While you may think that the shampoo that you use daily is safe, you might want to think again as shampoo tends to have a lot of harmful ingredients. Even those that claim to be “all-natural” still contain some harmful ingredients as these ingredients are those that give you the shampoo that we’ve come to know.
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Sulfates are one of the most common ingredients in shampoo as they’re the main ingredient responsible for the foaminess that we see in shampoo and they are very good at cleaning out dirt from our hair. However, they’re too good at their job, they not only remove unwanted oil from our scalp , but also the healthy oils, causing it to be frizzy and brittle.
Paraben
Parabens are a known harmful substance. They’re most commonly used as a preservative to prevent bacteria from growing in your shampoo. Moreover, it can mimic the hormone estrogen and thus slow down the production of this important hormone which will increase the risk of breast cancer.
Formaldehyde
While formaldehyde is used in keratin treatments, it’s an extremely harmful substance. It’s known to be able to cause cancer. Once it affects the scalp, formaldehyde can cause trauma to hair follicles and thus, cause hair loss. While it may not be in the ingredient list directly, a mix of components like quaternium-15 and water can react together to form formaldehyde. And not all types of keratin treatments will contain formaldehyde but it’s best to check with the salon before any such treatment.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a common chemical used around the world, it’s used to help lubricate and soften other substances, increase spreadability, enhance absorption, and make fragrances last longer. However, they’re able to enter the body through skin absorption and have been linked to various health problems such as asthma, diabetes and behavioral changes. While it’s still unclear if it’s harmful, it’s still better to be safe and stay clear from phthalates.
