Many of us have had the not so pleasant experience of buying a shampoo for one particular reason (i.e. deep cleansing) just to turn around and realize that the shampoo has a negative effect on another part of your head (i.e. dry scalp). Well, I have some good news and some bad news to share with you. The bad news is that there is no one shampoo for every hair type, you, your hair and your scalp are unique. The good news is that with some research and experimentation you can find the right product for you.
The number one thing to remember when choosing a shampoo is to read and reread the ingredient label!! We cannot stress this enough. Many sisters and brothers look at the Afro centric
designed packaging and the few descriptive words on the front label but pay little to no attention to the ingredients. Pronouncing those crazy words is difficult enough, not to mention knowing what they mean for your hair. Understanding the ins and outs of your shampoo can make or break your hair. Find a shampoo that is both nourishing and gentle to your hair and scalp.
Here is what you need to know.
· Water – De-ionized, sterilized and filtered water for purity.
· Potassium cocoate – Very high in saturated fat, derived from coconut kernels (coconut oil). Used for lathering. May possibly irritate the skin.
· Lauramide DEA – The primary fatty acid of coconut oil used to soften and as a foaming agent.
· Cocamidoproply betaine – Very high in saturated fat, derived from coconut oil. Foam boosting agent to assist in maintaining hair’s natural oils. May irritate the skin.
· Glycol Stearate – A mixture of glycerin and alcohol used as a humectants. Helps to blend ingredients and achieve the “pearling” effect of the shampoo. Some glycols may be harmful in large concentrations.
· Methyparaben – A widely used natural preservative. May cause allergic reactions.
· Sodium chloride- Used as an astringent. A salt to help adjust PH level and prevent static
· Disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate – Wetting agent used where mildness is essential
· Lauryl sulfate – derivative of laurel alcohol, which is created from coconut oil. Used for its foaming properties.
· Ammonium lauryl sulfate – Mild acidic surfactant, ammonium salt that comes from coconut alcohol. May cause curls to become dry.
· Sodium Laureth Sulfate – Coconut Oil, Ethanol
· Oxygen-based surfactant for gentle cleansing that is less drying than Ammonium. It’s a wetting and cleansing agent. May cause some dryness due to its degreasing ability.
· Aloe Barbadensis Leaf – Contains amino-acids and proteins to strengthen and rebuild weak and damaged hair.
· Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract – Stimulates regeneration of dead hair.
· Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) – Aids in mildly astringing the scalp of dead skin and dandruff to leave it cool and refreshed.
· Lawsonia Inermis Extract (Henna) – Highlights natural hair color, restores mildly damaged hair, protects hair from heat.
· Humulus Lupulus Extract (Hops) – Aids in nourishing and astringing the scalp and hair of unwanted particles.
· Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) – Anti-inflammatory, aids in hair regeneration.
· Prunus Serotina Bark (Cherry Bark) – Mild astringent to safely remove dirt and grime from hair and scalp.
· Polyquaternium-4 – Derived from wood, anti-static abilities, helps to aid in detangling.
· Simmondsia Chinensis – Jojoba seed oil to enrich hair with protein and to emulsify shampoo mixture.
· Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis – Sweet Almond oil adds essential proteins and helps to mildly clean hair and scalp.
Now you know what those ingredients mean to you. Good luck and happy experimenting.
Tip: If you know someone with healthy looking hair, do not be afraid to inquire about the products they are using. Sometimes just sharing information can lead to hair success. Tip: Shampoos aimed at making hair appear silky and straight is not the best shampoo for natural, curly, coil-like hair and vice versa.
