secreted by the sweat and sebaceous glands. Fat does not dissolve in water, so it will not be possible to wash it off without the help of special products.
The surfactant molecule is an amphiphilic compound, that is, it has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. In simple terms, such molecules are able to interact with both water and non-polar molecules (such as fat). Without going into abstruse details, then, in essence, the process of washing your hair is the following: surfactant molecules interact with scalp fat, capture it, and then we safely wash it all off with water.
As for the issue of harmfulness, everything is ambiguous. At the global level, sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic and embryotoxic, therefore it will not lead to serious diseases and will not spoil heredity. At the everyday level, it naturally has an irritating effect, and the magnitude of this effect depends on the individual characteristics of each person. Some will react with severe allergies, others will not notice. The lower the surfactant concentration and the shorter the exposure time, the better and safer.
From myself: a smaller amount of shampoo, about a 5 ruble coin, lather and rinse with plenty of water. I personally gave up shower gels and use simple soap.
Question 2. Are shampoos without sulfates healthier than those with sulfates? or is this nonsense?
The issue of sulfates has been around for a long time. And here again there is no clear answer. In any case, you need to understand that any shampoo is a certain mixture of chemical compounds. And if one does not contain sulfates, it means there is something else. And you don't know what will suit your skin.
On a personal note: personally, I don’t like sulfate-free shampoos at all; my hair doesn’t look good, although I can’t say: I haven’t used all the products I have)))
Question 3. It turns out that washing your hair with household shampoo every day is a priori harmful?
Well, you can wash your hair every day, the only question is, is it necessary? If your hair doesn’t get greasy, then every other day is quite normal. But if your hair is greasy by the end of the day, then this is not very good. It's better to see a doctor. And, of course, use a specialized shampoo, since mass-available, let’s call them that, shampoos will clog the pores even more.
IN survey 4. Does lifestyle affect hair health? For example, we are city dwellers, here we have exhaust emissions and hard water, but in the villages will our hair be better?
Of course, lifestyle influences. And the environment has an impact. Because the body works as a single system, if there is a failure somewhere, it is reflected in the appearance first. But you should also not forget that you cannot increase the amount of hair using certain means. Only quality.
Question 5. Tips for softening water. We have very hard water, should we install filters?
Hard water really affects your scalp and therefore your hair. There are also filters against hardness; if it’s expensive, you can use boiled water.
Question 6: I can’t believe they add oils to hair shampoos and conditioners. But on my shampoos, Japanese camellia oil is included at the very end of the list. Did they really add it there?
As for adding oils to skin care products, whether they are in it or not is entirely a matter of the manufacturer’s conscience. But if they do exist, they are clearly synthetic, since it is simply impossible to use natural oils at the current scale of production. Unless in luxury cosmetics, that’s not a fact.
Question 7. The mysterious word “extract”. What is it and what do you eat it with?
The same goes for the word,extract. Everything that is in detergents, and care products too, are synthetic extracts. The properties of a substance obtained synthetically should not differ from the natural one. We buy vitamins in the fall and spring; they are also artificially obtained and not isolated from vegetables and fruits. There is no clear opinion on this matter.
Question 8. What can you say, as a chemist, about the benefits of vegetable oils for hair?
Purely theoretically, oils have a beneficial effect on both the scalp and hair. Oils create a film on the hair that helps retain water and nourish the skin. However, there are many subtleties here. Firstly, as I said, most of the oils that we buy are synthetic. Secondly, when using this or that oil, you should take into account the characteristics of your body. And thirdly, the correct use of oils is important. They must be used cleanly, separately from store-bought shampoos and masks, since, after all, these are chemicals, and no one can say how the substances may react. And oils have the ability to drag dirt into the pores, so first we cleanse them, then the oil, then cleanse again.
From myself: the best friends of hair so far, as far as I know, are eggs, bread, kefir, herbal decoctions.
In general, there is such a doctor, a trichologist. If there is a problem with your hair, you need to go to him and figure out what the reason is. Hair, like skin, must be treated from the inside.
Question 9. What are the benefits of using the balm?
