Take a look at the label on your commercial shampoo and you will find a list of chemicals that you will not recognize. Many of these can harm your hair on the long run, stripping it from its natural oils, causing dryness. Even worse, some of the ingredients get absorbed into your system and can cause harm to your body.
Natural Shampoo, should not contain these ingredients; it should gently clean your hair leaving it clean and moisturized.
When choosing a shampoo make sure that you read the label and look out for these top 4 harmful ingredients to avoid
1. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sulfates are strong detergents that strip away the natural oils from your hair, robbing it of its moisture. When you rinse out the shampoo, the surfactants take all the oils and residue with them. These cleaning agents are so harsh they can damage the hair, make it brittle, and increase frizz
2. Parabens
Parabens are used as a preservative to prevent bacteria in cosmetics and shampoos, and it is likely that our skin can absorb them during topical use. According to the American Chemical Society, 85 percent of American personal care products contain parabens, and an experiment in 2005 found Parabens in 99.1% of people tested. Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen and have been linked to an increased growth of breast cancer cells.
3. Synthetic Fragrances
Synthetic fragrances can cause irritation to the skin and scalp and may cause hair loss. Many manufacturers just put some ingredients under “fragrance” and get away with it. Some ingredients in fragranced cosmetic products can disrupt the reproductive systems. They can also cause cancer, asthma and make their way into women’s breast milk.
4. Dimethicone
A type of silicone, dimethicone is basically plastic that is used in many hair products and contributes to product build up that makes your hair feel greasy. On the plus side, it is what makes hair look shiny. But on the downside, it weights the hair down, making it heavy, limp and lifeless. Since it lies like a protecting cover on the surface of the hair, it stops moisture and nutrients from coming in and instead collects dirt and residue. It can clog the pores on the scalp and cause skin irritation.