Do you know what ingredients are used to make your shampoo?
If you ever looked at the ingredients list of a hair cleaning product, you most likely found a relatively long list of difficult to understand ingredients.
This is the case for most conventional shampoo products. When speaking of natural or chemical-free shampoos, things may be a little more simple.
Take a look at healthy shampoo and conditioner.
Let’s take as an example the sulfur-free shampoo. This is a type of product which lacks sulfur and it may lack other chemicals.
I’ll tell you a bit later about what chemicals you may want to avoid in shampoo products.
Sulfur can be found in certain hair cleaning products. If you’re wondering about why it’s used in these personal care items, let me tell you about this ingredient.
What you need to know about sulfur
Sulfur is the fifth most common element on the planet and it most usually occurs in the form of a sulfide and sulfate minerals. You would probably recognize it due to its characteristic strong smell.
It also occupies the third place as the most abundant mineral in the body. Sulfur is found in the muscles, bones, and skin, and plays an essential role in our health.
Sulfur is used in a wide variety of personal care products. Here are a few examples:
- Acne-treating products (creams and gels)
- Anti-dandruff treatments
- Conditioners
- Shampoos
- Hair spray products
- Facial cleansers
- Facial scrubs
Sulfur is most commonly found in acne-treating products because it helps reduce pimples, blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads. It’s also used to help control dandruff problems.
This mineral can make your hair supple, increase its body and improve its texture. The same goes for the skin, as sulfur can make it supple and reduce flaking.
This is how it helps with dandruff problems.
Sulfur is considered to be safe for usage in products for dandruff and acne problems.
You may want to go for a sulfur-free shampoo if you don’t have dandruff problems. It may not cause any harm if you use it, but maybe you need a different product for your hair.
A sulfur-free shampoo or a shampoo and conditioner without sulfate may be more suitable for your needs.
Chemicals you may want to avoid in shampoo products
As I’ve mentioned earlier, there are a few chemicals in shampoos you may want to stay away from.
Here are a few ingredients to keep in mind.
Sulfates
Sulfates act as surfactants and detergents and they remove oil from your hair and scalp.
They are found in shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, and toothpaste products.
The most common examples of sulfates are:
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
- Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS)
The problem with sulfates is they have been linked to skin and eye irritations, causing your skin to become really dry.
Parabens
Parabens are the ingredients that ensure products have long shelf lives.
Here are a few examples:
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
Parabens are known for being endocrine disruptors. They can mimic human hormones and send wrong signals to the body.
If you’re interested in this topic, check out the sulfate-free paraben-free shampoo.
Fragrances
Fragrances are the chemicals responsible for giving products their characteristic smells.
They are found in a great variety of products, from shampoos, conditioners, creams, to soaps and detergents.
Just like parabens, they are endocrine disruptors.
Tips for treating dandruff
If you have dandruff problems, using a shampoo which contains sulfur may be helpful for your hair.
The most important thing you need to do in this case is visit a dermatologist. A specialist can help you and offer you an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Besides avoiding a sulfur-free shampoo, here are a few quick tips for taking care of this problem.
Make a coconut and honey scalp scrub. You will need:
- 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 3 teaspoons of yogurt
Mix all the ingredients until you obtain a paste, then apply it on your scalp. Massage for several minutes, then leave it on for 30-45 minutes. Shampoo, rinse and that’s it.
You can also use some aspirin. Crush 2 aspirin tablets and add them in your shampoo. When you wash your hair, shampoo it as usual, massage, leave it on for a couple of minutes and rinse it.
You may also want to check out talc-free foundation.