Natural Shampoo Secrets: Common Unnatural Ingredients in Natural Shampoos
There are a lot of reasons why you might select a natural shampoo. Lots of people like to use it to enhance a green lifestyle. Others have found that washing with natural ingredients leads to healthier hair. Natural shampoo can also be easier on dyed hair. You might also like natural shampoos because they may be used as soothing body washes also.
Of course some companies use the word natural in a deceptive way. Sometimes it simply indicates the presence of natural ingredients. Natural ingredients can refer to just about anything derived from nature. As a result the shampoo might contain some natural ingredients and some unnatural ones. A few preservatives and even dyes are generally okay. If you do have sensitive skin though you could have more trouble with colors and fragrances. The seriously problematic ingredients though tend to undo the benefits of natural ingredients.
Always watch for laureth- or lauryl sulfate. This is what makes shampoo foam. But it also strips down hair. The result is hair that is brittle and weak. Also, it will destroy color. Lightened and dulled hair is the result of excessive lauryl sulfate use. When you are checking ingredients avoid anything with the words lauryl or laureth.
Also, keep an eye out for sufur and sulfides. These are common in dandruff shampoos. It is certainly reasonably to argue that sulfur is natural. But in some cases it exacerbates skin conditions and causes dandruff. If you elect to use a sulfur based shampoo, keep it away from your eyes. You might also end up with hair that is drier than usual.
Natural shampoos share a few common characteristics.
* They tend to have only a few ingredients - Most of the ingredients that go in shampoos are artificial. Natural shampoos have a soap base and a few other components.
* They tend to foam very little - This is because foam is caused by unnatural agents.
* They tend to have ingredients that you would see in your kitchen cupboards - You might see apple cider vinegar, herbs and baking soda. Some people actually just use baking soda and vinegar to wash their hair.
If you have perfect hair and love your shampoo, then stick with it! If you are on the prowl for a new natural shampoo, then be sure you are getting the real deal. These secret ingredients can cause frizziness, dry hair, breakage and serious damage. Just be careful that your natural shampoo is the real deal before you start shampooing.