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Home / Wellness / Hair Care / 8 Ingredients To Avoid When Picking Hair Care Products

8 Ingredients To Avoid When Picking Hair Care Products

hair care products

When it comes to natural hair treatments, choosing components that are kind to your hair and provide it with essential nutrients is essential. On the other hand, certain components must be avoided at all costs because of the damage and dryness they may cause. In natural hair treatments, you should try to steer clear of the following ingredients:

Sulfates

These are harsh detergents often present in shampoos, and they can strip the hair of its natural oils, which may lead to the hair being dry and brittle.

They're in shampoo because they're so excellent at removing debris, filth, and product buildup from hair—sometimes too well. Sulfates are so harsh that board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, told Cosmo that dish soap contains the same surfactants. The hair issue is there.

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Silicones

These are man-made substances that may coat the hair, making it glossy and smooth. However, they also have the potential to produce buildup and prevent moisture from accessing the hair shaft.

RELATED: Hair Care Products for Black Women May Disrupt Hormones

Parabens

These are preservatives that are often found in hair products. Still, they are potentially hazardous to your health if they are absorbed into the scalp and then into the circulation.

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According to recent studies, these substances may cause fertility and reproductive issues. They may potentially enter the circulation and endanger the fetus and birth.

Parabens link to estrogen receptors on cells, according to Scientific American. According to research, excess estrogen may increase breast cell division and tumor formation.

Mineral Oil & Petroleum

These are byproducts of the petroleum industry that have the potential to clog pores and block the hair shaft from receiving moisture. Mineral oil is advertised as a "hydrating" component in hair products. However, FDA-approved mineral oil has been refined to absolutely little benefit.

Mineral oil is purified to eliminate pesticides and contaminants. It only helps hair by minimizing water loss. Its sustainability impact comes from its non-renewable petrochemical origins. Using non-sulfate shampoos might make it hard to wash off. This causes dry and brittle hair over time.

Phthalates

Phthalates are man-made compounds often discovered in hair care products, even some sold specifically to people with natural hair. They are known to interfere with the hormone system.

Steer clear of products that include these ingredients since they have been shown to cause harm to the scalp and hair, which may ultimately result in hair loss. Choose other forms of hair care that are more natural and organic instead.

RELATED: 7 Reasons Your Wash & Go Looks More Like A Wash & No

Artificial Colors & Dyes

If you want to keep the health and beauty of your natural hair, it is very necessary to use hair products that are natural and organic and do not include any artificial colors or dyes.

These ingredients are also included in hair care products. Still, they have the potential to cause dryness, breakage, irritation of the scalp, and overall poor hair health.

Synthetic Fragrances

These compounds can potentially provoke allergic responses and irritate the scalp, which may result in hair loss.

Formaldehyde

This substance is a carcinogen often used in hair straightening treatments, despite the fact that it may cause severe damage to the hair and be hazardous to your health.

Overall, it is vital to make sure that you read the labels and choose natural hair treatments that do not include any of these potentially damaging compounds.

Instead, they should have nourishing, natural elements that will aid in developing healthy hair. You should search for an ingredient if you are unsure of what it is or what it does. A quick search on Google can often provide all the information you need.

By Dominique Lambright | Published April 19, 2023

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