Nowadays the choice of shampoos is so large that the balm cannot be considered as some kind of marketing ploy. All shampoos are formulated with different pH values, and the balm works to neutralize the effects of the shampoo. Let's just say that if the shampoo has an alkaline environment, then after using it the hair scales remain open. It is necessary to close these scales and remove any remaining shampoo from the hair. You can rinse your hair with a solution of lemon in water or use a conditioning balm. The same applies to acidic shampoos. Each company makes shampoo according to its own formula: the composition may be the same, but the ratio and concentration of the ‘ingredients’ are different, hence one brand of shampoo is suitable for some, and another for others.
Question 10. Shampoo for oily hair, for dry hair - what is the difference between them? By composition? And this beast is especially interesting: “Shampoo for hair that is oily at the roots and dry at the ends”
By the way, even the Internet is unable to explain the beast for both fatty and dry people. I think it’s a marketing ploy, or is it just a brilliantly smart shampoo that determines hair type and acts based on its analysis)))))
Question 11. It’s interesting to hear your opinion about hair dryers with ionizers - is this a scam? And if not, how do they work?
A hair dryer with an ionizer... I think it really works. The hair dryer itself is harmful to hair. It overheats it, dries it out, and since hair is essentially protein, exposure to high temperatures is detrimental to it. In addition, hair is capable of accumulating positive charges, causing it to become electrified. Ionic flow helps solve these problems: thanks to negatively charged ions, drops of moisture are crushed and absorbed by the hair, rather than evaporating. As a result, we have hair protection from overheating. Also, thanks to ionization, the hair is less electrified.
Question 12. Is it true that products for colored hair help “not wash away” the color from the hair? Or is this a marketing ploy?
I think that shampoos for colored hair actually strip the color out of your hair less. Or maybe they even secure it.
© Interviewed by Yulia Safonova
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Hello, my dear readers!
For a very long time I tried various hair care cosmetics: medicinal, professional, natural.
I followed a special diet and tried to figure out vitamins for hair.
And in the end, I came to the conclusion that I had wasted a huge amount of time, money, and even useful products, simply in vain.
I especially flew by with shampoos, buying something that simply could not solve my hair problems.
It’s only now that I finally figured out that 90% of all shampoos are just well-promoted marketing ploys.
Most of them cannot stop, enhance their growth and improve their general condition.
Which of them will be absolutely useless for your hair, what can replace shampoo with, and what should be included in a good hair shampoo.
From this article you will learn:
Composition of shampoo - components and their properties
So, first, let's figure out what shampoo consists of.
The main components of any shampoo:
- Base or detergent (Water and surfactant)
- Special agents that provide shampoo with its properties
- Preservatives to ensure long shelf life
- Ingredients that provide pH balance to shampoo
- Dyes, flavors, stabilizers, thickeners, etc.
Most often, when choosing a shampoo, we pay attention to point number two!
We carefully examine the label and see that the product contains ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamins, herbal extracts, fruit acids, pearl dust, collagen, etc.
It seems to us that with such a composition, the shampoo simply cannot be useless and will definitely make our hair soft, healthy, strong and shiny!
Alas, this is just another myth (same as) or another smart marketing ploy.
The main active components of any shampoo
Despite the fact that the shampoo label may say “Moisturizing shampoo with proteins, vitamins, rosemary oil, coconut oil and chamomile extract,” the main components of this and any other shampoo will be:
- The basis of the shampoo is a surfactant - a surfactant (detergent or surfactant) that forms foam and washes away dirt from the hair.
They occupy approximately 50% of the main composition of the shampoo, the remaining 50% is shared by dyes, thickeners, flavors, silicones, preservatives, and some other useful substances that you read about on the shampoo label.
Sulfate shampoo bases are the most harmful components of shampoo
Sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate is most often used as a surfactant in shampoos: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (or ammonium) (SLS and SLES), which can perfectly cleanse hair of grease and dirt and form a strong, thick foam.
But, these components have a very aggressive irritating effect on the scalp and an accumulative effect.
By constantly using such shampoos, you will turn your scalp into a very sensitive, dry and irritated scalp that will constantly itch, flake and secrete sebum in such quantities that you will have to wash your hair every day.
