Caring for your hair is one of the best ways to ensure you’re combing lush locks for years and years to come… but hair care isn’t always as easy as regular washing and styling. In fact, because there are so many products on the market today, finding ones that are beneficial to your hair’s health is harder than ever!
The problem with many hair care products in Greensboro, NC is that while they might keep your hair clean and your scalp moisturized, they’re doing so while also being a detriment to your hair’s stability at a molecular level. Certain ingredients and synthetic compounds can do more harm than good, making it wise to avoid them whenever possible in your haircare regimen.
The next time you’re about to make a hair care product purchase, take a good long look at the label and see if you can spot any of the following five ingredients among the contents. If so, it might be wise to make a different purchase!
- Isopropyl alcohol: This is a major ingredient in many common brands of hair care products and one that’s going to be tough to avoid if you’re someone who likes to shop for “off the shelf” hair products. This chemical is often used as a binder for other chemicals put into hair products, but actually acts to dry your hair out. Hair that’s exposed to high amounts of isopropyl alcohol through regular hair product use will often feel dry, brittle and stiff.
- Chlorine: You won’t find chlorine listed on any hair care labels directly, but it’s important to realize that this chemical is present in many common brands under composite names—potassium chloride, for example—which are used to balance some of the more dangerous chemicals being used. Typically you’ll find chlorine in abrasive hair care products, like dyes and bleaches, making it important to research brands before jumping in and making a purchase!
- Mineral oil: What could be bad about mineral oil, you might ask? Plenty! A derivative of crude oil, mineral oil sounds innocent but it’s actually very harmful to hair and your ability to moisturize it. Mineral oil actually coats hair and disrupts natural moisture-absorption process. As a result, your hair will feel oilier and eventually dry out.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This chemical is often added to “extra strength” or “concentrated” versions of hair products and acts to produce voluminous bubbles, to give users the impression that more is less. In reality, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a major irritant that can break down proteins on the scalp, leaving your hair and scalp more susceptible to dryness, irritation, breakouts and hair loss.
- Artificial fragrance: That’s right, some of the great smells you experience when sniffing hair care products at the store are actually responsible for damaging your hair! Artificial fragrances can contain as many as 4,000 individual chemicals in varying degrees of toxicity, each leaving its own negative imprint on your hair. Instead, opt for hair care products in Greensboro, NC that have natural fragrances, such as lavender or menthol.
Now that you’re in the know about a few common offenders when it comes to proper hair care, it’s up to you to start checking labels and making informed purchasing decisions!