Matrix Amplify Volumizing Exaggerates
This shampoo is a little costlier, but keep in mind that money does not always define quality. The Matrix Amplify Volumizing shampoo, which is evidently a shampoo formulated specifically for volume, does not deliver. Two women complained about it on Total Beauty.
One said, “This shampoo is awful. It smells good, but totally stripped the color from my hair and didn’t really add much volume at all.”
Another one said, “This product didn’t give my hair any extra volume. In fact, I think it became more flat after using this shampoo and conditioner. It smells nice, but doesn’t do anything for my thin, flat hair.”
What Ingredients Should Your Shampoo & Conditioner Contain
Choose a sulphate free formula with mild surfactants. You could look for humectants like coconut oil to counter any roughness, quaternium salts to condition hair and silicon oils for shine and lustre.
Look for oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and palm oil in your conditioners that help nourish your hair. Hydrolyzed keratin is an ingredient that you can opt for in your conditioner that repairs damaged hair.
Butters like mango butter and shea butter form a protective layer around the cuticle of your hair. Vitamin E, argan oil and vitamin B5 are also great conditioning ingredients that not only nourish your hair, but make the hair fall flat.
Make sure you buy from brands that disclose their full list of ingredients on the labels or website. Sometimes, even plant derived ingredients may cause allergies in some people. Watch out for potential irritants whenever you are buying shampoos and conditioners.
Wrapping Up
Our regulatory bodies are not very strict when it comes to the ever evolving beauty industry. Thus, toxic ingredients in hair care products are accumulating in your bodies and on our planet to cause harm. So, don’t forget to read labels on your shampoo and conditioner bottles before you make a purchase decision.
Loreal Because Its Not Worth It
Drugstore shampoos are not worth the money you save. L’Oreal Elvive shampoo has a long list of chemical ingredients, among them glycerin, which is used as antifreeze in cars, and citric acid that is a preservative but is also used in stop baths when developing photographs, as Wired reports. Just the thought of how chemical this product is should immediately put you off.
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Ingredients To Avoid In Your Shampoo And Conditioner
Going green has become a priority among many. This might mean making a conscious effort to use reusable bags or swapping beauty and cleaning products for all-natural or organic choices. If youve been looking to clean up your lifestyle, a simple way to help the environment and maintain good personal health is through your hair care products. Year after year, hair care companies continue to put chemicals and toxic ingredients in their products the words parabens and formaldehyde might ring a bell These components not only leave lasting damage to the environment, but they can cause severe damage to your hair and scalp. If your scalp is damaged, you could face dry, brittle, and heavy tresses.
Below, weve compiled a list of eight dangerous ingredients to look out for the next time you look to buy shampoo or conditioner.
The One Biosilk Shampoo That Does Not Cut It
Biosilk is at at the top when it comes to hair care. Most of their products are A-class goodies, but this shampoo failed us. It gets a 2.3 out of 5 on Makeup Alley, with some scary reports, such as this one:
“I will never buy this product ever again, even if it is the last shampoo on earth. It makes my scalp physically sore. So sore. It causes my hair to fall out, to the point I thought something was seriously wrong with me. Please don’t waste your money or your hair on this crap product.”
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What Ingredients In Your Shampoo Are Good For Hair
According to the ancient science of Ayurveda, certain herbs are enriched in Keshya properties which benefit your hair. Ayurvedic shampoos and conditioners use these specific Keshya herbs to cleanse, nourish and boost hair growth. In the Ayurvedic system, it is believed that when your Tridoshas or Life Energies are not in harmony, the normal body functions are interrupted.
For the body to stay healthy, all three Doshas need to be balanced. The Keshya herbs help balance Doshas to prevent them from affecting the health of your hair. Each herb mentioned below performs a specific Keshya function that substitutes the harmful chemical agents added in non-herbal shampoos and conditioners. Read on to choose the perfect combination of herbs to suit your hair needs.
Shampoos & Conditioners That Are Best For Your Health
These sulfate-free shampoo brands also do not contain added phthalates or parabens. They may contain preservatives, but not ones Im concerned about. If you are looking for shampoo free of chemicals, you should feel comfortable using just about any of the products on this list. Most rely on natural ingredients like essential oils, coconut oil, argan oil, tea tree oil, shea butter, aloe vera, to provide cleansing and moisture to various hair types. In addition to being free of harsh chemicals, most of these brands are also cruelty-free and/or eco-friendly and most are made from organic ingredients. We also looked specifically for fragrance-free brands that were marked with a and natural, curly, or coiled friendly brands marked with to help you find them.