And thanks to all this, your hair will fall out in clumps and have a simply terrible appearance.
Good Basics
The following bases serve as a better and softer replacement for these surfactants:
- TEA Layril Sulfate (Triethanolamine Lauryl Sulfate),
- TEA (Triethanolamine),
- Cocamide DEA
- DEA-Cetyl phosphate,
- DEA Oleth-3 phosphate,
- Myristamide DEA
- Stearamide MEA
- Cocamide MEA,
- Lauramide DEA
- Linoleamide MEA,
- Oleamide DEA
- TEA-Lauryl Sulfate,
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate and sodium myristyl ether sulfate,
- Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
- Magnesium Laureth Sulfate,
- Coco Glucoside, Sodium Myreth Sulfate and sodium myristyl ether sulfate.
Shampoos with such bases can cause completely different reactions; what suits one person may cause dandruff and itching in another, or dry out the hair of a third.
But, by their nature, they can also irritate the skin, so I personally will not buy myself a shampoo with such bases.
In addition, I have already tested most of them on my own scalp, so if you have a dry and sensitive scalp, these foundations will not save you.
Best Basics
These usually include nonionic surfactants and/or amphoteric surfactants. As a rule, they are much more expensive than harmful cheap foundations.
They foam less strongly, unlike SLS, but perfectly restore the scalp, do not disturb its pH and do not cause irritation.
For myself, I have identified the following good shampoo bases and can confidently recommend them for use.
- Cocoamidopropyl Betaine
- Decyl Glucoside or decyl polyglucose
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
- Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
As a rule, such shampoos are difficult to find in regular household chemical stores or mass markets. You need to look for them in organic or professional cosmetics stores.
You will be very lucky if you find a shampoo consisting entirely of one of these bases or a complex of them.
Most often they are added as a second component to more aggressive bases to dilute them.
Brands of good shampoos with mild and healthy bases
To the brief description of each of these bases, I have added a link to a suitable shampoo that contains it.
- Cocoamidopropyl Betaine-very soft and low-allergenic surfactant. Produced from fatty acids of coconut oil. Contained in many shampoos of the company Jason Natural
- Decyl Glucoside or decyl polyglucose- a soft surfactant consisting of glucose obtained from corn starch and coconut fatty acids. The company makes its famous shampoos on this basis. Avalon Organics And Biotene H-24s
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate- a natural surfactant obtained by reacting coconut and palm oil with sugar and starch. A popular base for children's shampoos, contained in products BabySpa
- Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate- A natural, mild, safe surfactant obtained from sarcosine, a natural amino acid found in vegetables and fruits. It does not irritate the skin at all, perfectly cares for hair and restores its structure. This base is present in the company's organic shampoos Alba Botanica
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate-A surfactant with a mild dermatological effect, often used in children's shampoos and shampoos for sensitive scalps. Shampoos on this basis are represented by the brand Nature's Gate
- This also includes organic soap bases made from soap roots, soapwort or soap nuts.
Using shampoos based on such bases, you can completely restore your scalp, which means, with constant use and proper use, you will provide your hair with a healthy and beautiful appearance.
Of the above, I used the second, third and fifth. And only the third shampoo did not live up to my hopes.
But here I want to emphasize one important factor, P When choosing a shampoo, you must take into account your hair type.
Because shampoo of the same brand, but with a slightly different composition, can affect your hair in completely different ways.
Special agents or other ingredients in shampoo
These, as I already said, are the substances that supposedly fill our shampoo with beneficial properties.
I want to tell you about those components that can be included in hair shampoos, but at the same time are absolutely useless for them.
Useless shampoo ingredients
- Silicones
Designed to smooth the scales of our hair and make them smooth and shiny. that is, when silicone is applied to damaged hair, the scales are smoothed, the silicone reflects light and the hair begins to shine.
As you understand, no hair restoration occurs, and the accumulated silicones weigh down the hair and damage it.
- Vitamins and provitamin in shampoos
Those who understand the chemical composition of hair know that it does not contain any vitamins. Therefore, no external vitamins applied externally to the hair will in any way affect its condition; they will not penetrate through the scalp either.
