Selecting Shampoos Based On Ingredients

By
image source:shampoostyle.wordpress.com
Most of the questions I get from my facebook pals have to do with how to choose a shampoo from the lot. With the  kind of attendants at most cosmetic shops in our markets, it is always safer to know the exact product you are looking for (see an encounter in Gossip Train5#Shopping Time). From what I've learnt, depending on your hair needs, there are several considerations in the choice of a shampoo. I will discuss two categories; choice based on component/ingredient and selection based on purpose/function.We are going to use a bit of science so buckle up!

According to thedailybeast.com,Paula Begoun, author of Beautypedia.com states that only the first five or six ingredients of shampoos impact the formula’s effectiveness.  Thedailybeast.com lists them as follows:


  1. Water
  2. Surfactant
  3. Foaming agents
  4. An acidic ingredient
  5. Silicones
  6. Polyquaternium
  7. Panthenol, fatty alcohols, and nut oils
  8. Midazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl, isothiazolinone, and sodium benzoate (preservatives)
Basically, in the hair world, what has received a lot of attention is the numbers 2 and 5 but for today, it's the 2 we'll dissect (see The Concern Over Silicones for info on number 5).  Surfactants play a vital role in the cleansing process. A surfactant is a substance that, when dissolved in water, gives a product the ability to remove dirt from surfaces such as the human skin, textiles, and other solids.(scienceinthebox.com). Some surfactants are considered to be harsher on the hair than others and this is the concern of hair enthusiasts. The shampoos that contain these harsh surfactants are termed "sulfate based shampoos" whereas those without these ingredients are termed "sulfate free" shampoos.We'll label the sulfate ingredients as "GROUP A" and these include:
  • Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS)
  •  sodium lauryl ether sulfate(SLES) 
  • Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS)
  • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Let's do a little bit of science...Wikipedia.com explains that SLS or SLES, is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products.Even though the group A type of surfactants are meant to cleanse our hair, the concern over them has to do with:
  • stripping the hair of its natural moisture, making it frizzy and unmanageable 
  •  studies showing that long-term sulfate use can lead to damaged hair follicles, hair loss and hair breakage.
The question is, which surfactant is safer to use? We'll label it as "GROUP B". These include;
  • Sodium Myreth Sulfate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (also known as sodium isethionate  is a sodium salt derived from coconut oil)
  • Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate 
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (derived from coconut and palm oil)
  • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
I hope you are still with me.
Let's just say that when you pick up a shampoo, look out for these ingredients. Key them unto your phone and scan through whenever you chance upon a shampoo!
The misconception we have about shampoos is that the more it foams, the better it works. Most of the shampoos I use have the harsh surfactant  (now I know better). I combat the effect through diluting with water or wetting my hair thoroughly so it can be easily be distributed through the hair. When you have to use more of the shampoo to get more foam, you only expose the hair to the drying effects.

For my ladies who use bathing soap to clean their hair(yes, you), you are now aware of the harm you are doing to your hair. If something meant for the hair can be dangerous, how about what is meant for your soap bowl?

Whew! Enough for today. In the next write up, we'll focus on the classification of shampoos based on their purposes.

Visit Products page for a list of some sulfate free shampoos you can use. 

Emprezz

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_laureth_sulfate
http://www.curlynikki.com/search?q=sulfate
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/blogs/the-human-condition/2009/10/08/the-science-of-shampoo-what-the-ingredients-mean.html

Comments

  1. Dr fomsky1:25 pm

    Nice post and thanks for referring to my post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Obat Kuat5:20 am

    I love your blog, I look forward to seeing more from you. Do you run any other sites? thanks

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Speak your mind; I love to hear from you!

Popular Post

Herbs In Ghana: Bay Leaves

By
Image
Today's post brings out another common herb found easily in the market. It is mainly used in preparing soups and stews and has a very strong sweet aroma. Description Bay leaves are about 1 to 3 inches long and are oval with pointed ends. The leaves are shiny with dark green tops and are a lighter green underneath. For Dandruff For the divas searching for a remedy for dandruff, use Bay leaf tea. Boil a quart of water, the remove the pot from the stove and add about 3 teaspoons of crushed bay leaves.  Cover the pot and steep until cool. Pour some in the hair after shampooing and rinsing, and massage into the head for a few minutes. For best results, leave it in for an hour before rewashing hair.Each time you wash your hair you can use the bay leaf mixture as a soothing rinse that will help eliminate dandruff.  Bay Essential Oil Aides in hair growth Provides dull, lifeless hair with luster and shine. Curbs dandruff problems. Bay Oil Infusion Wash and dry all t
Read more

How To Use Chebe Powder and Oil On Relaxed Hair

By
Image
In case you have relaxed hair and wondering if you can use chebe powder the answer is a yes. All you need is to be able to plait your hair or twist up. You can also use cornrows. To prepare the chebe mixture, add a few tablespoon full to a creamy product. I usually recommend your moisturizer or butter for a good hold. Shampoo and condition your hair well and apply the chebe mixture. Plait up the hair and leave it for at least 7 days before reapplying the chebe mixture. When you are ready to wash out, which could be in a month or whenever you want, just shampoo the hair and condition as usual. You can use the mixture again for another couple of weeks. In case you need chebe powder or chebe oil, call or whatsapp 0541458372.
Read more

Do You Heat Your Conditioner?

By
Image
The heating of conditioner is something I learnt from a hair blogger where you heat only the deep conditioner you'll be using to make it  warm for application. This heating isn't new to me; I used to  do it with queen helene cholesterol using warm water as directed. This time,  you rather put the conditioner in the warm water. After trying this with  the Cantu sheabutter for natural hair Deep Treatment Masque,  I just had to find a way to incorporate it in my regimen daily. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="680" caption="Sheamoisture products available in the shop"] [/caption] In addition  to speeding up the absorption of the deep conditioner,   I found that the deep conditioner had extra slip because of the added oils which were also heated in the process. These two benefits of heating deep conditioners  before application can save you time and money as well as make your wash days easier.
Read more