How to Read the Ingredients List for Natural Shampoo

Thu, Jul 30, 2009

You may use natural shampoo for many reasons. People like to use shampoos that they feel are “green.” Others have found that washing with natural ingredients leads to healthier hair. Others still have found that natural shampoo is easier on dyed hair. Also people prefer to use natural body washes and natural shampoos.

However, the word natural can be deceiving. Sometimes it really does just mean natural ingredients. Natural ingredients can mean nearly anything that has been derived from nature. This means that a shampoo might contain a few natural ingredients and a lot of unnatural ones. Generally a few preservatives and a little dye can be okay. Though if you have sensitive skin you might have a bit more trouble with artificial colors and fragrances. The seriously problematic ingredients though tend to undo the benefits of natural ingredients.

Keep a close eye out for lauryl- and laureth sulfate. This is what causes shampoo foam. However, in addition it strips hair. The result is hair that is brittle and weak. Also, it undermines color treatments. Excessive lauryl sulfate in shampoos end up lightening and dulling hair. When you are checking ingredients avoid anything with the words lauryl or laureth.

Always also look out for sulfides and sulfur. These are quite common in dandruff shampoos. It would certainly be fair to say that sulfur is natural. But it can actually exacerbate some types of skin conditions and cause dandruff. Sulfur based shampoos must be kept out of your eyes. You might also end up with hair that is drier than usual.

Natural shampoos tend to share common characteristics:

* They have few ingredients - The majority of the components in most shampoos are artificial. Most natural shampoo products just contain a soap base and minimal other ingredients.

* You will not see much foam when using natural shampoos - This is because most foam is caused by natural agents.

* They often contain ingredients you would look for in your kitchen - You might see apple cider vinegar, herbs and baking soda. In fact a number of people just use vinegar and baking soda to wash their hair.

If you have perfect hair already, then stick with your current plan! If you are looking for a new natural shampoo, though, be sure that you are getting the real deal. The secret ingredients that we discussed can cause serious damage. Make sure that your natural shampoo is really natural before you start washing your hair with it.