The presence of vitamins in shampoo is useless. You should not pour it on your head, but take it orally, and this is best done by consuming healthy natural plant products.
- Fruit acids
Very often you can find it in shampoos. They are believed to moisturize the hair, which is an absolute myth. The best thing for hair is to eat fruit internally.
- Antioxidants
Unlike our skin, hair does not have wrinkles and is not always an indicator of age.
Applying shampoos with a super antioxidant complex to your hair will not affect the condition of your hair in any way. This is just a useless additive to add value to the shampoo and increase its cost.
- Various plant extracts
Very often we see shampoos that contain extracts of various herbs (aloe extract, birch leaves, nettle, chamomile, etc.)
Their effectiveness will always depend on the amount of these components. If they form the basis of the shampoo (and such shampoos actually exist), then there is a high probability that these components will be able to improve the condition of your hair, but if there are very few of these components (which is most often found in cheap shampoos), then the effect of using this shampoo will be zero.
Pay attention to where the plant extracts are on the shampoo label; if it’s closer to the end, then there’s no point in taking such a shampoo at all.
Pay special attention to the fact which extracts will be listed there.
For example, if you see extracts of rose, white magnolia, lotus, and other exotic plants in the shampoo, you can rest assured that these ingredients were added there in minute quantities and only for the inscription on the label. Moreover, no one knows what quality these extracts were.
- UV protection
Many shampoos promise UV protection for your hair. .
However, most current research shows that using such shampoos provides only minimal protection to hair from UV rays.
And even if the shampoo may contain useful components that can somehow affect our scalp or the hair itself (for example, honey, royal jelly, menthol, clay, protein hydrolysates, ceramides, plant extracts, lecithins, plant or essential oils), most of them “work” for exactly 2–3 minutes, until you rinse the shampoo off your head.
Therefore, if you want these components to show their therapeutic effect, do not wash off the shampoo immediately, but let it work for at least 10 minutes. Especially if the shampoo has a conditioner effect based on natural oils.
CONCLUSION
When you read labels and consider the ingredients of shampoos, remember that of all those listed, and there may be more than 30 of them, only 2 or 3 will actually work on your hair.
The remaining ingredients will determine the appearance, durability, color and aroma of the shampoo, and simply enrich its composition on the label, forcing you to buy it, spend your money on something that will not affect your hair in any way when used.
Therefore, when buying shampoo, you should not pay attention to all its rich composition, loud name and description, or advertising.
MY SECRET
For more than a month now, following the advice of Rickette Gofstein (world specialist in the field of trichology), I completely abandoned shampoos, replacing them castile soap(based on olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil and shea butter). And I really like it ☺
It has no irritating effect, gently rinses the hair and foams well. At the same time, the scalp is restored and its greasiness is regulated, which is the most important factor for hair health.
This soap can also serve as an excellent base for homemade shampoos.
By the way, But has the same effect, I will talk about this in more detail in the following posts.
Choosing a good shampoo is a matter of trial and error, and what works for one may not be useful for another.
But, in any case, when choosing, always focus on your hair type and the base of the detergent. Then the search for your ideal shampoo may be reduced several times.
Be sure to watch this interesting video with recipes for homemade shampoos that will help restore your hair NATURALLY!!!
I shared my experience with you, but decide for yourself whether to use it or not ☺
Alena Yasneva was with you, See you again!
Shampoo and the harmfulness of shampoos.
It's important that they know. Knowledge is power or you will be treated.
Our company has enough specialists to explain the harmfulness of shampoos, and a normal educated person should know in the era of capitalism in the Russian Federation what the MDC and MPC are, and even more so the harmfulness of the shampoos that we use every day. Companies come and go, but you live.
We don’t have enough words to describe the harm here; for such products in the USSR we would have to fell forests into camps. Shampoo Birch and Nettle (who remembers Egg) were 99% safer. And then there is profit and gain.
