Shampoos Archives - Page 12 of 12

Nobody on this Earth can ever say that they have too much hair. Everybody wants a head full of hair and spends a lot of money on hair products to stay that way. The day I saw my bathroom drain getting clogged because hundreds and hundreds of my hair was blocking the drain, I stared at my shampoo and, in a second, lost all trust in it. Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal and happens to everyone, but when this number becomes an hourly thing, there's cause for concern. Soon after that horrible day in my bathroom, I sat down on my computer and started researching what could be going wrong. When I realized that maybe the problem is with my shampoo, and voila, it turned out to be true. The number of chemicals my shampoo contained; it is a miracle I still had hair. The knowledge I gained from my research on shampoos taught me about the ingredients in shampoo that cause hair loss, which I share with everyone and want to with the readers of this article. How is Your Shampoo Turning You Bald? It would baffle everyone how the product we use to protect our hair is the reason behind our hair's damage. I initially thought that maybe my shampoo is not to blame, but the water in my city, the dust, and other things are to blame for the massive hair loss I was experiencing. When I found out how exactly my shampoo was damaging my hair, I was shocked because I never knew a shampoo could be this damaging. The issue does not lie with the company of the shampoo but the ingredients they use. Various chemicals present in shampoo can damage your hair so much that you go bald. So without further ado, let me tell you about the ingredients in shampoo that cause hair loss: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Laureth Sulfate: These two chemicals are the worst thing you can think of to apply to your hair. When I found out what these chemicals are, I was quite taken aback that shampoo manufacturers decided to use this. These two chemicals are used to form a lather. You would have noticed actors in advertisements shampooing their hair with a substantial amount of froth and would automatically conclude that lather is a good thing. Still, unfortunately, that is not the case at all. These chemicals are used in car wash soap and engine degreasers, and imagine you are putting that in your hair! The damage it does is that it breaks down the proteins which our hair needs for growth; also, at the same time, it strips the hair of its protective oils, which in turn makes the hair dry and prone to breakage. Hence these chemicals are at the top of the list of ingredients in shampoo that causes hair loss. Chemical Fragrances: Nine out of ten people, when picking out a shampoo, smell them to see if it smells good or not. Even I belonged to that category of people. But what many other people and I did not realize is that just because it smells good does not mean it is suitable for your hair. The problem is that these fragrances cause hormonal imbalance, and as a result, it affects your hair because hair fall is proven to be connected to changes in a person's hormonal levels. Sodium Chloride: Sodium chloride, or salt as it is commonly known, is something you need inside your body and not outside. It is required for a body to function properly, but it can be catastrophic for your hair. It has been tested and proven to be bad for your hair. Ask any dermatologist, and they will tell you salt belongs to the list of ingredients in shampoo that cause hair loss. Salt is added in shampoo to make it thicker; on the other hand, the damage it does is that it makes your scalp dry and itchy, and eventually hair loss. Now that I think about it, this is a symptom that I suffered from and has stopped post changing my shampoo. Parabens: Parabens are nothing but preservatives that are present in a shampoo. They are added in shampoos and cosmetic products to prevent the growth of bacteria but, as a result, can be very harmful to you. How bad are they? Well, how bad does Cancer sound? Exactly. Parabens are known to disrupt and affect your hormonal levels. It is also known to mimic the hormone estrogen, which is directly related to breast cancer. Till now, we were just discussing how the ingredients in shampoo that cause hair loss are bad for your hair, but cancer? This definitely makes things very serious. Even if you are happy with being bald, you wouldn't surely want to die because of the shampoo you use! Propylene Glycol: On the subject of ingredients in shampoo that cause hair loss and affect your body, after parabens, the most dangerous chemical has to be Propylene Glycol. When I got to know about this chemical, I just knew it as a skin irritant, which makes the shampoo consistent. Later, when I dived deep into it, I found out that this chemical helps the scalp other chemicals to be absorbed into your skin. Imagine chemicals that harm your skin and hair are now inside your body. Imagine the damage these chemicals will now cause you! Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA): These two chemicals are another type of skin irritant. What these chemicals do is destroys the Keratin in your hair. As a result of which your hair will become brittle and dry. Hence your hair will be prone to breakage. Ingredients to Look For in Your Shampoo Now that I told you which chemicals you most definitely need to avoid, why don't I tell you about the ingredients beneficial for your hair? These are alternatives to the chemicals found in the shampoos, which do not harm your hair and provides nourishment for your hair. Without further ado, let us have a look at them: Clay and Apple Cider vinegar: There are many chemicals present in your hair known to remove essential oils from your hair. The alternative to these chemicals needs to be natural and can provide the cleansing effect that the chemicals provide. Such items would be Apple cider Vinegar or bentonite clay. Apple cider vinegar also has other benefits. It has natural antibacterial properties, as a result of which it prevents flaky hair and helps you against dandruff and various other scalp conditions. Moisturizing oils: Before you read this article, you have been using chemical-rich shampoos for a long time, and your hair has suffered because of that. To undo the years of damage, you need to use hair products with nourishing oils like coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, etc. These oils will protect your hair and scalp from dryness and give your scalp the right amount of moisture it needs, lacking from the use of chemical-rich shampoos. Essential Oils: Now, when I said that just because it smells good, you should not take it, it does not mean your hair should not smell nice. You deserve to pamper yourself with a good-smelling shampoo, which makes your hair smell nice too. So if Chemicals are not the answer, then what is? Essential Oils! Use natural fragrances like peppermint, lemon, orange, and lavender. They would make sure your hair smells nice and help you keep your scalp healthy, and fight against dandruff. Just keep in mind, essential oils must always be applied with a carrier oil. Aloe Vera, Algae, and Green Tea: Now I was looking for items to nourish and soften my hair without damaging it. That's when I came across Algae and Green tea. They contain vitamins and minerals, which not only keep my scalp healthy but encourage my hair to grow. Instead of losing hair, which the chemicals were causing, you will be nurturing and growing your hair. Also, Aloe Vera is extremely good for your hair and scalp. It contains Vitamin E, which protects the scalp from any form of radical damage. Conclusion As you can see from this article, I shared what I actually went through and the consequent research results I conducted. We are used to the shampoo we have been using for so long, but now it is time to turn them around and look at the ingredients. If you find any ingredients in the shampoo that cause hair loss, immediately stop using it, and look for a natural alternative. It is one thing to be unaware of facts, but it is another to be aware and ignore them. Now you know how to keep your hair healthy, and you must strive towards protecting it.