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If you are concerned about hair loss, it’s important to be careful when picking out shampoo. Specifically, it’s crucial to make sure that you are avoiding any scalp-irritating and hair-damaging shampoo ingredients that could be exacerbating your hair loss woes.
With that in mind, keep reading for the harmful shampoo ingredients you should never use again because they can lead to instant hair loss–and how you can spot them.
Alcohol
Alcohol can dry out your hair, leading it to become more breakable and susceptible to damage. With that in mind, if you are concerned about thinning hair and hair loss, check your shampoo ingredients.
According to WebMD, if alcohols have "prop" in their name, try staying away. Fatty alcohols (like cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol), on the other hand, can actually help moisturize dry locks.
Fragrance
While speaking to Mane Addicts, dermatologist Dr. Naissan O. Wesley explained how fragrance in hair products can lead to scalp inflammation and irritation, especially for those with sensitive scalps.
Wesley, who acts as a scientific advisor for Arbonne, explained, "Switching to a fragrance-free shampoo can be helpful for those with sensitive skin on the scalp, dry flaky scalp, or itching."
Sulfates
Sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are popular in shampoos because they help create a lathering effect, cleaning the hair of oils and dirt. Unfortunately, it can lead to serious problems for thin and dry hair and can seriously irritate your scalp.
Healthline explains that the "sudsy effects of sulfate shampoo can strip out too much of the natural oils needed to keep your strands healthy."
Botanical Oils
Shab Reslan, scalp and hair loss expert, trichologist and HairClub's artistic educator and master stylist, spoke to SheFinds about how these oils can impact your hair health.
She tells SheFinds, "Many plant-based hair product brands contain high concentrations of botanical oils --these are intrinsically irritating ingredients and if combined with alcohol, the penetration is enhanced on the scalp, which may increase irritation in sensitive individuals."