In fact, the shampoos that are so widely advertised in the media are very harmful. In order to be convinced of this, it is enough to read their composition. So, most shampoos contain such a substance, which means nothing to the vast majority of women, as sodium laureth sulfate, or SLS for short, and this is as much as 50 percent of the volume. Of course, you won’t hear this substance mentioned in shampoo advertisements. This product is obtained by processing coconut oil; the substance is widely used due to its very low cost.
The effect of harmful and dangerous additives in shampoo on hair, scalp and health
The buyer does not need to know that the SLS additive is a very cheap detergent component, which is used not only for the manufacture of shampoos, shower gels and other personal hygiene products. This substance is also used to make floor cleaners and engine degreasing products. The harm of shampoos that contain SLS is explained by the fact that they destroy the protein bonds that make up the hair and scalp. In addition, laureth sulfate causes severe harm not only to the skin and hair, but also, more seriously, to the mucous membrane of the eye. According to research by American scientists, when interacting with the surface of the skin and mucous membrane of the eyes, SLS accumulates in the tissues and, changing the protein structure, prevents wound healing, and as a result of other studies, a connection has been identified between the effect of laureth sulfate on eye tissue and the formation of cataracts.
Taking into account the above facts, one can only be amazed at how, despite the undeniable harm of the dangerous components contained in shampoos, they continue to be widely used. Of course, for obvious reasons, manufacturers will not talk about what harmful and dangerous additives and components actually are included in shampoos, but if you care about your health, you should understand the danger of using these seemingly harmless and safe means.
Laurite sulfate is not the only dangerous component that is included in shampoos. In addition to it, shampoos contain additives that pose a direct threat not only to human health, but also to human life. For example, diethanol, this component is an active carcinogen; when washed, it quickly penetrates through the pores of the scalp and carries with it the risk of liver and kidney cancer.
The composition of modern shampoos probably contains the entire periodic table; most of their names are long, difficult to pronounce and have a dubious reputation. Dyes, fragrances, foaming components - all this is not so safe. Brittle and dull hair, dandruff, skin irritation are just a few of the consequences of exposure to these substances.
What to wash your hair with instead of regular shampoo? Harmless and safe natural shampoos.
How to be? What to wash your hair with instead of regular shampoo? As an alternative, we recommend using natural remedies. Natural shampoos made from herbs, eggs, kefir and other natural products, unlike conventional shampoos, are completely safe and harmless; they wash hair well from grease and dirt, giving it a healthy shine and thickness.
Generally creepy: from here http://neways-by.narod.ru/vrednie_ingrid.htm
Each preparation contains a base, thickeners, foaming agents, flavorings, dyes, preservatives and many others - 10-20 items.
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) (sodium lauryl sulfate) is used in 95% of shampoos. Used in toothpastes, shampoos, facial cleansers, shaving products, liquid soaps, shower gels, bubble baths and many others. One of the most dangerous ingredients, especially dangerous for children. Can penetrate the eyes, brain, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and accumulate there. SLS is a mutagen! Penetrating into the eyes of children, SLS changes the protein composition of the eyes, delays the normal development of these children, and causes cataracts. It has the ability, even after abundant rinsing, to leave an irritating film on the skin and hair, causing itching, rashes and dandruff; the effect on hair follicles can lead to hair loss.
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): has the same effect as (SLS), but in a more severe form. Contains ether.
MINERAL OIL - mineral (technical) oil. Its varieties are (Propylen glycol), (Petrolatum) petrolatum, (Solid Oil) grease, (Paraffin) paraffin, (Paraffin Oil) paraffin, oil, petroleum jelly (glycerin, lanolin). Used to prepare creams, cleansers, moisturizers, skin protective creams, lipsticks, etc. Mineral Oil and its varieties can cause petrochemical allergization, which leads to arthritis, migraines, epilepsy and diabetes. Mineral Oil disrupts the metabolism of vitamins A, D, E, causing excessive dryness of the epidermis and the development of dermatitis.
PROPYLEN GLYCOL (propylene glycol) - behaves as a vascular, antiplasmic poison, causing dystrophic changes in the liver and kidneys
FLAVORING, TOLUOL are artificial flavors. Used in perfumes and also found in every aromatic substance. Today, about 95% of fragrances are
artificial chemical compounds, so they are neurotoxic. Dermatologists warn that fragrance additives can cause allergies (especially toluene).
