Treat your hair delicately. Over-washing, over-styling, exposing your hair to dry conditions or too much moisture can cause damaged, dull locks. Shampoos to cleanse away dirt and grime are a part of a sound hair care routine, but some ingredients included in this staple hair care product may be too harsh for your hair to handle.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium and ammonium lauryl sulfates are anionic alkyl sulfate surfactants. They are ingredients that change the surface tension of water using negatively charged ions. This change in surface tension allows dirt and oil to stick to the cleanser and wash away. These ingredients also cause shampoos to foam. Anionic surfactants are harsh on your hair, according to the book “The Beauty Brains," which notes that that nonionic cleansers are less harsh on your hair. Sodium and ammonium lauryl sulfates have also come under scrutiny for their potential health effects. A statement issued by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review states that sodium lauryl sulfate causes skin and eye irritation in large quantities. The statement notes that changes to skin were observed when a build-up of the ingredient was tested on laboratory mice. Despite being approved by the Food and Drug Administration for personal care products, sodium and ammonium lauryl sulfates are harsh chemicals. The Organic Consumer's Association notes that these chemicals can dry your hair too much, potentially leading to damage and breakage.
Fragrance
The generic listing of “fragrance” or “parfum” can be found on many shampoos. Fragrances are chemicals synthesized to resemble natural smells. The term "fragrance" can indicate up to 4,000 different chemical ingredients, according to “Cosmetics Unmasked.” These chemicals are not always obvious–acetone, a primary ingredient in nail polish remover, is one such chemical that may be included in fragrances. Formaldehyde, a tissue preservative and ethanol, or alcohol, are two more of the potential ingredients lurking behind the “fragrance” moniker, as noted by “Cosmetics Unmasked.” These ingredients can strip hair of its essential oils and even cause minor damage to the hair follicle itself.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is an ingredient that adds moisture to hair. It's also a penetration enhancer. Propylene glycol allows the ingredients in shampoo to penetrate deeply into the hair shaft to impart moisture, as outlined in “A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients.” While it may make hair look healthier and shinier at first, repeated use of the chemical as a penetration enhancer can ravage the hair follicle, damaging the structure and integrity of hairs over time. Propylene glycol is also used as an industrial lubricant and as a “safer” anti-freeze in cars. The chemical is a petroleum by-product and the formula for cosmetic propylene glycol and industrial propylene glycol doesn't differ by much, according to “Cosmetics Unmasked.”
References
- "The Beauty Brains: Real Scientists Answer Your Beauty Questions"; Sarah Bellum; 2008
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, 7th Edition"; Ruth Winter; 2009
- "Cosmetics Unmasked: Your Family Guide to Safe Cosmetics and Allergy-Free Toiletries"; Stephen Antczak, Gina Antczak; 2001
- The Cosmetic Ingredient Review: SLS
- Food and Drug Administration: VCR Cosmetic Ingredient Listing
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