We hope this list will help you make informed decisions about chemical-free shampoos you can feel safe switching to. For more information on how to avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals in your personal care products, pick up a copy of Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier .
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Alleged Irritation And Hair Loss Due To Dmdm Hydantoin
Castillo argues that she and other consumers were not warned about the potential for scalp irritation and hair loss before purchasing the TRESemmé keratin shampoo. The same legal document states, At least one ingredient in the product, DMDM hydantoin, is a formaldehyde donor known to slowly leach formaldehyde when coming into contact with water. Formaldehyde is a well-known human carcinogen that can cause cancer and other harmful reactions when absorbed into skin.
Previously, Unilever faced legal action over this ingredient and its Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion products. That complaint triggered a recall of the products in 2012 and a 2016 settlement worth $10.25 million.
Despite having public knowledge since at least 2012 that DMDM hydantoin as a formaldehyde donor can cause or contribute to hair loss and scalp irritation, Unilever continued to include this ingredient as a preservative in its products, and even goes so far as to represent to the public that DMDM hydantoin is safe for use in its hair care products, the TRESemmé hair loss class-action lawsuit alleges.
Previously: Clarisonic Faces Class-action Lawsuit for Waterproofing Defect
An Unworthy Expensive Shampoo
Woah $60 for a shampoo and it is on our “worst shampoos” list how could that be?
One would think the Alterna Ten Shampoo would be a gift on earth, instead the outrageous price does not match the quality of the shampoo. A Total Beauty reviewer said,
“I used a small amount of the shampoo like it said to and my hair ended up limp, lifeless and full of static. My hair was impossible to style – no body and wouldn’t hold a curl for anything.”
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Can Some Shampoos Cause Hair Loss
Usually, shampoos are formulated with preservatives, alcohol and thickening resins that you directly massage into your scalp. Some of these ingredients are difficult to rinse off and they tend to stick to your scalp, leading to hair loss eventually. These ingredients build up on your scalp and cause inflammation.
The inflammation around your hair follicles makes your hair roots loose and fragile. Also, it prevents the growth of new hair. Due to the fear of hair fall, many people opt for no-poo or low-poo methods. This way they use alternatives of shampoo for washing their hair.
But, its true that not all shampoos cause hair loss. Many mild and natural ingredients based shampoos are recommended for daily hair wash. Hair experts suggest that using a mild hair cleanser for washing hair is the best way to achieve healthy hair and maintain your scalps health too. Also, applying a hydrating conditioner is a must.
What Ingredient In Shampoo Causes Hair Loss
Here is a list of ingredients that you should avoid when choosing your shampoo :
Parabens
Parabens are a group of preservatives typically added to shampoos to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria. However, they can get easily absorbed by the skin, penetrating deeply, and causing allergic reactions, skin irritation, itchiness and flaking, which can ultimately lead to hair loss.
Silicones
Silicones are added to shampoos to coat the hair strands and lock moisture inside the hair, preventing frizz. However, they can also cause product build-up on your scalp, which can block your hair follicles and prevent the nourishing ingredients from reaching your hair, leading to thinning hair and hair loss.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
SLS is a foaming agent found in many types of shampoos. It is what creates that rich lather weve all grown to love. However, sulfates also strip away the natural oils and cause imbalances in the activity of the sebaceous glands, cause damage to the proteins in your hair and irritate your scalp, which ultimately can lead to hair breakage and hair loss.
Mineral oils
Mineral oils act as lubricants, and they might help reduce tangles. But, sometimes, they can suffocate your scalp, create build-up and and weigh down the otherwise healthy hair. Mineral oils may also contain contaminants that are known to cause skin irritation and scalp imbalances.
Isopropyl alcohol
Phthalates
Hexachlorophene
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Dangerous Chemicals In Conditioners
Like shampoo, conditioner suffers from many of the same problems when it comes to surfactants, preservatives, and fragrance, but it has one more problematic ingredient category, emulsifiers.
Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers combine oil and water to stop them from separating in your conditioner. They also soften your hair giving you that soft, flowy feeling. But though these emulsifiers, such as siloxanes, are effective, they dont break down in the environment. This is definitely bad news for aquatic life!
