So… Is drugstore shampoo bad? Well, kinda…
There has been a recent uprising against drugstore shampoo, and we can tell you it’s for the right reasons. While not all drugstore shampoo deserves the blame, most of them do, and it’s for their ingredients and the false hopes they sell.
Ever wondered what the difference between a luxury shampoo and the shampoos you find at your local drugstore is? Even if both are meant to cleanse your scalp, the difference lies in their ingredients.
While the luxury brands use mild chemicals, the drug store ones contain some harsh chemicals that slowly ruin your beautiful mane slowly. You might feel your scalp is all clean and free from sebum, but these chemicals are just stripping your scalp of all the good things along with dirt, and this is why drugstore shampoo is bad for your scalp and hair.
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What Shampoo Ingredients To Avoid?
Next time when you go buy a shampoo, look out for these ingredients and keep the shampoo bottle back on the rack if you find any one of these:
1. Sulfates
Sulfates are the prime culprits in making the shampoo bad and a big no for your hair. This ingredient causes your shampoo to foam that smooth and bubbly lather as you rub it between your palms.
Your scalp produces some natural oils to protect itself and the hair. Using sulfates on your scalp rips off these natural oils, making your hair appear even drier in the long run.
Of all the sulfates used in shampoos, the most harmful ones are Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
2. Parabens
Parabens are usually added to shampoo bottles to extend their shelf life and do nothing but harm to your hair. This class of chemicals is known to cause skin irritations and disrupt your natural hormone production.
Even when they claim they are free of parabens, most brands hide these chemicals under the alias butylparaben, ethylparaben, etc.
So if you have been experiencing an unusually high rate of itching and other scalp irritations, rush to your bathroom and read the labels of your shampoo and conditioner for these chemicals. If you find them, throw them out at once.
3. Triclosan
Triclosan is a carcinogenic substance that is usually found in shampoos, detergents, and even toothpaste. The substance is used for its anti-bacterial properties and to prevent contamination when the shampoos are left open for a while.
The chemical is linked to cursing hormone disruption issues, depression, and even cancer.
4. Dimethicone
Another popular chemical added to shampoos is dimethicone. Brands claim that this substance helps to give a smooth and finished look to your hair. But in reality, it causes a build-up in your scalp and weighs your hair down even further.
The build-up then blocks your roots and prevents the moisturizing scalp oils from reaching the lengths of your hair. During the cause of time, this substance clogs your scalp pores and even leads to hair fall.
5. Synthetic fragrances
You must have noticed that most of your drugstore shampoos smell and even look good. This is because they are loaded with synthetic fragrances and colors to mask the original appearance of the combination and to attract customers.
The reality is that these fragrances do nothing but cause damage to your scalp and hair. In most cases, companies use the term fragrances to hide the chemicals that are usually deemed harmful to the scalp. The fragrances can trigger hair fall, cause skin irritation and even trigger asthma attacks for some when inhaled for a long time.
So next time when you run out of shampoos, do one thing.
Conduct thorough research at home and see which of your favorite drugstore brands disqualify your initial screening. Identify your scalp issues, and then choose a shampoo that’s free from the above chemicals.
You can either go for a custom-made shampoo or a luxe shampoo. It will surely cost more than what you pay for the drugstore items. But, if that’s the price you have to pay to get a healthy scalp and thereby eliminate carcinogens from your daily life, so be it.
Trust us. It’s worth every penny!
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