Shampoo Ingredients to Avoid, and Why

Your health is your precious commodity. Hence, all the public focus on regular exercise, adequate rest, proper nutrition, and other healthy habits. In fact, you might be an avid label checker, scrutinizing packaged food items at the grocery store and only selecting those that help you achieve a healthy lifestyle.

But what happens when you get to the hair-care aisle? Are you just as careful or do you routinely grab the same shampoo and conditioner, or whatever happens to be on sale? The truth is, what goes on our bodies is just as important as what goes in them. And that includes shampoo.

Here are 7 common shampoo ingredients you should avoid to prevent itchiness, irritation, hair damage, and even hair loss.

Petroleum – Made from the same product that makes fuel oil, petroleum can prevent your body from naturally absorbing moisture, which is necessary for healthy hair and skin. A scalp that is dry and flaky can cause hair breakage and even inhibit hair growth.

Mineral Oil – While it may sound like a healthy hair care ingredient, mineral oil can clog hair follicles, disrupt the scalp’s natural moisture balance, and prevent the skin from ridding itself of toxins.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Used to create a lather when mixed with water, SLS is great at helping remove oil and dirt from hair. However, it can also strip hair of its natural oils, resulting in dry, damaged hair with continued use.

Synthetic Dyes – That pale pink or pearlescent blue color may be pleasing to the eye, but the synthetic dyes used to fill your shampoo bottle with color can block follicles and inhibit hair growth, increase skin sensitivity and irritation, and leave a slue of toxins behind.

Parabens – Parabens are preservatives used in hair care products and cosmetics to prevent them from going bad. They also can disrupt the body’s hormonal cycle by mimicking estrogen. This disruption has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer, cause early puberty in girls, and may even lead to testicular cancer in men.

Formaldehyde – You read right! The same chemical found in building material, glues, and adhesives can be released by other ingredients typically found in your shampoo. Formaldehyde is categorized as a “probable human carcinogen” by the EPA.

Isopropyl Alcohol – Not all alcohols used in shampoos are bad for your hair and scalp. However, Isopropyl alcohol can remove much needed moisture from your hair and cause it to dry out and become brittle. Also, because it disrupts the skin’s natural moisture balance, it can exacerbate dry and sensitive skin and scalp issues.

Here at DiStefano Hair Restoration Center, we’re in the hair replacement business, but that doesn’t mean we’re not committed to helping you protect and keep the hair you already have. Of course we are. That’s why our hair transplant patients receive complete post-surgery advice, including our recommendations on the best hair care products for regular use.

Are you a candidate for a hair transplant? If so, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.