When choosing products for your hair, skin, and beauty routines, it’s essential to pay attention to the ingredients within them. Certain ingredients can be toxic and harmful to use on hair and skin, and you should avoid them. Here are three ingredients you don’t want in your hair care products.
Parabens
The first ingredient you don’t want in your hair care products is parabens. Many shampoos and conditions use parabens as a preservative to lengthen the product’s shelf life. However, these additives are known to be harmful and toxic. Parabens can cause irritation to your scalp and skin and can cause neurotoxicity. Parabens can also cause hormone imbalances in the body. Because of these negative reactions, you should look for paraben-free shampoos and conditions that contain healthier, non-toxic ingredients.
Sulfates
Sulfates are another ingredient you’ll want to avoid in shampoos, conditions, and hair masks. Sulfates are a chemical detergent that helps your shampoo get foamy as you wash your hair. However, these chemicals will strip hair of its natural oils and moisture, causing dryness, irritation, and flaking. This dryness can cause split ends and breakage, leaving your hair in a less healthy state. If you opt for a shampoo that is free of sulfates, you will notice less frizz, breakage, dryness, and irritation, which is one of the reasons to go sulfate-free.
Triclosan
The third ingredient you should watch out for in hair care products is triclosan. You can find this additive in many products, including shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, deodorants, and more. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of triclosan in antibacterial hand soaps because it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing immune system issues, infertility, fetal harm, uncontrolled cellular reproduction, and cancer. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to search for hair care products that are free of this ingredient.
Now that you know three ingredients to avoid in your hair care products, you can choose products that are safer for you and your hair. Make sure to read product labels to ensure personal safety and make healthier choices. There are also many natural options you can use to improve your hair health, including natural home remedies for getting rid of dandruff.