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 gases, an active rhythm of life, stress and many other adverse factors make our hair far from perfect. Hair quickly becomes dirty, acquires an unpleasant oily sheen and loses volume.
What do you wash your hair with?
Using shampoo to wash your hair is so natural for everyone that sometimes we don't even think about an alternative.
How does this hygiene product affect human he alth? Can you wash your hair daily? Do the shampoo formulations differ? In the daily bustle, these questions do not even arise in our head. But that's until the hair is in trouble. Only in emergencies, when the hair begins to fall out and become lifeless, do we turn the shampoo bottle over and pay attention to the text written in tiny letters. This information is about what manufacturers have put in their favorite hygiene product.hair.
What's in the shampoo bottle?
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 for various additional additives: dyes, fragrances, stabilizers. For an ordinary buyer, this is a Chinese letter. Many manufacturers take advantage of this fact and include substances that are quite hazardous to human he alth.
What harm can shampoo do to the human body?
Here are the most commonly found chemicals in 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 lathered, providing a persistent thick foam. However, their impact on the body can be safely called negative. Penetrating through the skin, they are deposited in the organs and cause denaturation of protein structures. Sodium lauryl sulfate has a tougher effect. In the process of washing the head, an oxidation process occurs, and the oxide film settles on the skin and hair, violating their natural structure. It promotes irritation and dandruff. Over time, this component can lead to hair loss
- Triethanolamine, TEA (triethanolamine) - the base substance that is part ofshampoos and soaps. It is dangerous because it reacts with nitrogen in human blood. As a result, nitrosamines are formed, which are considered dangerous carcinogens. Experts classify triethanolamine as a potentially toxic substance.
- Methylisothiazolinone, MIT (methylisothiazolinone) is a compound that is also often included in shampoo formulations. It can provoke an allergic reaction. The destructive effect of MIT on human nerve cells was also revealed.
- Dimeticone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane and other silicone derivatives are controversial for their usefulness. Some tend to consider them necessary to give hair shine and volume. Opponents argue that the short duration of this effect cannot be compared with the harmful effects of silicones. They are not completely washed off, accumulate over time in the form of a sticky film that attracts dust and other contaminants. Hair is under a lot of stress, blood supply and respiration of the bulbs are deteriorating. As a result, the hair becomes thinner.
- Glycerin (glycerin) - is considered a good moisturizing ingredient. However, this rule works provided that the humidity is greater than that in the hair. Otherwise, glycerin will suck water out of the hair and scalp. For dry type hair, this is unacceptable.
- Propylene Glycol, PPG (propylene glycol), Polyethylene Glycol, PEG (polyethylene glycol) are glycerin derivatives that manufacturers like to saturate shampoo formulations with. They can also cause allergic reactions in the form of dermatitis anddry out hair and scalp. Penetrating through the pores, they accumulate in the liver and kidneys, causing their normal functioning to fail.
Can natural cosmetics contain chemicals?
All of the above substances have to some extent a 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. Whether this is really so, you can decide for yourself by carefully studying the composition of these funds. If the first positions are chemical compounds from the list above, then the promises of manufacturers are just a marketing trick.
By definition, natural or organic cosmetics must not contain synthetic chemical ingredients. If you find any in a shampoo that is called natural, then this is pure fraud.
Is Pure Line shampoo good?
Let's take, for example, the well-known and successful brand "Chistaya Liniya" on the market. The manufacturer of this brand assures us of the naturalness of its product, saying that 80% of the shampoos in the series consist of decoctions of medicinal herbs. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Let's take a closer look at the composition of the Pure Line shampoo, in particular, on a nettle decoction. So, carefully examining the label, we see the following:
- water;
- sodium laureth sulfate is 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 washing formula of the shampoo. Obviously, such ingredients cannot be called natural. Further, the composition of the Pure Line shampoo includes:
- perfume - the aromatic component of the product;
- herbal extracts: 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%) - for dissolving fragrances.
