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Although you might think that all shampoos are good for your hair, the truth is less simple. Many shampoo brands incorporate other ingredients in their product–ingredients that may dry out your hair, irritate your scalp, and even contribute to hair loss. To prevent this, paying close attention to your shampoo labels is important.
Keep reading for the shampoo ingredients you should never use!
Sulfates
Sulfates--like Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)--work to clean your scalp of any dirt and oils. However, these detergents can be too strong on your hair, stripping it of its natural oils.
This can weaken the hair, resulting in it becoming more dry, brittle, and breakable.
With that in mind, if you are noticing more hair breakage and thinning, you should check your shampoo bottle for any sulfates that might be the culprit behind the damage.
Parabens
Parabens are a common shampoo preservative since they help extend the shelf life of hair products, but they can lead to real problems for the health of your hair.
Speaking to StyleCaster, Dr. Robert Dorin, Medical Director of True and Dorin Medical Group, explained, "Parabens not only irritate the skin--which can make your scalp unhealthy--they can also affect your hormonal balance, which can result in hair loss."
With that in mind, avoiding hair products with parabens or sulfates is a good way to keep your scalp and hair healthy--and avoid preventable hair loss.