Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Care Products

How can you reach your hair goals if you use the same chemicals in your dish soap for your hair?! That would be bizarro! Just like with your beauty products, you need to be aware of the chemicals and avoid the ones that could be harmful to you. You have to take care of yourself and that means knowing what is in the products that you use! By using high-quality products, you are not only caring for your hair, but also protecting the planet and promoting animal-free testing and natural remedies. 

Here are the top chemicals that you should avoid:

Sulfates

Also known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.

Sulfate is the ingredient that makes shampoos sudsy and foamy. This ingredient is a key foaming agent that helps the shampoo mix with water, trap dirt and oil that can be rinsed away by water. It is used in a variety of products in addition to your shampoo, including dish soap and laundry detergent. The downside is that the ingredient can strip away natural oils from the scalp and hair, which can lead to brittle and dry hair. And if you have sensitive skin, sulfate can cause irritations like redness, dryness, and itching. 

That being said, sulfate does make your shampoo stronger. So, make sure you understand your hair needs when buying your next shampoo.

Formaldehyde

Also known as Diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, Glyoxal, Imidazolidinyl urea, Polyoxymethylene urea, Quaternium-15, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

Formaldehyde is a great preservative that makes your cleansers, moisturizers, and beauty products last longer than a few weeks by preventing microbes from growing. That all sounds great, but the side effects are lethal. This chemical can be absorbed through the skin and has been linked to cancer and allergic skin reactions. It is dangerous to inhale it in liquid form and causes skin irritations and asthma. 

Thanks to research and new scientific knowledge, many brands have stopped using formaldehyde, but there are plenty that still use it to cheaply preserve their products! 

Parabens

Also known as propylparaben, benzyl paraben, methylparaben, butylparaben

Parabens are another dangerous chemical used as a preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus in your shampoo and beauty products. This chemical has been used for many decades, but scientists have recently begun to question their safety. It’s a known xenoestrogen (causes estrogenic activity in the body) that causes cancer (breast cancer) by affecting your hormones. Parabens have also been linked to the irritation of skin conditions such as dermatitis and rosacea.

Overall, there are many major brands and manufacturers who still use these harmful substances in their products. Not only do they inhibit your hair goals, but they can also cause serious harm to your overall health. One thing you can do is to learn the lengthy scientific names of these chemicals and carefully read your shampoo bottles to make sure they are not included.

On the other hand, use Strands Hair Care! We choose high-quality ingredients that are both safe and tailored to your hair needs! Our ingredients are based on a few factors: your hair type, condition, treatment, environment, and lifestyle. We strive to select ingredients that will help you get healthy and beautiful strands from inside out.