Apparently, the fragrance of this shampoo is due to a synthetic fragrance composition. Next on the list are a variety of preservatives, fragrances and dyes:
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone, diazodinyl urea, methylisothiazolinone, propylparaben, ethylparaben and sodium acetate all have antibacterial properties. For people with sensitive skin, these components can become quite strong allergens.
- Isopropyl alcohol is a preservative and antibiotic.
- Benzyl salicylate, butylphenyl methylpropional - fragrances and their additives.
- Dyes.
The green color of the shampoo also appeared due to synthetic dyes, and not because of the promised nettle decoction.
From the foregoing, it is worth concluding that the shampoos of the Pure Line series are ordinary hygiene products with a chemical composition. Yes, they contain a small inclusion of herbal extracts, but quiteaggressive chemical principle is not suitable for people with dry, irritated and allergy-prone scalp.
What is special about Natura Siberica shampoos?
Let's now turn to the famous Natura Siberica shampoos. This brand is positioned as organic cosmetics.
This statement has been rigorously tested 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 does not contain chemical detergents, parabens, silicones and other aggressive substances.
Let's take a closer look at the composition of Natura Siberica shampoo. Depending on the type of product, organic extracts may vary, but the main ingredients are as follows:
- Water.
- Organic soapwort extract: Stimulates hair growth, balances scalp oiliness, treats dermatitis and eczema, prevents dandruff.
This is the soap base of the shampoo, 100% natural. This quality makes Natura Siberica products affordable for people with scalp diseases, allergic reactions and damaged hair.
In addition to the soap base, Natura Siberica shampoo contains organic extracts of the following plants:
- lungwort, which strengthens bulbs and prevents hair loss;
- cedar elfin, which soothes the scalp, enhances blood microcirculation, enhances the nutrition of hairbulbs;
- string that fights dandruff, eliminates irritation;
- Siberian iris that stabilizes 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.
At the end of the list are preservatives, food colorings and fragrances. 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 is a fragrance made from essential oils.
Thus, the composition of this product confirms its organic status and makes it possible for people to use even with serious problems of the scalp and hair.
Horsepower Shampoo Secret
A beautiful girl and a he althy horse on the packaging of this product make people want to try the effectiveness of the "magic elixir" for themselves. Who among us has not admired the beauty and strength of a horse's mane? It is this effect that the advertising campaign of the popular product is designed for.
Let's try to figure out what makes Horsepower Shampoo so special. Its composition is as follows:
- Water.
- Sodium laureth sulfate is our old friend, a rather aggressive chemical blowing agent.
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a substance that softens the effects of laureth sulfate.
- Glyceret cocoate and glycerin are the conditional moisturizing ingredients mentioned at the beginning of the article. May dry out 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.
- Perfume fragrance.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone are preservatives that can provoke allergies.
Despite the presence of valuable products, in general, the ingredients of this remedy are ordinary. Horsepower Shampoo, which is mostly chemical and rather harsh, may not be suitable for people with dry and irritated scalp and dehydrated hair.
How to choose the right baby shampoo?
The choice of baby hygiene products 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, children's shampoos should not contain components such as sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates, parabens, silicones, glycerin, propylene glycol, dyes and synthetic fragrances.
Caution should be exercised when using products with herbal extracts, especially in babies with allergic reactions. To suchsupplements include calendula extract, almond oil, tea tree oil and shea butter.
Cocoglucoside and cocamidopropyl betaine are usually included as surfactants in baby shampoo. These non-anionic detergents are very gentle on baby's skin and soften it. Not bad when there is glyceryl oleate in baby shampoo. This substance is native to the skin of a child, it restores its barrier functions.
Which shampoo do you prefer?
Whether to use only organic cosmetics or regular shampoo from the mass market is a personal matter for everyone. If there are no particular problems with the scalp and hair, then, in principle, the most ordinary shampoo will do. But people who care about their he alth 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. Rinse the shampoo thoroughly when washing your hair. Use products with silicone only on the ends of the hair no more than twice a week. With special attention, select shampoos for children. Be aware of hazardous chemicals and avoid products containing them.
