4 Shampoo Ingredients You Should Never Use On Thinning Hair–They Make Fallout So Much Worse!

Making any move at all when you have thinning hair — whether that means trying a new shampoo or conditioner or even brushing your hair too often during the day — can feel risky. Seeing evidence of more hair shedding on your brush or the bathroom floor is stressful and it’s understandable that you’d want to avoid anything, including products, that can make matters worse. The shampoo you are using can make a difference in helping to combat hair shedding, but the opposite is also true: you could be using a shampoo that contains ingredients that can be extremely drying and have negative consequences, especially on fragile thinning hair.

As always, knowledge is power in beauty. Experts say these four shampoo ingredients should be avoided, especially if you have thinning hair, because they make fallout so much worse. Here’s what to keep out of your shower and what to include instead.

Typically listed as Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) or Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) in your products ingredient list, sulfates are the single worst ingredient for hair, says Lisa Abbey, founder and CEO of Strength x Beauty Hair Care, especially if it’s fine or thinning, because sulfates dry out the hair and scalp and can increase hair loss and hair fall.

“What you should look for instead when buying shampoo: Glucosides, like coconut oils are the gentlest sulfate-free hair and skin cleansers,” Abbey said. “Fatty Acid Isethionates are another good substitute, made from the fatty acids in coconuts. Glutamates and Amino Acid Sulfosuccinates are also gentle, are typically used in products made for sensitive skin and can be found in many organic products.”

“Sodium Chloride is basically salt and depletes the natural moisture in the hair, leaving it dry and brittle and more prone to breakage,” Abbey says. “Additionally it can irritate dry or sensitive scalp. Instead, we recommend products made with coconut-based  Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate or Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, which are salt and sodium free, much gentler and more conditioning.”

Polyethylene Glygols, or PEGS, are thickening agents that typically utilize by-products that are considered unhealthy for the human body and can affect hair thickness and growth, Abbey notes. She suggests looking for healthier substitutions like Hydroxyethylcellulose,  gelatin and Xantham or Locust Bean Gum instead.

Parabens are a preservative that keeps your shampoo stable, but are known to be harmful to the human body and have been linked to certain cancers, according to Abbey. Fortunately, many manufacturers are beginning to omit this ingredient from products, but it’s still a good idea to read labels and avoid shampoos that contains parabens.