ALUMINUM (aluminum) - used in deodorants. Aluminum salts, once they enter our body, cannot be removed from there and lead to damage to the central nervous system, dementia, attention disorder, memory loss and, as its extreme manifestation, senile insanity.
TALC (talc) - used in powders, powders, blushes, eyeliners. This is a very dangerous carcinogen that causes cancer.
ARTIFICIAL DYES - these include heavy metals - arsenic, lead; capable of causing cancer.
ALCOHOL (alcohol) - increases the risk of cancer of the throat and oral cavity.
FORMALDEHYDE (butyl, ethyl, methyl) - causes cancer.
BUTANE (butane) is an aerosol propellant, highly flammable, and in large doses has narcotic and asphyxiating properties.
SODIUM FLUORIDE (sodium fluoride) - causes the development of cancer.
SALT (salt): used as a thickening agent. Dries, irritates and corrodes the skin.
Government agencies can no longer hide the truth: fluoride is a carcinogen, i.e. capable of stimulating or causing cancer.
For years, this ingredient has been touted as being good for teeth, strengthening enamel, protecting against tooth decay, and more. It was introduced into toothpastes, the cost of which then increased sharply, and was recommended to children as “a component necessary during the development of permanent teeth.” And all this despite the fact that back in 1977, the National American Cancer Institute showed a connection between fluoride and cancer.
DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA), as well as (TEA) - cleaners. Used in shampoos, conditioners, shaving gels, shower gels, bath foams, etc. Potential carcinogens that combine with nitrates (chemical reactions occur in jars, forming nitrates) form chemicals called nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are active, cancer-causing chemicals.
DIOXIN is a very powerful cancer-causing chemical. Dioxin is not listed in the list of ingredients. Any soap, any liquid cleaner that you use at home, washing powder, liquid soap, any household products also contains Dioxin.
Check the labels on the products you use to see if they contain any of the potentially harmful ingredients listed.
On September 6, 1997, a Boston Globe article quoted Senator Edward M. Kennedy as saying that the General Accountability Office (GAO) had found that more than 125 cosmetic products contained ingredients known to cause cancer. as well as other diseases that can cause birth defects.
Shampoo and the harmfulness of shampoos.
Unfortunately, most shampoos, conditioners, balms and hair masks contain ingredients harmful to hair that can deprive hair of shine, strength and beauty. And although at first it seems that the hair has become more vibrant and manageable, this is only a short-term effect. Over time, they may lose their natural strength and become brittle, dry and dull.
But the worst thing is that harmful substances in cosmetics can affect our body as a whole and, after some time of use, cause allergies, endocrine system disorders and other health problems. Let's analyze the composition of cosmetics and figure out what absolutely should not be in your hair products.
Lauryl and laureth sulfates
These harmful substances in shampoos and conditioners are very common. They are surfactants, which quite often form the basis of hair products. It is thanks to these types of sulfates that shampoos foam well and cleanse hair well.
According to researchers, such components can cause irritation of the scalp and provoke allergies after a long period of use. They also clog the pores of the scalp, damage the hair follicles and can cause dandruff and hair loss. An alternative is milder surfactants, such as sulfosuccinates, ester carboxylates, sarcosinates, betaines.
Phthalates
Phthalates can be used in a variety of hair care products, so it's worth reading the label carefully every time you buy a new product. Phthalates can cause asthma, infertility and reproductive dysfunction in men. That is why in a number of countries the most dangerous types of phthalates are generally prohibited.
Parabens
Parabens in cosmetics are complex artificially created acids that are an excellent and cheap preservative. It is thanks to parabens that hair products do not deteriorate for a long time and are protected from the effects of bacteria and mold. Parabens can be found not only in hair washing products, but also in styling products.
Scientists have been arguing about the dangers of parabens for quite some time. According to one point of view, parabens accumulate in the body and can cause problems with the endocrine system and even provoke the occurrence of tumors and cancer. Another group of scientists claims that if the amount of parabens in the product is small, they do not cause any harm to the body.
