Hair loss can be genetic, it can be due to hormonal changes, age, stress but it can also be from the very hair products you use. There are chemicals in your products that can be damaging and increase hair loss if you aren’t careful.
Here are 5 hair care product ingredients you’ll want to stay away from:
Sulfate
Sulfate is known to be one of the most damaging chemicals to your hair and exacerbates hair loss. You’ll want to check the ingredients list on your shampoos and stay away from sodium lauryl sulfates and sodium laureth sulfates. Sulfates are stripping and although they remove oil and dirt, they also remove too much moisture causing a dry and unhealthy hair & scalp. Your natural oils are stripped and it leads to breakage and poor hair growth.
Propylene Glycol
This chemical is commonly used in shampoo and hair dye. It is favorable because it leaves your hair feeling soft and manageable. Your hair will be shiny and have the appearance of health but the cons outweigh the pros in this instance as this also causes scalp irritation and eats away at hair proteins, causing breakage.
Parabens
You may have heard “paraben free” be mentioned more often from hair companies and that’s because it’s been discovered that they are endocrine disrupting. Parabens interfere with our natural hormones and have been known to cause breast cancer and reproductive issues. Hormones changes can create hair loss so if you see any of these listed on the product, put it back on the shelf:
- Methylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Propylparaben
Silicones
Silicones are another tricky product ingredient as they also make your hair feel incredibly soft and manageable. Silicone coats your hair in a thin layer that prevents frizz and makes your hair shine. The issue arises as the silicone begins to build up on your hair. Since silicone coats your hair, it blocks water and dries out your hair, creating brittleness and breakage. Silicones have many names but typically the word ends in “cone” for example: “dimethicone.”
Synthetic Fragrances
Chemical fragrances are in most products as scent plays a big role in consumers purchasing a product. Unfortunately the term “fragrance” is often used to hide what additional chemicals they are adding that are harmful to your health and hair. These fragrances have causes migraines, asthma, and chronic lung disease. They are also another hormone disruptor that can cause hair loss.
Sodium Chloride
Sodium Chloride is salt and salt is drying. Salt draws out moisture through the process of osmosis and although that is great for preserving meat, it isn’t great for your hair follicles. This chemical causes breakage and hair loss.
Always read the ingredients label to any food or hair products you use. If you are unsure of what it could be, a quick google search of the chemical could tell you whether it is safe or not.
If you’re dealing with hair loss, consider a hair replacement system so that you can regain your confidence, and look your absolute best. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, Man Hair is the leading solution for men’s hair replacement. Follow us on facebook to stay up to date.