Short Answer:  You’re right to worry, personal care products (like shampoo/conditioner) can have ingredients that cause more harm than good. Learn to read labels and watch out for hair-care products containing the following ten chemicals…

1.Fragrance:  

This is at the top of the bad list. Fragrance is “a trade secret” which means there could be literally dozens (or hundreds) of chemicals involved and the manufacturer does not have to list what they are, since fragrance is not regulated by the FDA. If the fragrance in your product comes from a natural essential oil, it will say that on the packaging. If not, you could be exposing your scalp to a toxic mix of chemical additives. You have no way of knowing what’s in the mix, so when you see “fragrance, best to skip it.

2.Parabens:

Used to prolong the shelf life of a hair-care product, this chemical is an endocrine disruptor and could pose a cancer risk. The presence of this toxic preservative is indicated by any word that ends in paraben, like methylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, etc.

3.Sulfates:

AKA, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). Sulfates are detergents that give shampoos their foamy lather. They are very harsh detergents, so they can actually strip your hair of its natural oil, leaving it dry and prone to damage.  Sulfates also irritate the skin and eyes.Even more disturbing, during the process of making the sulfate less harsh for the skin (called ethoxylation), a carcinogenic byproduct (1,4-dioxane) is formed, which shows up on the label as SLES.

4.Formaldehyde:

They put this in shampoo? Unfortunately, yes. It’s used as a preservative and it’s highly irritating to eyes and skin. It is also a known animal carcinogen, indicating possible cancer risk in humans. Formaldehyde can also cause hair loss. So if you see it on the label, steer clear.

5.Propylene Glycol:

This is the antifreeze in your car (yes, you read that right). It is added to shampoo to help with consistency and to keep the product from freezing during transport. It is also a well-known skin and eye irritant and can cause allergic reaction.

6.Polyethylene Glycol (PEG):

Polyethylene glycol or PEG has been classified by the state of California as a “developmental toxicant” meaning it can interfere with human development. It’s also known to be contaminated by the cancer-causer dioxane.

7.Triclosan:

This is an antibacterial agent often added to products as a preservative. It is thought to be an endocrine disruptor, meaning it could pose a cancer risk. It has also been linked to immune system problems, and skin, eye, and lung irritation.

8.Isopropyl (or other) Alcohol:

A lot of hair-care products contain some form of alcohol, which can dry out your hair leaving it vulnerable to damage. Steer clear of shampoos with alcohol listed as one of the first four ingredients (this means there is more than usual in the product).

9.Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA):

Products containing DEW or TEA can cause scalp irritation and bad allergic reactions. They also destroy all the good stuff in your hair (like keratin), making your hair dry, brittle, and flat.

10.Dimethicone:

A silicone oil that can make the scalp and skin very dry and irritated. It forms an almost plastic-like barrier on the outside of the skin and traps bacteria, sebum, and impurities with it. It is also an eye irritant and is non-biodegradable, so it’s bad news for the environment.

Shampoos and conditioners can potentially contain a host of toxic ingredients. It’s worth reading the fine print! If you see a harmful ingredient on the label, you may want to reconsider and buy something else.  

The good news, due to health-conscious consumers becoming more savvy there are a lot of “clean” options for hair-care products on the market now, with more are being added all the time. This should make finding a product that you like AND feel good about using, a little bit easier.