The most dangerous parabens are: propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben. In some countries, their use in cosmetic products is generally prohibited. Various oils can replace dubious parabens: almond, olive, lavender, tea tree oil and argan. But the cost of such products may be higher, and the shelf life may be shorter.
Mineral oils
What else shouldn't be in shampoo? Mineral oils are a petroleum byproduct that is considered carcinogenic and can cause cancer. Only highly refined oils are safe for human health, but most hair products use cheaper, unrefined mineral oils.
Formaldehyde
This preservative is quite often used in hair products and cosmetics. It is toxic and can cause reproductive and breathing problems, as well as dermatitis. The use of formaldehyde in cosmetics is prohibited, but some manufacturers manage to circumvent this regulation and label it as Quaternium-15, Dowicil 75, Dowicil 100, Dowicil 200.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Scientists claim that this thickener, stabilizer and defoamer can cause allergic reactions, acne and dry skin, as well as cause kidney and liver diseases. But a number of other studies refutes this information and claims that polyethylene glycol is absolutely safe.
If you notice that after using shampoo you have to wash your hair more often, most likely you have chosen the wrong shampoo. Here you will learn about the most harmful components of shampoos and their consequences. When a person is faced with choosing a cosmetic product, he is guided by the advertising he sees and the opinions of his friends, he pays great attention to the colorful packaging and the promotion of the brand, but this is not enough to buy a good and safe shampoo. The quality of a product can be seen in its composition. The structure of detergents contains a variety of dangerous components that, when accumulated in the body, cause harm.
Harmful ingredients in shampoos
The list of the most commonly found harmful components in shampoos includes:
- parabens;
- LS and SLES;
- silicone;
- formaldehyde;
- aluminum salts;
- diethanolamine or triethanolamine;
- propylene glycol.
Parabens
Parabens in regular hair shampoo can negatively affect the body's production of testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for the proper functioning of the male reproductive system. If any changes in the level of this hormone occur, the normal functioning of the system is disrupted.
Silicone
Experts do not claim that all silicones included in shampoo are harmful, but you should try to avoid many. Silicone makes hair heavier, making it easier to style, but has a negative effect on the body as a whole, and it is impossible to determine the type of silicone on your own by reading only the composition.
Formaldehyde
This is a carcinogenic substance that cosmetics manufacturers still use as a preservative. It has been proven that this substance is toxic and directly affects human genetics. Formaldehyde gradually destroys vision, negatively affects the respiratory and nervous systems, and the skin.
Aluminum salts may cause breast tumors.
Diethanolamine or triethanolamine
Substances that make the shampoo foam well. But along with this, they contain ammonia. If human skin is exposed to ammonia for a long time, this toxic substance causes severe allergies, eyes begin to dry out, skin and hair become dry.
Propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol
This substance can be found in many shampoos, as well as other cosmetics with a liquid consistency. They cause allergies and hives, and can lead to eczema in sensitive skin.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate(SLS)
Another chemical that is widely used by modern industry in the production of soaps and shampoos. Thanks to this additive, the products foam perfectly. But research, the largest of which dates back to the late 1980s, shows that this substance causes skin irritation.
The dangers of fashionable shampoos for health
In order to see which shampoos contain harmful substances, just go to any cosmetics store and pay attention to relatively cheap, but well-advertised brands. Despite the fact that on the packaging of these products, manufacturers indicate a phrase that is very beneficial for their business, such as “Restores hair structure”, “Nourishes from the very roots”, etc., in fact, almost all of these shampoos contain dangerous component number 1, namely Sodium Lauryl Sulphate.
SLS is the second ingredient listed in most shampoos. Being a cleaning agent and an excellent foaming agent, it is a cheap and easy to use component. Thanks to Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, one drop of the product is enough to get a rich foam. Many buyers believe that the amount of foam formed to some extent determines the quality of the product, but this is far from the case.
Frequent use of shampoos containing sodium lauryl sulfate may worsen the condition of the hair and cause excessive hair loss. On the one hand, the aggressive effect is to some extent muffled by some softening ingredients of the shampoo, but due to the toxicity of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, many consumers began to pay attention to sulfate-free products.