Philadelphia Women Claim Serious Damage
Robyn Lipetz and Shannon Keener, both from the greater Philadelphia area, claim that Unilever United States Inc., the maker of the TRESemmé line of hair care products, and Conopco Inc., its distributer, should be held liable for the serious damage they and others have suffered.
The hair loss and scalp injuries they suffered were caused by a chemical in the products DMDM hydantoin which is related to formaldehyde, their class action lawsuit says.
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that can cause cancer, and other less harmful reactions, when absorbed into the skin, which tends to happen when applied directly to the scalp, for instance. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, such as the DMDM hydantoin in TRESemmé keratin shampoo, may prevent microbes from forming in water-based substances.
Its use in the TRESemmé products is unnecessary, the class action lawsuit claims, because there are safer alternatives on the market now.
The class action lawsuit alleges that Unilever and Conopco have violated the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law and consumer fraud laws. The companys practice of not warning customers about the presence of DMDM hydantoin in the keratin products and the risk it poses of hair loss and scalp irritation amounts to breach of express, contract/common law and implied warranty as well as fraud and unjust enrichment, the class action lawsuit claims.
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What You Can Do For Healthier Hair
How you wash your hair and the products you use can affect the health of your hair. Here are some tips to get healthy hair:
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How often you wash your hair depends on how much oil your scalp makes. An oily scalp may need to be washed every day, but with less oil, less washing may be needed.
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When washing your hair, focus on cleaning mainly your scalp, not the length of your hair which can make it dull and coarse.
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Choose products specific for your hair type . Using a sulfate-free shampoo may also help if you have sensitive skin or are getting scalp irritation.
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Protect your hair when swimming.
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Minimize things that can damage your hair, like coloring, blow-drying, and curling.
Which Shampoos Should You Avoid
Sulfur. Itâs important to avoid shampoos that contain sulfur, which could worsen your hair loss. âWhile sulfur allows shampoos to lather well, it also strips the oils from your scalp, causing your hair to dry out and break,” Taub says. “This can actually lead to the appearance of thinning hair.â
“Thickening” shampoos. You may also want to use thickening shampoos and conditioners with caution. âOveruse can clog pores, which in turn restricts the scalp from oxygen, leading to increased inflammation,â Taub says.
Caffeine and herbs. Avoid shampoos that contain caffeine and other herbs. âThey are common in the marketplace but lack a clear scientific basis,â Taub says. Caffeine causes vasoconstriction and limits blood flow. When supporting hair growth, you want to support healthy blood flow to the root of the hair to deliver oxygen and nutrients.
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Consumers Suffer Tresemm Hair And Scalp Damage
Lipetz, 67, purchased TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color between January and February and used the product for two weeks. She says she stopped when she began experiencing redness, hotness and itchiness on her scalp and noticed she was developing bald spots.
Keeners experience was more severe, she says. The 32-year-old bought the same shampoo as Lipetz, plus the TRESemmé keratin conditioner. She used the products for two months and in the end had to seek medical treatment, according to the class action lawsuit.
Keener noticed scalp irritation, blisters, pimples, and a burning sensation on her scalp after the first few uses. After continued use of the products also began experiencing hair loss, where clumps of hair would fall out when showering, brushing, or even touching her hair, the class action lawsuit says.
In February, she sought medical treatment from her primary care doctor and dermatologist due to the continued irritation to her scalp and hair loss.
She was prescribed a medicated shampoo to treat the injury, she says.
Nowhere on the package labeling or on Unilevers websites or other marketing materials did Unilever warn that they were at risk of significant hair loss and/or scalp irritation, the class action alleges.
Synthetic Fragrances And Colors
Fragrances and colors are terrible in every way. Not only are these components unnecessary, but they are also harmful to your skin and can cause several health issues. The word fragrance is a loophole manufacturers use to avoid listing chemicals and whatever else was used to create the fragrance. Ultimately, theres no way of knowing what all youre getting in the product. The danger is that most of the chemicals used to create fragrances can lead to infertility, irritation, hair loss, asthma, and cancer.
Synthetic colors are also a danger when found in your shampoo and conditioner. Color is derived from petroleum and coal-tar. These two things are known to cause a range of health issues. When checking the label, look for the terms FD& C or D& C combined with a number.
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