Most of us don't like change. When it comes to our beauty regime, for example, we tend to stick to tried and tested techniques and products that have held us in good stead for many years.
Quite simply, if it works, why change it?
What you may not be aware of though, especially when it comes to washing your hair, is the damage that some products containing strong detergents can do to your skin and hair.
Scalp itchiness and flakiness, alongside dry and frizzy locks, are often caused by the continual use of harsh detergents.
The answer? Chemical free shampoo.
Free from harsh chemicals, natural shampoo contains a variety of plant and herb extracts, offering plenty of benefits for those who care about the future state of their hair.
But what do you need to look out for as you attempt to pick the finest natural shampoo to meet the unique needs of your tresses?
Find out below …
Deciding On a Natural Shampoo
Most natural shampoos will comprise of plant and herb extracts, which combine to improve the shine and vitality of your hair.
Aside from these enhancing properties, a natural product can even boost hair growth as its ingredients serve to give your hair follicles a much needed shot in the arm.
Typically, keep an eye out for products that contain natural ingredients, including:
- Coconut oil
- Aloe vera
- Organic shea butter
- Beta glucan
- Organic tea tree oil
As a rule of thumb, though, leave products with more than nine ingredients on the shelf, as they tend to contain a variety of synthetic ingredients that do your hair more harm than good.
While various natural shampoos claim to be organic, their ingredients often tell a different story.
Consequently, try to avoid products that contain the following harmful ingredients:
- Sodium lauryl sulphates
- Ammonium lauryl sulphate
- Mureth sulphate
- Siloxanes
- Offshoots of lauryl alcohol
Explore the Advantages of Chemical Free Shampoo
Aside from its regenerative qualities, chemical free shampoo leaves your hair feeling clean and healthy, and strengthens it from root to tip.
Additionally, natural shampoo is non-allergenic, making it perfect for allergy sufferers, those with sensitive skin or those with a discerning eye for the chemicals contained in everyday products.
While shampoos that contain detergents will clean almost anything from your hair, they also strip it of natural protective lipids that protect the hair from disintegration caused by wind and rain.
You're unlikely to scrub your skin until it's raw and bleeding, so why treat your scalp that way?
What's more, shampoos that contain chemicals can cause internal changes to the body, denature hair proteins and even imitate the oestrogen hormone.
But that's not all …
Sodium chloride, often found in non-natural shampoos, can make your hair dryer than sandpaper in the desert, leading to scalp cracks, dandruff and psoriasis.
Further, sodium sulphates have been shown to bind with nitrates to create a carcinogenic substance that causes cataracts and contributes to infertility in men.
So put down your non-natural shampoo, step back slowly and come on over to the natural side …
