How often do you wash your hair? Some are forced to do this procedure daily or every other day. Life in a big city is reflected in the appearance of hair. Dust, exhaust fumes, an active rhythm of life, stress and many other unfavorable factors make our hair far from perfect. Hair quickly becomes dirty, gets an unpleasant greasy shine and lose volume.
How do you wash your hair?
The use of shampoo for washing hair is so natural for every person that we sometimes do not even think about an alternative.
How does this hygiene product affect human health? Can I wash my hair daily? Do shampoo formulations differ? In the daily rush, these questions do not even arise in our head. But this is until trouble happened with the hair. Only in urgent cases, when the hair begins to fall out and is cut off, become lifeless, do we turn the shampoo bottle over and pay attention to the text written in tiny letters. This information is what manufacturers put in their favorite hair hygiene product.
What is hidden in the bottle with shampoo?
Most often, manufacturers describe the composition of shampoos in English. These are international or trivial names of chemical formulas, Latin names of plants, vitamins and codes of various additional additives: dyes, fragrances, stabilizers. For the average buyer, this is a Chinese letter. Many manufacturers use this fact and include substances that are quite hazardous to human health.
What harm can shampoo do to the human body?
Here are the chemicals that are most often found among the ingredients of many shampoos:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) - these two components are the main component of most shampoos on the market. This is explained by the fact that these substances are excellently soap, providing a persistent thick foam. However, their effect on the body with confidence can be called negative. Penetrating through the skin, they are deposited in the organs and cause the denaturation of protein structures. Sodium lauryl sulfate has a more severe effect. In the process of shampooing, the oxidation process takes place, and the oxide film settles on the skin and hair, violating their natural structure. It contributes to the appearance of irritation and dandruff. Over time, this component can lead to hair loss.
- Triethanolamine, TEA (triethanolamine) - the basic substance that is part of shampoos and soaps. It is dangerous in that it reacts with nitrogen in human blood. As a result, nitrosamines are formed, which are considered dangerous carcinogens. Experts rank triethanolamine as potentially toxic substances.
- Methylisothiazolinone, MIT (methylisothiazolinone) is a compound that is also often included in shampoo formulations. It can provoke an allergic reaction. Also revealed the destructive effect of MIT on human nerve cells.
- Dimeticone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane and other derivatives of silicones cause controversy about their usefulness. Some people tend to consider them necessary to give hair shine and volume. Opponents argue that the short duration of this effect can not be compared with the harmful effects of silicones. They are not washed off completely; over time they accumulate in the form of a sticky film that attracts dust and other impurities. The hair is under a lot of stress, and the blood supply and respiration of the bulbs deteriorate. As a result, the hair is thinning.
- Glycerin (glycerin) - considered a good moisturizing component. However, this rule works provided that the humidity is greater than that in the hair. Otherwise, glycerin will suck water from the hair and scalp. For dry hair, this is unacceptable.
- Propylene Glycol, PPG (propylene glycol), Polyethylene Glycol, PEG (polyethylene glycol) are glycerol derivatives that manufacturers like to saturate with shampoos. They are also able to cause allergic reactions in the form of dermatitis and dry hair and scalp. Penetrating through the pores, they accumulate in the liver and kidneys, causing a failure of their normal functioning.
Can natural cosmetics contain chemical components?
All of the above substances have one way or another harmful effect on the human body. Unfortunately, almost 90% of shampoos contain at least one of these compounds.
Some brands of shampoos position themselves as natural cosmetics. Is this really so, you can decide for yourself by carefully studying the composition of these funds. If chemical compounds from the list above are indicated in the first positions, then the promises of manufacturers are only a marketing trick.
By definition, natural or organic cosmetics should not contain synthetic chemical components. If you find those in a shampoo called natural, then this is pure deception.
Is the clean line shampoo good?
Take, for example, the well-known and successful on the market brand “Clean Line”. The manufacturer of this brand assures us of the naturalness of its product, saying that the shampoos in the series are 80% composed of decoctions of medicinal herbs. Sounds tempting, doesn't it?
Let's carefully analyze the composition of the Clean Line shampoo, in particular, on a nettle broth. So, having carefully studied the label, we see the following:
- water;
- sodium laureth sulfate - an inexpensive and fairly aggressive blowing agent;
- diethanolamide - stabilizer and thickener;
- cocamidopropyl betaine and PEG-7 are compounds that soften the effect of SLES.
These substances make up the shampoo washing formula. Obviously, such ingredients cannot be called natural. Next, the clean line shampoo includes:
- fragrance - aromatic component of the product;
- extracts of herbs: nettle, celandine, St. John's wort, chamomile, yarrow;
- polyquaternium 10 - hair conditioner;
- EDTA and citric acid are compounds that soften hard water;
- ethyl alcohol (0.43%) - to dissolve fragrances.
Apparently, the aroma of this shampoo is due to the synthetic aromatic composition. A variety of preservatives, perfumes and colorings follow the list:
- Methyl chloroisothiazolinone, diazodinyl urea, methyl isothiazolinone, propyl paraben, ethyl paraben and sodium acetate - all have antibacterial properties. For people with sensitive skin, these components can become quite powerful allergens.
- Isopropyl alcohol is a preservative and antibiotic.
- Benzyl salicylate, butylphenyl methylpropional - perfumes and their additives.
- Dyes.
The green color of the shampoo also appeared due to synthetic dyes, but not because of the promised decoction of nettle.
From the foregoing, it is worth concluding that shampoos of the Clean Line series are conventional hygiene products with a chemical composition. Yes, there is a small inclusion of herbal extracts in them, but a rather aggressive chemical principle is not suitable for people with dry, irritated and allergic-prone scalp.
What are the specialties of Natura Siberica shampoos?
Let's now turn to the famous shampoos "Natura Siberica". This brand is positioned as organic cosmetics.
This statement has been strictly verified by European independent laboratories. As a result of rigorous testing, this cosmetic brand was recognized and certified as the first organic cosmetics in Russia that did not contain chemical detergent components, parabens, silicones and other aggressive substances.
Let's carefully analyze the composition of Natura Siberica shampoo. Organic extracts may vary depending on the type of product, but the main ingredients are as follows:
- Water.
- Organic soapwort extract: stimulates the hair growth process, maintains a balance of scalp oiliness, treats dermatitis and eczema, and prevents the formation of dandruff.
This is the soapy basis of shampoo, 100% natural. This quality makes Natura Siberica products accessible to people with scalp diseases, allergic reactions and damaged hair.
In addition to the soap base, the composition of Natura Siberica shampoo includes organic extracts of the following plants:
- Lungwort, which strengthens the bulbs and prevents hair loss;
- cedar dwarf, which soothes the scalp, enhances blood microcirculation, enhances the nutrition of hair follicles;
- a series that fights dandruff eliminates irritation;
- Siberian iris, which stabilizes the inflamed scalp;
- milk thistle, which is a supplier of valuable trace elements and antioxidants;
- Altai sea buckthorn, which is famous throughout the world for its huge amount of vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids and biologically active substances.
Preservatives, food colors and fragrances are indicated at the end of the list. But here it is worth noting that these substances are of natural origin:
- benzyl alcohol derived from essential oils;
- benzoic acid from lingonberry extract;
- food coloring CI 75810;
- linalool - a fragrance from essential oils.
Thus, the composition of this product confirms its organic status and makes it possible for people with serious scalp and hair problems to use.
The Secret of Horsepower Shampoo
A beautiful girl and a health-racing horse on the packaging of this product cause people to try to try the effectiveness of the “magic elixir” on themselves. Which of us did not admire the beauty and power of horse mane? It is for this effect that the advertising campaign of a popular tool is designed.
Let's try to figure out what is remarkable for the horsepower shampoo. Its composition is as follows:
- Water.
- Sodium laureth sulfate is our old familiar, rather aggressive chemical blowing agent.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine - a substance that softens the effects of laureth sulfate.
- Glycerol cocoate and glycerin are conditional moisturizing components, which were mentioned at the beginning of the article. May dry hair.
- Polyquaterium-10 - hair conditioner
- Provitamin B5, collagen, elastin, lanolin - all these wonderful substances of animal origin give hair strength, shine, wonderfully restoring their structure.
- Citric acid softens hard water.
- Perfumery fragrance.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone are preservatives that can trigger allergies.
Despite the presence of valuable products, in general, the ingredients of this product are common. Shampoo “Horsepower”, the composition of which is mostly represented by chemical and rather harsh components, may not be suitable for people with dry and irritated scalp and dehydrated hair.
How to choose the right baby shampoo?
The choice of hygiene products for the baby should be treated with special attention. The skin of a child is very thin and sensitive to complex chemical compounds. As a result, dermatitis or an allergic reaction may occur.
Therefore, the composition of children's shampoos should not include such components as lauryl and laureth sodium sulfates, parabens, silicones, glycerin, propylene glycol, dyes and fragrances of a synthetic nature.
It is worth using caution with herbal extracts, especially in babies with allergic reactions. Such additives include calendula extract, almond oil, tea tree and shea butter.
As a surfactant in the composition of baby shampoo usually include cocoglucoside and cocamidopropyl betaine. These non-anionic detergents very gently cleanse the baby's skin and soften it. It’s good when there is glyceryl oleate in baby shampoo. This substance, similar in composition to the skin of a child, it restores its barrier function.
Which shampoo to give preference?
Whether to use only organic cosmetics or ordinary shampoo from the mass market is a personal matter for everyone. If there are no special problems with the scalp and hair, then, in principle, the most ordinary shampoo will do. But people who care about their health should avoid aggressive detergents, an abundance of dyes, preservatives and fragrances that are part of hair shampoos. All these substances are foreign to the human body and can provoke an allergic reaction and other problems. When washing your hair, rinse the shampoo thoroughly. Use products with silicone only at the ends of the hair no more than twice a week. With special attention, choose shampoos for children. Remember dangerous chemical components and avoid products with their content.